z28pat

iTrader: (10)

I'm wondering if anybody has used a heavier duty shocks or springs in the back to avoid *** sag, I have a box with 2 tens that sits behind the back seats and would like
for them to be able to handle the extra weight
thanks
pat

UMI Tech

Hey Pat.

Higher rate shocks won't do anything for the overall height but will help when rollin' down the road. Higher rate springs will of course help the height. If you're not worried about handling balance, go for it. If you are, then we should talk about your goals and how you plan to drive the car.

ramey

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

http://www.daymotorsports.com/produc...G-TAIL_SPRINGS

For about a 1" drop and to support the extra 50lbs cantilevered over the rear, a 12" x 175lb spring would probably be the ticket.

Just a guess.

z28pat

iTrader: (10)

well the car is my dd so I'm just looking for a spring to handle the extra weight without the sag, the shock and springs now are tired with 90k
pat

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

I'd lean towards the Hypercoil springs myself.
http://www.daymotorsports.com/produc...IGTAIL-SPRINGS

ZexGX

iTrader: (28)

Mind = blown.
Do these work with stock rear upper isolators? Is the spring length linear with the ride height - 1" drop for 12" spring, 2" drop for 11" spring?

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

They should work w/gm isolators, but I can't verify that, or the amount of drop myself.
I do know that the 13" GW rear springs I still have will put the car at stock height, but their stiff, with probably around a 250 lb.in. spring rate.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

I would say that a 1"-1.5" drop would be more accurate for the 12" springs.

BMR Tech2

iTrader: (5)

Our springs come with a lifetime warranty against spring sag and we have never had a reported case yet. They drop the car 1.2 inches and will never fall lower.

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

This suspension stuff isn't rocket science. Almost anything on the market today can be picked up ala-carte style at most any dirt track shop. Just need to know how to read a micrometer and a tape measure.

Yes, the 5 1/2" pigtail springs will work just fine with the OEM isolator. Why? Because a 5 1/2" spring is a 5 1/2" spring. Nothing magical here. This is the same spring GM has been using for decades on multiple platforms.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I'd suggest this: http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...=113&ModelID=7

For a few reasons. You can add as much or as little height/rate as you want. It's an easy install, and you can play around to get what you want. I suspect the springs are just fine, as GM springs don't tend to yield much, let alone with "only" 90k miles. The shocks suck but the shocks don't set ride height either.

I don't see where you want to lower the car either.

I'd put some decent shocks on there (this is a place where Bilstein's are a good option) and run the airbags which will allow you to add as little or as much rate as you want in the rear of the car. The more air, the more spring rate, the higher the car sits. These are NOT replacement springs, as in the car will not be all airbagged. These are supplemental springs that work in conjunction with the OEM or other stock type spring.

bayer-z28

iTrader: (14)

^ Great idea! OP got me wondering, because I've got a street car with a HEAVY dual 12" box in the back. It's not a DD, but only leaves the garage under ideal weather conditions. I may look into the airbag idea to keep the back where it should be.

z28pat

iTrader: (10)

thank you, the airbags seem to be the best remedy to my issue, I'll look into those,
how involved is the install process ?

patrick

BMR Tech2

iTrader: (5)

I don't know about F-bodies with air bags, but I know GTOs tend to ride like garbage with air bags in the springs. They are mainly used for controlling weight transfer at the track, and not to retain ride height. In order for them to assist with ride height, they have to be filled with air to a certain pressure, which alters spring rate.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

If they ride like crap it's because the person chooses that. See, if you run no air then there is no spring rate change. And you can add as little air as you want or need, and nothing more. Let's say you add 45 pounds worth of rate to a stock spring via an airbag... now you have a spring rate of 160, which is what Kevin's springs are... but you have that rate without the lowering, which maintains more working travel. Result is that the ride will be no worse, all else being equal, than a spring of the same rate. Same with my springs, I'm just trying to prove a point.

This is the difference between knowing how things work and asking if that makes sense, or believing everything you read.

You need spring rate to alter height if you can't run a taller spring. The OP is complaining of sagging due to extra weight. Extra weight demands more spring rate to support it. Think about a pick-up truck... Trucks that carry more weight use more spring rate to cover the difference, that's how it works.

Pony Exp.305

iTrader: (6)

yes I have been thought about installing air bag on my t/a..Do search here. Many inform.

salemetro

iTrader: (5)

I'd have to agree with this. Honestly, I had forgotten that these even existed. We used to have them in the rear of our '83 T/A (miss that car), and it was FAR from bouncy. As I remember, it didn't take much to get them "just right".

ls1ya

iTrader: (2)

I had Two 12's in the box and two amps over the rear on 20s and only rubbed when my shocks went bad. When I bought the bilsteins from Sam, no more rub again. And that was on stock springs. I took the audio **** out and I'm dropping the car on 18x10.5 wheels and strano springs. I'll use the bags when I put a 15" SOLOX and amp behind the rear again. Otherwise a fresh stock setup worked fine for me on 20s. Should worked for you

ZexGX

iTrader: (28)

Any updates on this? What did you go with?

z28pat

iTrader: (10)

No updates yet, i moved to Illinois and parked my car in the garage for winter, got a beater for now.

Pat