This is frustrating. The rear coils in my car keep falling out of the upper spring perches. The rear springs seem to be too short. This is on my 70 GS. When I first got the car, the coils that were in there were shot. They had spring helpers in there and were all sagged out. I bought a set of Moogs (the part number I dont recall). But ever since I installed them the rear coils dislodge occasionally. I took them out just recently and measured the free height which was 12.25. Moog says the correct coils are #5385 and measure 12.60 free height. Sooooo.....I searched around on the board and found that the AutoZone RCS5385S coils were recommended. Notice that the part numbers are the same- 5385. So I order the Autozone coils and a set of coil spring isolators. They arrived today and low and behold they measure 12.25 just like the ones that are already in there. Wonderful. And to add insult to injury, the coil isolators that were listed dont fit either. :spank: Is the slight extra length going to solve my problem anyway? Has anyone had the same issue? And what was the right coil spring set? As a side note, the 71 GS rear coils fit like a glove, it sits fine in back and Ive never had them fall out or dislodge. I wonder if its because theyre 20 years old? Seems everything made today just doesnt work or fit right
The rear springs shouldn't fall out unless the shocks are removed, in my experience. Not sure what is wrong there.
Many of use use the ones sold by www.espo.com. The lady owner is a racer and very much on top of parts. She has the old books etc.
Plus, the GSCA sells coil springs and those are the ones I have on my car. I know you're supposed to rotate the rear coils in such a way that the coil end is supposed to face a certain direction, maybe towards the front. Under what conditions are they becoming dislodged? That 1/4 + inch could make a big difference, but who knows? People cut coils out to make the ride lower all the time and don't throw the springs off their perches, which is why I wonder if they are situated in the proper rotation when installed. Just something I heard from a old timer.
OK, just examined the 71. The rear springs measure 12.25 just like the 70. I had to remove the lower shock mount to get the rear springs out of the car. So Im thinking the difference is in the rear shock because I dont have to do that on the 70 for the springs to come out. On full extension, the rear shocks measure 21" long from eyelet to eyelet. The rear shocks on the 71 are Monroe "Sensa Track". Part number stamped on the botton is 5802. Next step is to get the 70 over here and see what the shocks say on that to confirm my diagnosis.
Ok, Im more confused now than before. So the 70 has the same shocks in it as the 71. Extended length is 21". Same part number stamped on both- 5802. The springs on the 70 measure even a little longer on the 70- almost 12.50". So all things seem equal- shocks and springs. Except that when I jack up on the frame just in front of the rear wheel and let the rear droop, the spring gets loose on the 70. On the 71, the spring is still tight. I have to remove the shock, which lets the rear hang just alittle more. Then the spring loosens up. On the 70, the length from spring seat to spring seat is 13" with the rear shocks in place. Removing the shock doesnt allow the rear axle to move ay more. Basically, the rear axle is at full traven on the 70 regardless of the shocks. Im thinking of just punting an getting a shock with an extended length of 20" which would solve my problem but doesnt explain it.
Follow up- I had 4 hard rubber coil spring insulators in stock that I wound up installing to take up the extra length. The insulators are about a 1/4" thick. With the insulators in place on both the upper and lower perch, the coil is in there tight enough that it doesnt move with the suspension topped out. So, in thinking about this, a 13" long spring would do the trick with one insulator installed. I looked at all the bushings and they look fine. The lower control arms are NOS and the uppers been in there a while, but dont look elongated or dry rotted. On a related note, I installed the CARS stainless acorn lug nuts- they look awesome. I also installed my new rear view mirror, headrest locks, quarter window seals and courtesy light lenes and housings. The ole GS is looking pretty spiffy.
UPDATE- In looking through the Moog catalog, I found pt # 5413 which is listed at 12.93". Installed height is 8.5. The 5385 number that is listed for the 70 GS is listed at 12.60" and an installed height of 8.00" I might order the 5413's and see how they fit. Im thinking with that spring and one insulator, I should be good to go
Yep. I actually installed isolators on both ends. Thats the only way they will stay in place. I think Im going to just get a slightly larger coil. The Moog 5413 should do the trick.
jason does the gs have a rear sway bar and the other car doesnt it wont flex as far with a sway bar so with the short gs springs in a non sway bar rear it probably would flex that far it doesnt do this when driving does it? just when lifted on hoist or jack right? put on a sway bar and keep your springs instead of longer and probably softer spring
