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Coilover HELP!! on my '29 Coupe

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 29Coupe, Aug 6, 2009.

  1. 29Coupe
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 561

    29Coupe
    Member

    Did an extensive search here on the HAMB and really couldn't find what I'm looking for in regards to my rear suspension problem.

    Short story is the drivers side rear sags about 2" shorter than the p***enger side rear.
    The Coilovers are about 4 years old but have only been used these past couple of weeks since I just got the car on the road. So they only have about 2 weeks of wear/tear.

    As you can see from my pictures, I've got both coils cranked to just about the same position. My thinking is possibly the drivers side coil/shock is bad??? I'm not very familiar with Coilovers. They are Aldan American's.

    I'm posting both Drivers Side & P***enger Side pictures.

    Thanks for the help!
    -Jeremy

    DRIVERS SIDE:
    [​IMG]

    P***ENGER SIDE:
    [​IMG]
     
  2. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,772

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    What's up with the pine 2X4s and rotten metal around them?

    Check the springs and be sure they are the same spring rate.
    Check for bind in the suspension,this can cause your problem quite easily.
    Check for twist in the frame(boxed, stock open channel, combo?).
     
  3. 29Coupe
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 561

    29Coupe
    Member

    Frame is aftermarket. Straight as an arrow (give or take).
     
  4. 35mastr
    Joined: Oct 26, 2007
    Posts: 1,898

    35mastr
    Member
    from Norcal

    Swap them left to right and see if it still sags. If it sags on the right. You have a bad one.
     
  5. RAY With
    Joined: Mar 15, 2009
    Posts: 3,132

    RAY With
    Member

    The shock itself wont create a sag all things being equal. Its a situation with the spring or could be the way its mounted. Above suggest you swap the shocks and see if it still sags. If it does its the mount or you could have a bent frame and could be in the front. You always have the option of adjusting the low side spring up a little to make it level
     
  6. Model A John
    Joined: Apr 24, 2008
    Posts: 1,771

    Model A John
    Member
    from wichita ks

    If your coil-overs are not tilted at the exact same angle side to side, the one with more angle will cause that side of the car to sit lower.
     
  7. carcrazyjohn
    Joined: Apr 16, 2008
    Posts: 4,841

    carcrazyjohn
    Member
    from trevose pa

    Also check frame bushings I had one push through the body and my car sagged on one side.If it has frame bushings
     
  8. Cool_32
    Joined: Apr 24, 2008
    Posts: 44

    Cool_32
    Member

    Not trying to be picky, do the braided brake hoses run between the edge of the body (or is it rusty frame rail) and the diff housing (over the top). Given the amount of travel in the coil overs, it looks like they might get crushed?
     
  9. slefain
    Joined: Apr 6, 2009
    Posts: 229

    slefain
    Member
    from Atlanta

    Maybe the wood is rotting out? Try pressure treated.
     
  10. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,859

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Honestly..I don't think some of you guys read the whole post before jumping to conclusions,,,he said it's a new frame.

    You have recieved a lot of questionable answers,,:rolleyes: and a few that make a lotta sence.

    Are the shocks adjustable?,,is there a external valve to tune the shock?

    If not you have the extra option of raising the drivers side rear shock to a higher mounting position on the lower shock mount.

    You could also use a spanner wrench and loosen the p***anger coil spring to compensate for the higth on the drivers side.

    Thats about all I can offer. HRP
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2009
  11. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,401

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    is it possible you have 2 differently rated springs?
     
  12. brandon
    Joined: Jul 19, 2002
    Posts: 6,382

    brandon
    Member

    body starting to sag on the sub rail..? run the adjuster up till its level and go with it.....:D any oil leaking out of the shocks...?
     
  13. hot rod pro
    Joined: Jun 1, 2005
    Posts: 2,710

    hot rod pro
    Member
    from spring tx.

    some of the above answers will not cause it to sag 2",on one side.look on the end of the spring and see if there is some colored paint marks.aldan springs have a color code,different colors for different spring rates.

    this will help with the spring info.

    http://www.aldaneagle.com/street.html

    once you figure out if you have a match pair or not,you will be able to solve other problems.

    measure the mounted length of the shock. does it measure the same as the other side? if it does you have a mount issue,i.e. one mount is in a different place.if it does not match,you have a spring problem.

    let me know if i can help.

    -danny
     
  14. american opel
    Joined: Dec 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,222

    american opel
    Member
    from ohio

    your coupe might also have more weight on one side which can cause the problem.as someone else said,just add.each one up/down to get it to ride level.this is one of the main reasons they are adjustable{to compinsate for diff.weight bias.}
     
  15. 29nash
    Joined: Nov 6, 2008
    Posts: 4,542

    29nash
    BANNED
    from colorado

    Adjust it until it's level.
     
  16. Oh my gawd, tightening the spring tension will not raise ride hight. You have to manually move the shocks mounting position. Putting more tension on the spring will not Magically make the shock longer.

    Carl Hagan
     
  17. Spidercoupe
    Joined: Mar 5, 2005
    Posts: 174

    Spidercoupe
    Member
    from Bevier, MO

    switch sides and see if the other side sags. the shocks dont carry the weight the springs do . looks to me like you have the same problem i had. new shocks new springs but wrong spring weight rating on new springs
     
  18. 29Coupe
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 561

    29Coupe
    Member

    Thanks Guys!
    I will be trying your suggestions this weekend.

    -Jeremy
     
  19. llonning
    Joined: Nov 17, 2007
    Posts: 681

    llonning
    Member

    Coil-over setups have an installed spring height. This does not change, but is considered a base to start with. With both springs having the same rate and the same weight on both sides of the vehicle, the installed height is X amount of inches. This depends on the manufacturer. The ones I have installed I believe it to be about 11.5". There is some adjustment, tightening or loosening the adjuster rings will raise/lower the body/frame. It looks like you have the same compressed height from the photos.

    The best thing to do is to weigh both wheels separately and get a combined weight. Then call Aldan or Art Morrison and get their recommendation for the spring weight. Also tell them what you have now.


    Just got off the phone with Dave at Art Morrison. The Aldan's they use measure 14-14.5" eye to eye installed. If you want to call him # is 1-866-321-4499 ext 223. Tell him Len told you to call. Good guy to deal with. Good luck!!!!!!!!!
     
  20. Ghost28
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 3,192

    Ghost28
    Member

    Is the height of the front off also????...John
     
  21. just curious....if you would take a tap measure to each shock and measure eye to eye , what are those measurements right now as it sits?

    it appears you have the lowers in the same hole on the axle bracket. the top brackets doesn't have more than one hole , or does it?


    just eyeballing the distance between the bottom of the frame and the top of the axle , it seams like they are about equal side to side..maybe there is something else going on that you haven't told us
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2009
  22. CoolHand
    Joined: Aug 31, 2007
    Posts: 1,942

    CoolHand
    Alliance Vendor

    It will unless the shock is totally extended (on the hard stop, which is a no-no anyway).

    By adjusting the nut upwards, you aren't compressing the spring, you are moving the lower spring perch upwards in relation to the lower mounting bolt, that is all.

    Age old racing axiom: You cannot change your fore/aft or left/right weight distribution with the jack bolts, but you can change your ride height, and your cross weight distribution.
     
  23. 29Coupe
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 561

    29Coupe
    Member

    So I swapped the Coilovers today and I still had the same sag on the drivers side.
    Did a little more investigating and the left-rear body-mount needed to be shimmed.
    I got each side within 1/4" difference of one another. So I'm just about level.

    -Jeremy
     

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