So on my 70 GS, I bought new Moog 5385 springs which I thought were OEM specs. They seemed a little light/boumcy even with no motor or front end on the car. I wanted just a touch more height any way so I ordered 1.5 inch spring height spacers. I installed them last night but all I had to do was raise the frame up, let the axle drop and the springs pretty much fell right out. I added the spacers and it seems they could still potentially fall out if I did a Dukes of Hazard jump. Is this normal or do you think they put the wrong springs in the 5385 box?
Read through this thread, https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/rear-spring-recommendation.369238/
Thanks Larry, I read through that a while back and seems like the springs I want are the ones you have, the 5399 (if I remember). And they don't make those any more. I want to give what I have a chance once it's putt back together. Just curious if it's normal for them to want to fall out before I read all 8 pages again haha. Thanks!
Oh, I was thinking of this as well..... I have not tightened down any control arms yet as was waiting for the car to be assembled at right height. I wonder if it will stiffen up and they may not fall out when all is tightened when car fully assembled?
The only thing holding the rear springs in is the limiting of axle drop by the drive shaft and shock extension. If your spacers are not bolted to the bottom of the spring, they may not stay there.
IMO it's the shock travel that is what holds the rear coils in place. In the front it's the spindle & b- joints....
I got the same lifts you have but they are bolted in...... I have no idea where the washer like part came from... IIRC there is a blue oval stamped in it.
Thabk Thanks. The manufacturer says that the 67 and older ones have the bolts but 68-72 a- body does not require them. I thought about drilling a hole through them but then would have to custom make some mounts. My issue is, the spring could still fall out of three top.. I guess I will just wait until the car is assembled with front end, motor interior etc and the suspension is tightened up. Thanks!
Why would you need to drill holes and make mounts.. Pic 1 is of a early BOP. I can see it needing some washers and bolts But no custom mounts... Pic 2 is of the later. has I nice perch for spring to sit around with a hole...
Do you have the correct shocks, or are they extra long? As said, The shocks shouldn't let the axle drop down enough for the springs to fall out. #5385 is correct for '70 GS. They are on the short side, 12.6". #5399 have the same wire size (0.580") but are taller @ 14.10"
I had the same problem with the Aquamist car. One spring would actually fall out of place. Even adding new insulators at the top didn't help. What helped was adding a second set of insulators at the bottom. I had to cut one side to increase the inner diameter so they'd fit over the lower perch. That wound up doing the trick for me
Wow, that was over 20 years ago! http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?th...springs-keep-falling-out.251413/#post-2057748
I wouldn't have to drill holes in the axle but the spacers themselves and run a bolt through the spacer and then put washers under the axles.