Lowering the rear raised the front?

F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

Founding Member

Dec 6, 1999

4,818

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69

BC Canada

Apr 11, 2005

#1

• Apr 11, 2005

• #1

Hi guys,

I installed my rear lowering springs (5 leaf mid eye) last weekend. While the spring install went well, I was a little disapointed to find it only lowered the rear about 1" instead of the advertised 1.5"

BUT, my problem is that the front end is now sitting HIGHER! I don't get it... I measured the height at all 4 wheels just before I did the spring swap. And did the same thing afterwords only to find the front end is sitting 1/2" higher! Same surface.. same everything up front.

I didn't take the car out for a drive as she's still not insured yet. Maybe the front needs to settle or something? I don't know why as I never lifted the front end...

Also.. how much should I expect the rears to settle?

 

C

Clark

Founding Member

Aug 5, 1999

659

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Rowlett,Texas

Apr 11, 2005

#2

• Apr 11, 2005

• #2

I guess let's start with the leaf springs. They will settle and you probably will gain the 1.5 in. total drop. But I am a little confused about the front, Is this a stock front suspension? If it is then you will have the front higher than the back, you need to compensate by lowering the front through shorter springs. The best way to compare is look at an old suspension on our cars, when the rear leafs sag it makes the front raise.

To explain why the back goes down and the front goes up just think of a kids playground and the familiar titer-toter, when one goes up the other goes down.

 

krash kendall

Active Member

Nov 19, 2004

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Aldergrove, B.C. Canada

Apr 11, 2005

#3

• Apr 11, 2005

• #3

If you had it up on axle stands all the way around then the front suspension will be a little extended untill you roll the car around a bit.

 

S

slackr

New Member

Feb 10, 2004

110

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0

Denver

Apr 11, 2005

#4

• Apr 11, 2005

• #4

I guess it depends on exactly where you measured the ride height. If @ the cross member (in line w/the front suspension) or tire to fender, then I do not know why it would have changed, but if you measured closer to the bumper (or anywhere in front of the spindle) you will get a wee bit of a rise as lowering the rear will pivot up the front anywhere in front of the spindle.... likewise lowering anything rear of the spindle.

 

302 coupe

Founding Member

Mar 2, 2000

1,952

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Macon, Ga.

Apr 11, 2005

#5

• Apr 11, 2005

• #5

I'm with Krash on this one......

 

65fastback2+2

New Member

Aug 4, 2003

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Louisville, KY

Apr 11, 2005

#6

• Apr 11, 2005

• #6

302 coupe said:

I'm with Krash on this one......

Click to expand...

me too, when i mess with mine i always gotta drive it to get it to resettle. even jumping on the fenders doesnt quite do it, it will a little but it still drops another 1/4" after driving it a few miles

 

F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

Founding Member

Dec 6, 1999

4,818

1

69

BC Canada

Apr 11, 2005

#7

• Apr 11, 2005

• #7

The front end was never off the ground.

Stock suspension (planning on cutting a coil off).

Rear end was held up by jackstands under rear frame rails (near leaf srping front eye bolts). It sat this way for about 10 days as I got everything slowly done.

Front clearance was measured by measureing the tire to fender gap. I'm certain I got this pretty close as I used a straight edge with level to do the measureing. No change in rims or tires.

I'm still at a loss tho... a 1/2" is alot to suddenly change. I noticed the front loooked a little higher even before I took the rear off of the jack stands, but I figured that the jack stands were supporting some of the weight and it would be back to normal once the car was back down on all 4 wheels.

 

65fastback2+2

New Member

Aug 4, 2003

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Louisville, KY

Apr 11, 2005

#8

• Apr 11, 2005

• #8

lowering the rear would make the gap at the front of the front tire bigger and the gap at the rear of the front tire smaller....

 

Max Power

Active Member

Jul 31, 2003

1,774

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St Paul

Apr 11, 2005

#9

• Apr 11, 2005

• #9

Still drive it a little, you may be surprised.

I wouldn't use 5 leaf rears with stock fronts anyway. I would invest in 620lb fronts to balance the car out from a handling standpoint.

 

HistoricMustang

Active Member

Apr 11, 2003

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Confederate States of America

Apr 11, 2005

#10

• Apr 11, 2005

• #10

302 coupe said:

I'm with Krash on this one......

Click to expand...

Ditto................

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com