On measuring for new wheels on rear, I find that correct back spacing measurement for each side on my 71 is diferent by 3/4 inch. The passenger rear wheel is closer to outer wheel well lip than drivers side. Fitting a 10 inch wheel which is actually a total of 11 inch from tip to tip, the driver side is happy with 5.75 BS where the pass side is happy with 6.25. Was going to go with a happy medium of 6 inch back spacing on rear wheels. Has stock upper comtrol arms.
Is this problem out of the ordinary??
Is there a problem in the suspension somewhere or no big deal???
Also I think I found my leaning problem. High on right rear and lower on left rear by and inch.
I can see the right rear spring has tight coils than and a 3 inch gap to next coil where the driver side has tight coils than a 2 inch gap to next coil, that can't be good.
Can I hear some thoughts on these problems please.

I want to replace rear springs BUT I don't want the ass end up in the clouds if I buy stock rear springs. Was thinking of going with 2" lower springs hoping they settle with wheel well lip just below the top of tire.
Any help will be appreciated.

Have your quarters been repaired or replaced? And are you sure?

Have your quarters been repaired or replaced? And are you sure?

Yep, they have been worked on, I know for sure the pass side has been replaced. I can see the seam in side trunk, and I think the drivers side has too been replaced. I was thinking about that quarter replacement casuing me to think maybe the rear may be off, but I shined the thought on.

Try to get a measurement from the lip to the frame. It won't be real accurate but I think 3/4" would be easy to see. If thats ok measure from the back of the brake hub to the frame.

13 3/4"+ on pass side and 13" on drivers side. There is a difference from hub to frame, can't remember mesurements but pass side is farther away. Because the back spacing measurement from front of axle flange to frame is bigger on pass side.

13 3/4"+ on pass side and 13" on drivers side. There is a difference from hub to frame, can't remember mesurements but pass side is farther away. Because the back spacing measurement from front of axle flange to frame is bigger on pass side.

Bent control arms, not hard to bend them side to side. Slide sideways into a curb on a wet or snow covered road and there you go. Had that happen on a 72 Cutlass, much worse than your's. Probably a little more common around here with snow and ice.

EDIT: Was the car ever in an accident? If the frame is not square that will throw it off too. Don't worry about it. Just stack 3/4" of washers on the wheel lugs on the one side and you'll be good to go! Got that little tip from Scott, never tried it but he says it's a surefire fix. :clonk:

Their goes Rich's driving skills out the window again...:D
Check all your C/A:yes:

Just stack 3/4" of washers on the wheel lugs on the one side and you'll be good to go! Got that little tip from Scott, never tried it but he says it's a surefire fix. :clonk:


How did I get dragged into this :confused::confused: ..I guess it really is true that when you lay down with dogs you wake up with fleas :yes::D

How did I get dragged into this :confused::confused: ..I guess it really is true that when you lay down with dogs you wake up with fleas :yes::D

LOL, Had give somebody credit for it and your name just popped into my head. Now let's see of Rich tries it.

LOL. you Guys haven't changed, your still nuts.....
I have global west control arms, not bent. I'll recheck uppers.
Main problem now is the rear springs. Higher on rear pass. side than drivers side, always been that way since I bought the car. After close inspection the pass side spring is spread apart one inch farther than the drivers side at the widest space on each spring.
I want to change springs but want that wheel well lip below tire as the rear drivers side sits now.. Thinking maybe 2" lowering springs would get me there, a big guess.

I would think 2" drop would be a bit too low IMHO....What you need to do is get a pic of factory ride height on fresh springs and go from there, I would think 1" low would be enough though...

That was my first thougths Scott till I hear these guys complain that it didn't change any ride height from there previous ride height. I would like it to be equal to my present drivers side ride height. wheel well lip below top of tire.


http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3461/backtogether059mm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now to me it looks like your's sits a lot like my car, I really need to drop the front... My rear is on stock springs.. I know it's a bad pic for the profile and a different year, but just for reference..

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/7885/vell1sj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/7885/vell1sj6.5fd63f0e64.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=392&i=vell1sj6.jpg)

Very simular, mine is high in the front also. Front Was changed from SB springs to BB springs by previous owner due to header scraping.
Going out to pull rear springs right now

Just pulled the rear springs and I find that the spring on the left is taller than the one on right and a little wider on the coils than the right on the upper area... left spring is 14 3/4 and right spring is 14 1/16. The left spring was from the pass. side of car which which was always higher than the drivers side. Now I know why the lean on the rear.
Problem now is to be lucky to pick the right spring for the ride height I want. I see where guys spend a lot of money and have numerous sets of springs, a hit and miss thing.


http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/862/passrearfenderwell005va8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7453/passrearfenderwell007dl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Again, what you need to do is to find somebody who can give you a pic of stock ride hieght on NEW stock springs then you can order them -1" or whatever you need.. But you need to know where it's supposed to sit to start with..

Again, what you need to do is to find somebody who can give you a pic of stock ride hieght on NEW stock springs then you can order them -1" or whatever you need.. But you need to know where it's supposed to sit to start with..

Your right about that Scott
OPG just gave me a mesurement of the 2" lower spring when installed. Its 8.55 but he couldn't tell me where that mesurement is taken from. From where to where??????
He said it was in the Ass. manual. I'm looking.

Rich if you are going to buy new springs I would try and cut the one spring that is taller and check it again for ride height. I would cut it to be the same as the other one of slightly more since it looks kinda stretched out towards the small looped en that sits on your rear end ?

I know if it was Scott he would just shim up the short spring with a piece of wood or 2x4...l:)

I know if it was Scott he would just shim up the short spring with a piece of wood or 2x4...l:)

Or hook the short one to the back of your Suburban and chain it to a tree. I'm sure you could stretch it out to match the other one.

What's the tag on the shorter one? Doesn't that one have the ride height you want or do you want to go even lower? And what about the off-center diff? Is it off or just the lean to the car.

I know if it was Scott he would just shim up the short spring with a piece of wood or 2x4...l:)


What's wrong with that????? :D

Or hook the short one to the back of your Suburban and chain it to a tree. I'm sure you could stretch it out to match the other one.

What's the tag on the shorter one? Doesn't that one have the ride height you want or do you want to go even lower? And what about the off-center diff? Is it off or just the lean to the car.


I tryed what you said Hank and it pulled my hitch off, thanks alot dude..LOL

Brad, was thinking the same about cutting the spring but whan it won't sit right in the pocket. The spring on that end it fairly flat. Cut a piece off and it won't be flat. Probably till work tho. may try it.

What I meant is does the tag tell what spring it is, assuming that's the height you want.

What I meant is does the tag tell what spring it is, assuming that's the height you want.

Dude, the tag is my tag. It a piece of tape. It marks the spring pointing forward in its seat.

I have the same problem with my 70 SS with the passenger rear wheel closer to well than drivers side. I have 8.5 wheels and 295s 15" and when on rough road it scrapes pass tire. What could I do to slightly raise body or try to correct offset? My offset is about the same at 1". All help appreciated.

The frame height measurements are in the Assembly Manual. I think from memory they are in the alignment section. I will look in my book tonight.

Since my springs are screwed up, i cut one loop of spring off on high spring. Still seats in the rubber boot perfectly. The high side is now a little lower, but I need to get it on flat surface on the road for a few miles than check. So far so good.

Dude, the tag is my tag. It a piece of tape. It marks the spring pointing forward in its seat.

Don't get snippy man! Just leave the springs out and get one of those air lift kits. Then you can adjust the ride height of all 4 wheels where ever you want, plus you'll be right at home when driving through the 'hood. :cool:

LOL, I can picture it now. Rich driving down the boulevard, rear bumper scraping the road, hit the button and now it's 3' in the air, sweeeeeeeeeeeet!:D

Don't get snippy man! Just leave the springs out and get one of those air lift kits. Then you can adjust the ride height of all 4 wheels where ever you want, plus you'll be right at home when driving through the 'hood. :cool:

LOL, I can picture it now. Rich driving down the boulevard, rear bumper scraping the road, hit the button and now it's 3' in the air, sweeeeeeeeeeeet!:D

Hank, you never did like me did you............I'm going to charge your ass for security for your Daughter over here..

Hank, you never did like me did you............I'm going to charge your ass for security for your Daughter over here..

Duh! When did I ever say I liked you? :D

You know I like you Rich and I love pulling your chain even more. :beers:

Duh! When did I ever say I liked you? :D

You know I like you Rich and I love pulling your chain even more. :beers:

Just kidding fool ...LOL

Cutting that one spring worked. Might be a c hair of a lean but VERY hard to tell now. After all these years

Don't get snippy man! Just leave the springs out and get one of those air lift kits. Then you can adjust the ride height of all 4 wheels where ever you want, plus you'll be right at home when driving through the 'hood. :cool:

LOL, I can picture it now. Rich driving down the boulevard, rear bumper scraping the road, hit the button and now it's 3' in the air, sweeeeeeeeeeeet!:D
Now that is funny right their....:yes:l:)
And yes I can see Rich doing just that...:yes: