rxhevin

Does rear ride height have anything to do with the shocks. I am really conused on why my car is riding at 15 inches from wheel center to rear quarter panel (vertical). Here is the story, have had ST in the front for a while and they are at a perfect 13 inch height (measured same way). I started with stock NA springs in the rear and of course they are high and do not handle well. I went to eibach and they did not lower the car at all, and were to soft for my taste. Then I went to ST on the rear and they are heiger than stock. This is rediculous. The only thing that I can think of is that maybe the rear shocks have something to do with it. They are aftermarket shocks, no name brand. Anyway, in my mind I don't see how it could be possible since the weight (except unsprung) is resting on the springs. I imagine if there were no shocks in the it would be at the same 15 inch height. The only way that I can see them affecting the height is if they were stuck and not leeting the car rest its weight on the springs (which they are not). Any and all help is appreciated.
Thanks,
-DL

Samps

New shocks will usually raise the car a little untill they break in. And if you have not driven the car yet; putting on new shocks or even jacking up the car will let the car rest a little higher on it's suspension untill you go out and drive around the block. I sometimes have to sit on the corner of the car to press the shock back down to where it is supposed to be. If none of these situations apply to you, please move on.

rxhevin

Thank you Samps for the reply. Yes, I know what you are talking about with jacking the car and new shocks, but this is definately something else. I have had them on for about 500 miles now, and no change. I am really confused on this one... The only other thing that I can think of is that my car is a base model and really light in the rear. Maybe unusually light?

RacerXtreme7

iTrader: (2)

I have experianced this before also. To start off, the factory springs on these cars (most fc's have 100k plus miles on them by now if not more) are settling (sagging)giving an actual lower ride height then when they were newer. Putting lowering springs on them sometimes actually raises them a bit for a few thousand miles ( I have ST springs and over 30k on them and there stock height in back and 5/8 lower in front {ST claims a 1" drop all around}). Now I have encountered cheap no brand name aftermarket shock / struts raise the rear of the cars SIGNIFICANTLY (like 1" and more) and NEVER settle back down. Could just be the shocks company has sloppy manufacturing tolerances and the spring perches get welded to high, or a engineering blunder, or just could be these shocks internal pressures are higher. Either way, I have seen this and the only cure is to get good quality aftermarker NAME BRAND shocks.

rxhevin

any more opinions?

Mark S

iTrader: (1)

hey dave,

some gas shocks will raise rear height. I know tokico blues for first gens do just that. However, the blues don't raise the rears of the 2nd gens, so go figure.

Might want to check what brand shocks you have. If you look closely, there should be something stamped on em.

If you want to go lower in the rear, coilovers are the only way to go.