So here's a new one. I did a complete restoration on a 97 GT convertible. When putting the rear end/suspension back together I used the stock rear end and springs, but put in upper and lower torque box reinforcements and tubular control arms. The reinforcements do not rest inside the boxes and can in no way interfere with the mechanics and operation of the control arms.. I also bought new shocks and quarter shocks. I have yet to put the interior, doors, trunk and roof back on the car. When I dropped it to the ground after getting it all together (without torquing the control arms) the suspension did not compress at all. There is about 8 inches of clearance between the tires and fender well. Saying it is "hung up" is not technically correct, hung down us more accurate. It is not compressing into normal range. It looks like something out of the 70's. Actually looks kind of cool, but wouldn't do for performance.
Given that I still have about 400 lbs. of parts to put back on, a couple friends and I stood on the rear bumper and jumped up and down...hardly budged, even with every control arm bolts only hand tight.
What else I've done thus far:
-checked the orientation and seating of the springs. They are fully seated and the pig tails on the lower ends are both pointing driver's side. I know that to be correct.
-checked the size and functionality of the new shocks. They are correct and I can compress them by hand.
-checked the specs on the aftermarket control arms - they are identical to the stock ones in every way. As noted, they are not torqued down or even tightened. I will say that they were hard to install...tough to get bolt holes to line up. But I recall that always being the case when putting control arms in. Just need to move the axle around.
-took out ONLY the springs, bolted it back together, and compressed the axle all the way up to the rubber stopper with a floor jack under the differential, no problem. Thus ruled out binding of the control arms or any similar mechanical obstruction.
-put the springs back in, same problem.
So it has to be the springs, but how? They are the stock springs with 90k miles on them that came out of this very car. When I got the donor car, there was the typical 1 inch of clearance between the tires and the fender well. Now I have 8 inches with the same body, the same springs and the same rear end. I can see the springs needing to settle a little after being removed and fully extended on my garage floor for a few months, but this is ridiculous. I'm stumped. Thoughts on what it might be, tests I can perform, etc., appreciated.
Given that I still have about 400 lbs. of parts to put back on, a couple friends and I stood on the rear bumper and jumped up and down...hardly budged, even with every control arm bolts only hand tight.
What else I've done thus far:
-checked the orientation and seating of the springs. They are fully seated and the pig tails on the lower ends are both pointing driver's side. I know that to be correct.
-checked the size and functionality of the new shocks. They are correct and I can compress them by hand.
-checked the specs on the aftermarket control arms - they are identical to the stock ones in every way. As noted, they are not torqued down or even tightened. I will say that they were hard to install...tough to get bolt holes to line up. But I recall that always being the case when putting control arms in. Just need to move the axle around.
-took out ONLY the springs, bolted it back together, and compressed the axle all the way up to the rubber stopper with a floor jack under the differential, no problem. Thus ruled out binding of the control arms or any similar mechanical obstruction.
-put the springs back in, same problem.
So it has to be the springs, but how? They are the stock springs with 90k miles on them that came out of this very car. When I got the donor car, there was the typical 1 inch of clearance between the tires and the fender well. Now I have 8 inches with the same body, the same springs and the same rear end. I can see the springs needing to settle a little after being removed and fully extended on my garage floor for a few months, but this is ridiculous. I'm stumped. Thoughts on what it might be, tests I can perform, etc., appreciated.
