Lowering Malibu confusion need advice!

[Irishspring46]

So I got this 1978 Malibu a while ago. No idea on what springs they are but I’d like to lower it i just need a little help because I’m not sure where to go from here. The car has 275s in the rear and on the driver tire there’s rub marks on the sidewall (from the inner fender) IT DOES NOT RUB AT ALL FOR ME. The car sits high in the rear and a while ago someone suggested maybe someone put wagon springs in the rear to stop rubbing?. If it was rubbing on stock springs that would mean it would rub on drop springs, which then would mean I need new wheels with a different backspacing. I just don’t really know where to go from here. Is there a way I can measure to see if it would rub on drop springs? I also don’t know how spring rates would mess with my rubbing. Thank you everyone

 

[Streetbu]

Easiest way is to remove the lower shock nut, slip the end of the shock out, let the rear end droop some, remove the coil springs. Then jack the rear end back up and see if/when the tires contact the body or wheel we'll. Do NOT let the rearend down too far or you can easily damage the rear brake hose.

 

[jcelk]

put a veritical level on the tire and see ' you need at least 1/2 inch clearence between wheel well and tire also check the inside of the wheel when you increase the backspacing to clear the outside wheel house it will move inward . the higher the spring rate the stiffer it will be if you put stiffer springs in the rear you will need to put stiffer springs in the front .some other people will chime in and say what works on their car

 

[scoti]

As pictured, it looks like there's a decent gap off those 275's so I'm thinking going lower = returning things to stock height. How much are you wanting to 'lower' it?

Pull a rear wheel off & measure the back spacing. Just from the initial images, I'm betting you'll want more back-spacing vs the wheels currently installed.

 

[clean8485]

Keep in mind that on some of these cars, the rear axle assembly is not always precisely centered over the frame. I had an issue with my '80 Malibu where the right rear tire would rub on the frame and inner wheelhouse, and the left side had clearance.

 

[Rt Jam]

If you get advice from 25 people but one guy says different. You will probably take the advice of 24 people.

I'm that one guy that has some completely different advice. Instead of adding spring height until the car sits like a truck. Control articulation. No matter the static ride height, when the axle tilts all the inner sidewall clearance to frame or inner fender is gone.

Instead of taller or longer coils. Install stronger coils. Spring height is not spring rate. A high spring rate will resist bottoming out more that a soft coil. If you put 500lbs in the trunk and it drops 3". Add spacers. 500lbs will still drop it 3". A very stiff high spring rate will drop less. High spring rates also resist body roll.

I've measured a few G bodies and want proof the axle is not center. Makes sense, it's pile of sh*t from the 80's but everyone I've checked measured perfect. Bad upper control arm bushings, body mounts and quarter panels are most often the reason.

In the end, you are asking alot. A 275 is a big tire for a G body. Offset will just move the problem over. Even if one guy got it to work. If you drive different, articulate your axle, carry payload. It's going to be tight.

 

[Ribbedroof]

My 2 cents:

Just from the picture, I can see that if it comes down much, you are going to have problems.

My avatar was running 255/60-15s on 4.5" backspace 8" wheels. Because they were OLD, I replaced them with 275/60-15s that I had on hand. Rubbed the frame on the inside. Added an 8mm (5/16") spacer. Now rubbed the pinchweld. I do not believe that a stock Malibu will fit a 275 in the rear without making contact somewhere. Way back in 1989, I had a different coupe that ran 275/60-15 on OEM 7" Corvette steel rally wheels. As I recall, there was minor rubbing during "spirited" driving. I attribute the minimal rub to the sucked-in sidewalls of a wheel that was really too narrow for the tire.

Avatar now runs 245/45-17s all around, and I think it's the best thing I've done for the car

YMMV

 

[Irishspring46]

As pictured, it looks like there's a decent gap off those 275's so I'm thinking going lower = returning things to stock height. How much are you wanting to 'lower' it?

Pull a rear wheel off & measure the back spacing. Just from the initial images, I'm betting you'll want more back-spacing vs the wheels currently installed.

I’m really just looking to close the gaps a little bit between fender and tire. Nothing like crazy crazy but gaps closed much more. I will pull off the wheel and check backspacing. Maybe an inch and a half lowered maybe 2?

 

[Irishspring46]

As pictured, it looks like there's a decent gap off those 275's so I'm thinking going lower = returning things to stock height. How much are you wanting to 'lower' it?

Pull a rear wheel off & measure the back spacing. Just from the initial images, I'm betting you'll want more back-spacing vs the wheels currently installed.

Also was going to change up my wheels. I hear people say you can’t fit a 275 most of the time but I’ve heard you can fit a 275 on a 15x7 wheel with 3.5 backspacing