TomH

About 4 months ago I put in new shocks in the rear (Tokiko blues), and later I noticed that one side of my car was higher than the other. I wasn't sure if it was the shocks or if just never noticed before. Today I'm putting in Racing Beat springs. I drove the car up on ramps and when I knocked out the bottom bolt on the right shock the car went down about 3/4 to 1 inch. Should it do that? With both shock out I pushed each of them down until the end stop and marked them. They were both the same. If I can push the shocks all the way to the end by leaning my 190lbs on them shouldn't the weight of the car do that also? The shocks can't be fully compressed at rest, or it would be the same as having a solib bar. Can they be adjusted by screwing them in or anything? The rubber bushings on the shock are about 1/2 inch thick, should I put some thinner ones in?

Any ideas?

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

were they put in at identical positioning of the nuts? also, they should compress when you lean on them. most of teh car's weight is held by the springs. it could be that the shock is bad, being why it went down when you knocked the bolt out.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Shocks have nothing to do with ride height, that is what the spring is for. Rear end dropping when the shock is removed is normal, there is more travel than the shock and the spring is pushing down. It is even more noticeable on the 1st side that is undone.

When the car is at rest, the shocks are equalised in both compression and rebound and cannot change the height of the car. For some reason out 1st gens seem to sit lower on the left side. There is a little known spacer that goes on the front strut to address this issue. If you look hard enough in your Black Dragon catalogue, you will find it.

sgieldon

Holy **** Mr.T!!!
What Spacer are you refering too?
I just re-did my Front and Rear Suspension on my 84GSL this Spring with RB Springs and Tokico Shocks and did not notice any Extra Spacer on the Left Side either Front or Rear.
Did I miss something???
**** I hope not. I really don't want to do the Strut thing again.
Royal Pain.
I looked in the newest Dragon Catolog page #65. Are you refering to Part #34-38?
Thanks
steve
sgieldon

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Close, part #40, the adjust plate.

peejay

The "left side is lower than the right" is a 1st-gen thing. All the heavy stuff is on the left side of the car or biased towards it, including the engine. You probably just never paid attention to it until you changed the suspension around.

sgieldon

So you kids think I'm OK to leave evertyhing alone?
I do not notice any Sagging or Clearence issues and I'm running
205-50-15 Tires.
Just for the hell of it I'm going to Measure the Center of the Headlights to the Ground like the FSM states.
steve