When my car is in the air supported by the frame the rear coil springs can be removed by hand without any effort. From past experience you would need to take the shock absorber loose to remove the spring...this is why I am confused. The previous owner of my car replaced the springs and I (being cheap) decided to reuse them since the car's ride height was good and the car rode nice. Shocks were replaced with the Monroe Sensa-Trac. I did compare these rear springs with an original from a Skylark parts car and found the new spring was shorter than the old worn out spring. Thought that was bizarre? o No: My questions are: 1) Could the springs in the rear come out of the pocket while driving over a large bump or dip in the road? 2) Could the shocks be too long causing the rear end to hang lower thus causing the springs to seem loose while the car is raised? Any advice or suggestions appreciated!
Yes and yes. If the springs are loose at full rebound, it can easily happen on the street with some spirited railroad track crossovers, for example. This can be very bad news since a rogue spring can cause structural and brake line damage if it's out of whack on the next jounce. It's either the shocks or the springs or both; you'll have to do some investigating to see what's up. Devon
Jim, the springs and insulators I removed were newly installed by the previous owner. o No: I suspect the coil over style shock the previous owner installed was keeping the rear end from fully dropping keeping the springs in the frame tight. When the frame was being restored I tightened all the rear control arm bolts without having the body on the frame. (I did have the car on the ground as a roller.) I think once the car is completely back together, I am going to try loosening the rear control arm bolts and retighten them with the suspension fully loaded. After that is done I will put the car in the air and recheck to see how far the rear end drops. Hopefully this will make some difference. Had a phone conversation today with someone who is a pretty good authority on Buick's and recommended I try this before I start buying more parts. Maybe this will work? Anyone who has had the same spring issue, please share your real world experience on what you did. Thanks!
I have the same problem with my 70 Stage 1 too Jeff. Wierd. I have to make sure the springs are in position when I let the car down off of a lift. Coincidentially, I installed new Moog rear springs in it when I first bought the car. I dont remember if I bought cargo coils or just the regulars. I think it was the regulars. The old springs had those cheapo auto parts store height adjusters in between the coils. The shocks are new Monroe Sensa-Tracs. I dont have the isolators installed. The old springs I took out didnt have them either. I thought about trying a different brand of springs. My suspicion is that the uninstalled height on a different set of springs might be taller. Funny, but in thinking about this, I dont seem to recall ever having this issue on the black 71. Jeff, just for giggles, can you remove the rear spring out of your car and measure the uninstalled height? I can remove the coil out of the 71 and we can compare measurements.
Here is a link to all moog spring specs. I used it to get mine. coil size etc... maybe it will help. http://bbb-carb.com/moog_Coil_Springs.htm
Interesting link #5385 regular rear coils are 12.60" uninstalled height. The cargo coil is 14.50" uninstalled height. The cargo coils are only 3/4" taller installed than the regulars. 2" might be the difference we're looking for
Here is the link to my rear springs with a couple pictures. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=150184&highlight=rear+springs
Jason, I will get the measurement of the spring and get back with you, glad I am not alone with this. Have you ever had any issues with the springs coming out while driving over large dips or railroad tracks as Devon described in an earlier response?
As a matter of fact, last time I was under the car, I noticed both rear spring had slipped off the upper mounts. I didnt remember doing Dukes of Hazzard move with the car. I'm interested in what the rear spring heights are on our springs. The CC501's seem like the ticket though. A spring that's 2" taller would do the trick I think.
Jason, with the spring on the garage floor, measuring from the floor to the highest point on the spring, it measured right at 12.5 inches. Wish the front springs came out this easy. :Brow:
I'll take mine out after work tomorrow. Too many beers tonight to jack up the car! . I'm currenly enjoying a pint of Polish beer called Lomza Pelne. :beers2: That measurement is almost dead on to what the chart says a non cargo coil spring should measure- 12.60". Im going to specuate that mine will measure 14.50 on the 71 tomorrow.
I've ran into problems with too short of springs and these were new springs. here is the copy I ended up keeping the MOOGs for a convertible however the coils are huge in diameter and occasionally rub the frame. FWIW nate
My springs won't come out when the suspension is hanging, but they are loose. When I set it down, I make sure the upper side goes back in place.
Ok, I just had the chance to measure the springs in the 71. With jackstands on the frame and the rear axle hanging, the springs are loose. But they're tall enough that they still stay seated in the upper mounts. They measure a hair more than 12 1/2" uninstalled height. And they look like regular springs, no progressive rate coils on them So why do the rear springs fall out of our 70s and not out of my 71?
When my 72 is on the lift I can take the springs out. I think mine were a fuzz short of 13" when i measured them yesterday. I was thinking that maybe those CE drag shocks were letting the rear swing down further than normal. We are thinking about putting a strap in the center of the rear to a cross brace.
Jason, my guess is the shocks are longer causing the rear end to hang lower. What kind of shock is on your 71?
Thats the thing. I used the same rear shocks in both cars- Monroe Sensa tracs. I doubt the shocks are a different number. I thought for sure the springs would be taller. I'm going to have to take the 70 out of storage and measure whats in that car. The 70 has brand new lower control arm bushings in it too. It would be interesting to get a set of CC501's or a set of 69 Chevelle conv. springs and physically compare and test fit them in
I wonder if it is possible the shocks are both labeled Sensa-Trac but made by a different manufacturer? I would be curious to compare the shock extended length on your 70 and 71 to see if their is any difference. This is bizarre???? FYI, I used the Sensa-Tracs on my car. Let me know what you find out on your 70 springs, I am very curious. For the hell of it I checked the length of an original spring from one of my 70 Skylarks and it measured 14.5 inches. This car was purchased from the original owners and everything on the car is original so I know the springs are OEM.
Poor tolerance of new parts is the cause. notice above where the springs were 2 inches too short according to moogs own specifications. moog specs 13.9" for GS springs length new. they've made a batch way too short. nate.
