Bottoming Out My Shocks....
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Bottoming Out My Shocks....
I got my car out of the shop finally after a long suspension rebuild, but of course I ran into a few snags, but the one that bothers me the most is the rear suspension bottoming out the shocks.
The rear is setup with 150# 10" coil springs with jack bolts, MWC Fab9, and Edelbrock IAS rear shocks. I'm running 17x11s with 315/35 Nitto NT555 tires and at the center of the wheel arch I measure 26 3/8". But even going over smaller dips in the road I bottom out the rear shocks. I looked everything over under the car and nothing else is hitting.
Now I have seen a handful of guys that have their cars lower than mine and are still running stock style shocks. I am considering ordering new shocks that are shorter, but how can the other guys get away with it? Right now I have about 1" of travel before it bottoms out. I'm going to get a set of 175# springs on Friday and try them out, but that still doesn't solve the 1" of travel that I have.
How are the other guys getting away with it?
The rear is setup with 150# 10" coil springs with jack bolts, MWC Fab9, and Edelbrock IAS rear shocks. I'm running 17x11s with 315/35 Nitto NT555 tires and at the center of the wheel arch I measure 26 3/8". But even going over smaller dips in the road I bottom out the rear shocks. I looked everything over under the car and nothing else is hitting.
Now I have seen a handful of guys that have their cars lower than mine and are still running stock style shocks. I am considering ordering new shocks that are shorter, but how can the other guys get away with it? Right now I have about 1" of travel before it bottoms out. I'm going to get a set of 175# springs on Friday and try them out, but that still doesn't solve the 1" of travel that I have.
How are the other guys getting away with it?
#3
first thing I would do is check if you have the bumpstop spacers, and if you do remove them
what are you feeling exactly that you don't like? is it slamming into the bumpstops? harsh ride? I don't know much about those shocks but are they a decent match for those springs and that big heavy rear?
I don't have much more travel than that and my car rides decently, the bumpstops are a functional part of the suspension, hitting them shouldn't be dreadful
what are you feeling exactly that you don't like? is it slamming into the bumpstops? harsh ride? I don't know much about those shocks but are they a decent match for those springs and that big heavy rear?
I don't have much more travel than that and my car rides decently, the bumpstops are a functional part of the suspension, hitting them shouldn't be dreadful
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The top of the torque arm is hitting the body brace. Look behind the rear seatback area under the car, there is a square tube brace just above the tunnel entrance. The contact area will be very small and hard to spot unless you know to look for it.
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I don't have my bumpstops, they had to go to clear the 315s, but I have a set that are sitting on my counter that will go on the rear shocks (they didn't come in time for the maiden voyage).
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Here's a pic before the rear springs settled, its about 1/4-3/8" lower in the rear now. Right after the alignment was finished and I was getting ready to put on a new alt. belt, I lost it on the first drive.
Pic the night before the alignment
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Nope not hitting, it may be touching, but not enough to take the powdercoating off the TA. I'm planning on trimming it this weekend when I put it on the lift to check all the bolts and swap in some heavier springs out back.
I don't have my bumpstops, they had to go to clear the 315s, but I have a set that are sitting on my counter that will go on the rear shocks (they didn't come in time for the maiden voyage).
I don't have my bumpstops, they had to go to clear the 315s, but I have a set that are sitting on my counter that will go on the rear shocks (they didn't come in time for the maiden voyage).
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I don't really have time during the week to get anything done to my car, when I get home my neighbors are asleep and before work I have little time. This weekend I'll put her on the lift and check it out, and trim the brace for more clearance, add the stiffer rear springs, and add bumpstops to the shocks.
Thanks for the response
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Took the car out for a spin before work today (about 30 miles) and didn't bottom the rear once. I guess it's beating itself into shape haha, I'm going to put it on the lift and notch out the rear seat brace and add the bumpstops for a little insurance. Just feels good to get to drive it again, it's been quite a while
#11
The car sits real nice, man. That's the stance I'm aiming for. Have you thought about doing the heater hose mod for your rear end that way you don't have to add the bumpstops?
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Thanks man, and I don't have a stock spring setup in the rear anymore.
Its setup with a "weight jack bolt" and 2.5" ID 10" tall 150# springs. I have another set of 175# springs, but haven't tried them yet. I would like to see the rear come down just a touch, but its just not possible with the MWC rear axle and I definitely don't want it to sit any higher
On a side note I put the car on the lift and it is the jam nut on the rear seat brace. I didn't feel like cutting on the car today, but I did put some poly bumpstops on my shocks and it really softened the blow. It still needs to be trimmed, but I just didn't have time today.
Its setup with a "weight jack bolt" and 2.5" ID 10" tall 150# springs. I have another set of 175# springs, but haven't tried them yet. I would like to see the rear come down just a touch, but its just not possible with the MWC rear axle and I definitely don't want it to sit any higher
On a side note I put the car on the lift and it is the jam nut on the rear seat brace. I didn't feel like cutting on the car today, but I did put some poly bumpstops on my shocks and it really softened the blow. It still needs to be trimmed, but I just didn't have time today.
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Sorry I'm a little slow. So it was this then?
The top of the torque arm is hitting the body brace. Look behind the rear seatback area under the car, there is a square tube brace just above the tunnel entrance. The contact area will be very small and hard to spot unless you know to look for it.
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Look up energy suspension or prothane bumpstops. I bought them at Autozone for ~$6. They are 1 3/16" tall. I cut them in half and slid them over the shock rod and put the boot back on.
I am still hitting the torque arm jam nut on the rear seat brace, but the bumpstops cut the harshness at least 50%. Now instead of it sounding like Thor is having a tantrum back there it just sounds like hes stomping his feet. I will trim the rear seat brace when I have the time. I'm probably going to be changing the gas tank and will trim it when I have everything removed for that project.
I am still hitting the torque arm jam nut on the rear seat brace, but the bumpstops cut the harshness at least 50%. Now instead of it sounding like Thor is having a tantrum back there it just sounds like hes stomping his feet. I will trim the rear seat brace when I have the time. I'm probably going to be changing the gas tank and will trim it when I have everything removed for that project.
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Its setup with a "weight jack bolt" and 2.5" ID 10" tall 150# springs. I have another set of 175# springs, but haven't tried them yet. I would like to see the rear come down just a touch, but its just not possible with the MWC rear axle and I definitely don't want it to sit any higher
On a side note I put the car on the lift and it is the jam nut on the rear seat brace. I didn't feel like cutting on the car today, but I did put some poly bumpstops on my shocks and it really softened the blow. It still needs to be trimmed, but I just didn't have time today.
On a side note I put the car on the lift and it is the jam nut on the rear seat brace. I didn't feel like cutting on the car today, but I did put some poly bumpstops on my shocks and it really softened the blow. It still needs to be trimmed, but I just didn't have time today.
BTW, what spring rate are you using for the front?
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I am still hitting the torque arm jam nut on the rear seat brace, but the bumpstops cut the harshness at least 50%. Now instead of it sounding like Thor is having a tantrum back there it just sounds like hes stomping his feet. I will trim the rear seat brace when I have the time. I'm probably going to be changing the gas tank and will trim it when I have everything removed for that project.
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^^^HAHA now that's funny.
My car went on a diet too, no more rear seat, no abs, no airbags, single exhaust instead of my duals, lighter fixed seats, relocated alt & power steering pump (no more big bracket), as well as some more things I'm sure I'm forgetting. I have to put it on the scale and see where I'm sitting.
I have 650# front springs IIRC, the rear feels just a little soft compared to the front, but not too soft. I have an adjustable Hellwig hollow rear sway bar set in the middle position, maybe that has something to do with it.
My car went on a diet too, no more rear seat, no abs, no airbags, single exhaust instead of my duals, lighter fixed seats, relocated alt & power steering pump (no more big bracket), as well as some more things I'm sure I'm forgetting. I have to put it on the scale and see where I'm sitting.
I have 650# front springs IIRC, the rear feels just a little soft compared to the front, but not too soft. I have an adjustable Hellwig hollow rear sway bar set in the middle position, maybe that has something to do with it.