cadjock

I replaced my front springs on my 79 Camaro with Hotchkis springs that were supposed to lower it 2". The car now sits 1/2" higher ... what gives ??? I have aluminum heads, intake and some other lightning items, but even when I add 280 lbs to the front it is still not even close to 2" lower. Any ideas? I have yet to drive the car around ... will it settle?

Dirt Reynolds

It'll settle, but not to the tune of 2" lower. Sounds to me like you got lowering springs for a big block application, instead of a small block. Perhaps someone wasnt paying attention on the assembly line, and stuff big block coils into a small block box.

Just an idea.

CoryM

Did you torque the bushings with the weight on the tires? Maybe the bushings are binding. Ive seen that a few times where people do bushings/springs and the car stays way high.
Good Luck.
CoryM

archemedes

are the springs seated correctly? I bet the tangs are not in the right spot there is a little pocket for them to fit into and it will drop it quite a bit

cadjock

The springs are in the right spot, and I installed Polyurethane bushins so the a-arms move freely. I'm contacting Hotchkis today.

I have this terrible feeling that they are the wrong springs.

archemedes

you say you replaced bushings, did you by chance torque the bolts while it was in the air? If so that's the problem they have to be torqued while loaded or they will bind

cadjock

archemedes ... I did torque them while up in the air, but since these are polyurethane, I assumed that the A-arms can move freely. I will check it out this evening though.

11secgen

my bet is that your old front springs were so old that they were in fact lower than your drop springs.post what tire you have on the front and how much space is between the bottom of the fender and the wheel.i have 1'' drop springs with 235/65 tires and the finder is about 2-3'' above the top of the tire.

archemedes

Contrary to popular belief poly doesn't allow anything to move freer, it has less deflection. That's why poly squeaks

CHPshown67

Just cut a link from the springs and be done with it.

JG/70Z

...I dunno....You'd think with the grease it'd be able to move more freely than rubber