lowering the rear suspension 2 or 3 inches

[itsnotanova]

I'm looking for a good way to lower my rear. I've boxed the control arms and already have hotchkis lowering sport springs. My problem is that I've lowered the front about 3 inches and now my 78 malibu has a stinkbug stance. It took about 200lbs in the trunk to get the stance I'm looking for. I'm not lowering my malibu for looks alone. In fact, handling is more important to me and I go by the thought that lower is better for going around corners. I don't want to go the airbag route because of the extra weight and price. I was thinking of cutting the pitail off and rewelding it at a better angle. I know heating spring changes their strength, so I was going to cut it with my chop saw and put the spring in a bucket of water when i weld to keep it cool. Does this seem realistic or stupid? I saw elsewhere on this forum people talking about moog springs. Do they lower the rear that much? Has anybody have experience with opg springs?

 

[itsnotanova]

Anyone???? :?

 

[80' bu]

welding spring steel is not good, it will go very brittle if you cool it too quick. If you cool it slowly it'll end up soft with no memory. Both situations are not what you need if you're looking for handling. I'd say buy some shorter springs if you can get them

 

[itsnotanova]

I was pretty sure the cutting/welding the springs was a bad idea. I was just wondering if anyone had any success doing that and plus it would have not cost me anything. TonySS had suggested using 2 inch drop springs and not going lower because of tire rub. I would like more but I'm running with 275 wide tires on the back and I would be pushing my luck if I did go lower. I'm hoping the extra inch less will help keep my rearend from kicking out around corners. Right now I have hoshkis springs all around. The front have a half coil cut and I'm almost completely happy with my car's handling. I just need the rear to stay glued and sit a little lower. Hopefully the opg springs will solve both problems. I've heard taking the rear swaybar out helps with oversteer.

 

[megaladon6]

removing the rear bar will help. lowering it probably won't. as a matter of fact going lower than you are now will probably make it worse (i'm assuming a 2in drop at present). here's a link with some corrections/causes of over and understeer. http://www.rogerkrausracing.com/TechSheets/overunder.shtml
yes at the bottom it says lower the car, but due to the design of a g-body rear suspension, going lower screws up the roll center and a couple of other things. here's another link that discusses this. http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46556
like i've said before, the hotchkis system tends to be pretty stiff and can be too stiff. if you have a factory bar in back, i'd lose it. if it's an aftermarket, larger diameter, bar--go to a junkyard stock one first.

 

[itsnotanova]

Are opg spring too stiff? Not like I have a choice if i want a 2 inch drop also? I also haven't had it aligned since putting tubular control arms/ bbody spindles and front end rebuild.Just eyeballed it and it went straight so I left it at that for now..

 

[megaladon6]

i'm not positive on this, but i seem to recall that the OPG springs are lower, but use the stock spring rate. they're probably too soft.
really the guy to talk to is marcus at SC&C. he's a true guru and knows what the different spring rates are and what will work best with your combo.

 

[itsnotanova]

Maybe the softer springs would help? Is there anybody else who makes drop springs in the 2-3inch range? Would adjustible control arms help any? Right now I have them boxed and with the 1inch drop from hoshkis there is no vibration. As far as I know the only reasons for adjustible upper control arms is to adjust the pinion angle because of vibrations from lowering a vehicle or lower 60ft time on strip cars.

 

[Tony_SS]

Are opg spring too stiff? Not like I have a choice if i want a 2 inch drop also? I also haven't had it aligned since putting tubular control arms/ bbody spindles and front end rebuild.Just eyeballed it and it went straight so I left it at that for now..

Hey Woody, that could be the oversteer cause. Get that alignment dialed in with some good specs. You should be able to run some good neg camber and pos castor with those spindles. And if you still have issues I would stiffen up the front sway bar before losing the function of the rear bar.

But on my Malibu I have some major understeer going on, then again I have a 36mm hollow up front and a stock rear bar. I'm going to replace the crappy steering box I have with a 12:7 one before I go to a 1" rear bar.

Here's the stance I have with the OPG springs. 3" up front and 2" rear. They are not too stiff or soft at all. The firmness is comparable to Eibachs. I'm really happy with them.. no rubbage at all. I think they'll give you the rear stance you're looking without any sacrifices.

I like what you're doing with the Bu BTW. I eventually want to do the same with the bumpers as you've done.

 

[itsnotanova]

Tony, Your stance is very close to what I have. Judging by your picture I think my bu sits a little lower in the front and higher in the back. I love the slammed look but I might have gone too far with the front. The bumpers give the bu a smooth modern look to me and they take at least 100lbs off the car if you do what I did.