The springs out of my 72 Cutlass 442 (W30) measure 15 and 1/2 inches tall. Is this correct? I've had the car for 32 years and never changed the front springs. Its possible the original owner did, but I'd guess it unlikely.

I picked up a new set of springs that were supposed to be the right ones for the car but they measure 17 and 1/2 inches tall.

Will the taller springs work? Probably ride like a truck???

Any help/thougts/comments/suggestions are appreciated.

 

The height alone is not enough information to know how the car will ride. If the spring rate is SOFTER than stock, the taller springs are required to get the same ride height, but the softer spring rate will provide a softer ride than before. You need to know spring rate or wire diameter and number of coils in addition to free height to determine ride quality.

 

which springs did u purchase and from where...im having the same problem

 

"which springs did u purchase and from where...im having the same problem"

Interesting. Got them from a verdor at a car show. They are new and it was a decent price so I went for it. Not out much if they aren't right. Of course Joe is right and the only way to tell what they are is to measure the spring rate. So I'm going to take the old ones and new ones and have them checked and compare them.

I always thought the car rode low, it had headers on it and no matter how careful I was sooner or later they would scrap. So maybe a bit more ride height will be a good thing, though I'm going back to stock manifolds and exhaust.

Thanks.

And thanks to Joe as well.