The next step here for us is the rear suspension. I'm going to attempt this myself, looks fairly simple. Planning now as we're waiting for that centerlink to finish the front end. I have never had shocks or springs out of a car before so, any advise or tips,ideas and cautions are all welcome. I need to figure out what I need to order. As most of you guys know , we are just working on this car to stock specs. We're not looking for anything special just good quality stock parts. 69vert, edit: car has a 5 leaf spring set up
Questions:
1. What springs should I get and where from? assuming that re-arching is too expensive and unnecessary.
Shocks, currently there is a pair of airshocks in the car. I think they were installed in the early 80's
2. should we install new airshocks? or go back to gas filled?
#3. what shocks and where to get them?
I realize that the questions above have a lot of room in them for personal preference. I would like to know your experiences and preferences so we can take a guess as to what we might like.
Thanks bill v
Last edited by bill v; 07/08/1708:45 AM.
69 Firebird Convertible (wifes car since 1979) Goldenrod Yellow, 350, plain Jane Car was stored in garage since 1990
I need help, if anyone see's I'm going down the wrong road--Straighten me out!
I'm currently sourcing out my "stock" frontend suspension. I will let you know what I find.
Originally Posted by bill v
The next step here for us is the rear suspension. I'm going to attempt this myself, looks fairly simple. Planning now as we're waiting for that centerlink to finish the front end. I have never had shocks or springs out of a car before so, any advise or tips,ideas and cautions are all welcome. I need to figure out what I need to order. As most of you guys know , we are just working on this car to stock specs. We're not looking for anything special just good quality stock parts. 69vert, edit: car has a 5 leaf spring set up
Questions:
1. What springs should I get and where from? assuming that re-arching is too expensive and unnecessary.
Shocks, currently there is a pair of airshocks in the car. I think they were installed in the early 80's
2. should we install new airshocks? or go back to gas filled?
#3. what shocks and where to get them?
I realize that the questions above have a lot of room in them for personal preference. I would like to know your experiences and preferences so we can take a guess as to what we might like.
Thanks bill
Hi Bill,
I'm currently sourcing out my "stock" frontend suspension. I will let you know what I find.
ANS: IMO
1. I found rear air shocks on my coupe and vert...and the broken leaf spring they were holding up!
DO NOT need air shocks. Buy stock new rear leaf springs from NPD.
2. Gas filled...stock
3. Not sure yet. TBA
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You have the options of stiffing it up and lowering it but if you want a pleasant ride you should look at stock rated springs and some kind of gas shock.
I will measure the difference when I get the springs installed. I bought 5 leaf springs just like what is in her now. the front end is a little higher now amd hope that the leafs I bought even her out. Thats my fear right now as I not sure there is a way to match them up perfectly.
Will let you know how we make out.
Thanks Bill V
69 Firebird Convertible (wifes car since 1979) Goldenrod Yellow, 350, plain Jane Car was stored in garage since 1990
I need help, if anyone see's I'm going down the wrong road--Straighten me out!
Ok you guys, this is your last chance to advise me on the leaf and shock replacement. I did start to take one side apart last night. I was real cautious protecting againt any loaded tensions.. I stabilized everything during disassembly. I had the frame double jack standed, 2 jack stand s on the pass side axle tube, a stand on the rear bumper and used a jack on the spring during bolt removal. I ended up getting it down to just the rear connection at the bumper shackles.
Do you guys have any caution tips, install tips, tricks, ideas, or safety concerns, etc...?????
first time doing this type of job.
Thanks bill v
69 Firebird Convertible (wifes car since 1979) Goldenrod Yellow, 350, plain Jane Car was stored in garage since 1990
I need help, if anyone see's I'm going down the wrong road--Straighten me out!
You should support the rear half of the car by the bottoms of the rocker panels just in front of the wheel openings. I have 2x4" cut about a foot and a half long that I put on top of the jackstands before supporting the car by the rockers. Then you can roll out the whole rear end if you wanted too on a floor jack.
I started this morning at 6:30, plan was to do one side at a time, (fits my skill level) Came apart ok, cleaned everything up and painted parts and some of the undercarriage. This was my procedure,
Attached spring to car at rear shackle, lift spring and attach at front bracket ( had to use jacks and had to pry into position. Then I had to jack the centre into the spring socket under the axel tube, God, that was harder then I expected it to be. Had trouble getting the short bolts started since this car only uses one u bolt. I also ended hooking a come along up to the front subframe to position the rear in the right spot to recieve the spring bolt locator.
So, did I make this harder then it should be by doing it the way i did? or is the a better sequence then the one I used?
Still have to put the shock on and do the drivers side.
Bill V
69 Firebird Convertible (wifes car since 1979) Goldenrod Yellow, 350, plain Jane Car was stored in garage since 1990
I need help, if anyone see's I'm going down the wrong road--Straighten me out!
Yes you did it the hard way. First lay the springs on the floor, set the axle on top of the spring, bolt the springs to the axle (loosely). Use a floor jack to roll complete assembly under the car, jack up. Bolt front of springs to brackets then to rear shackles. Tighten up U-bolts... done deal.