ride height

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by Firestation7, Apr 14, 2012.

  1. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    My 70 gs455 is riding low on the pass. side front and high on the drivers side rear. Its about an inch higher than stock on the drivers rear and 3/4" low on the passenger side front. After replacing the front springs and shocks with new stock height moog springs and ac delco shocks and rear springs with new stock height moog springs theres been no change in the ride height on the front and rear corners. I'm scratchin what little hair I have left on my head! With the car on stands on a level surface the trim measurements (ground to moldings and ground to frame) are all within a 1/4" from side to side. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!! Mike Fuelling
     
  2. V8Sky

    V8Sky "Scarlett"

    Do you have A/C in the car?
     
  3. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    Yes it has factory a/c.
     
  4. V8Sky

    V8Sky "Scarlett"

    Is it possible they are the wrong springs (non-a/c car?)
     
  5. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    I guess its possible. I got the spring #s here on the board. I'm at work so I don't have the numbers in front of me.
     
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The springs in the front may be side specific. There is more weight with the A/C on the passenger side.
     
  7. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    Larry, do you have the moog part# for an a/c 1970 gs?
     
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Nope, never had to do springs. I'd contact these guys and ask. http://www.springsnthings.com/
     
  9. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    Larry thanks for the info I will contact them and see what they have to say. Mike
     
  10. 87GN_70GS

    87GN_70GS Well-Known Member

    A/C comp and battery are on the pass side.

    Springs are made nowadays to cover more applications. Very few will have a specific one for driver vs pass side unless special ordered.
     
  11. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    I had this happen once and found a bent frame was my problem. Alignment shop should be able to tell for sure. Other than that I cannot see how the springs would have any difference side to side after all most times your in the car by yourself right? So the battery and AC might weigh as much as you. I put many sets of spreings on and never saw a side specific set. A/C and non A/C yes BB and SB specific Please let us know what you find out.
     
  12. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    I thought I read somewhere that some companies offered side specific front springs, but I couldn't find where. I'm probably mistaken.
     
  13. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    John, thanks for the response. Today I jacked up the passenger side rear(placed jack on the the frame) so that I had the same trim height measurement on both sides and that leveled out the front end.. So I'm thinking a weak or broken rear shock or the control arm on the passenger is bound up. Maybe? Mike
     
  14. StevieRay

    StevieRay Well-Known Member

    I assume you have already checked to see if the springs are seated correctly in the control arms and up inside the frame? I believe the end of the coils should locate in the little slot on the control arm. Have you tried switching the springs around?
    Steve
     
  15. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    Steve, springs are in correct according to the service manual. 1/4"away from slot. Flat portion of spring up and seated. Mike
     
  16. 64 skylark mike

    64 skylark mike Well-Known Member

    Hello Mike,

    I have the same situation on my 64 Skylark. Measured all 4 wheelwells in line with center of wheel to bottom edge of fender. I have slightly less than 3/4" lower on passenger front, 7/8 higher on drivers rear. My car is non a/c from factory, so I kind of don't think the a/c is the problem on yours since our measurements are almost exactly the same. I was putting new tires on mine today and had front on jack stands with both front tires off. Measured height of front fender lip and again like you, two sides were real close to each other. Seems to me that it has to be in the suspension somewhere. I ordered a set of front springs, but after reading your posts, thinking it may not be the springs. Definitely have to put correct springs according to application (a/c, big block-small block, etc.) haven't found any suppliers listing side specific springs at least for 64-65 sets. If I figure this out, I will post here. Hopefully some one will have some insight soon. This bugs the crap out of me when I look at my car:puzzled: :rant: Michael
     
  17. Firestation7

    Firestation7 Well-Known Member

    Michael, I hear you! I'm really thinking that its in the passenger rear suspension somewhere. Either a bad shock or the control arms are on a bind. I've ordered new upper and lower rear control arms with poly bushings and new rear shocks. My car has the standard (not boxed) lower control arms so I went with boxed on the new ones and went ahead and ordered a sway bar while i was at it! Figured I might as well as all of the parts on the rear of the car now are factory issue. Mike
     
  18. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    Since I do not know your situation first hand I wonder if this is new suspension installed. A lot of DIY's forget to leave the bolts on the control alms and such until the weight is on the tires. If you tighten the parts unloaded it will cause a problem like this.
     
  19. 87GN_70GS

    87GN_70GS Well-Known Member

    Look in the assembly manual. It's there in black and white, side-specific springs from the factory. Must've overlooked that.
     
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I knew I saw it somewhere. Thought I was losing it:laugh: Thanks Scott:TU:
     

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