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Suspension help and advice???

Old Oct 22, 2012 | 04:53 PM
  #1  
Al Sanchez's Avatar
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Suspension help and advice???

Okay my car is a 1972 cutlass convertible with a stock 350 it has A/C and a A/T. I need help trying to find out why my upper ball joints are at a very bad angle and it tears the rubber real fast. When I noticed the problem I took the car back to the shop who did the suspension and he said that the front coil springs are too tall and that's what causing the upper control arm to angle the ball joint that way... Is this true?? Will shorter springs closer to stock ones solve this problem?? So this is where I need advice.. Does anyone know what springs will give my car its original stance... On the first pic. Car is on the ground.. Second car is jacked up tire off ground third upper control arm shimmed alot forth measurement from ground to fender well
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Old Oct 22, 2012 | 10:09 PM
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from your avatar, the front is very high in the air. Maybe the guy before you wanted it to sit high.
A set of small block Olds front springs will put it in the correct height.
In your album, the car sits high all the way around. Maybe had the big wheels on the car before you, and now has those wheels now. They may have spacers in the springs or big block springs.
I recommend the "EIbach" spring set for the "A" body of yours. A four spring set.

Gene

Last edited by 64Rocket; Oct 22, 2012 at 10:18 PM.
Old Oct 22, 2012 | 10:19 PM
  #3  
Al Sanchez's Avatar
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So do you think that the car sitting up that high will cause my upper ball joints to be angled like in the picture..
Old Oct 22, 2012 | 10:31 PM
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Yes

Gene
Old Oct 22, 2012 | 10:39 PM
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Al Sanchez's Avatar
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Thanks Rocket... I will look for some springs and try to bring it back to stock height
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 07:33 AM
  #6  
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Your problem is that whoever did the suspension work installed springs that are waaaay too tall, presumably to clear those rims with incorrect offset. Stock height springs will fix the suspension problem (and likely make the car handle much better), but your tires will rub due to the incorrect wheels. Whoever did this to the car had no clue as to what they were doing.
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 07:44 AM
  #7  
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The shop that did the work replaced everything but the springs these springs where on the car when I got it and I don't like them they to tall and too stiff.. Joe do you know what make of springs will give me the right stock height for this car
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 08:54 AM
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Also, I've never seen that many shims used on one side (rear side) of an upper control arm to get the alignment correct, either something is bent or the car has been in an accident. there are 5? shims there, looks like 3/4 of an inch of spacing difference, very unusual.........
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 09:10 AM
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I know that's a lot of shims its looks scary if they where to fall off would I still have steering the shop that did the work said nothing is bent and it has not been in a accident I just think the guy who owned the car before me hade big wheels on it so he probably put on taller springs.. I'm going to change them this weekend and see if I can get the stock height back and get my upper ball joints to look straight
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 03:06 PM
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Al

look on rock auto I have MOOG springs on mine and they offer several different ones for coupe vert ac HD etc etc

My 72 rides at a normal height and the BJs are not stressed like yours
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 03:42 PM
  #11  
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Retro, do you remember what model of moog springs you got? I have been doing some research and found out that rock auto has the best price.. And I'm leaning towards moog 5450 there heavy duty and should go good with my car
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 04:20 PM
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Yup I got the 5450 in front and the rear I think was the 5385
Old Oct 23, 2012 | 08:20 PM
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"Summit" parts has in stock,
"Eibach" spring kit #3856-140

Gene
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