[blaster]

i put new stock height springs on my 70 Malibu. Im having problems with my inner trimmed fenderwells barely hitting the tires on heavy bumps. I replaced the 10 year old shocks with air shocks and pumped them up about 10-15 pounds to keep the rear suspension stiff and high enough so it wont hit the tires.Will gas shocks raise the rear height any or make it stiff enough so it wont hit the tires? Is there anything I can put between the coils in the springs to make them stiffer?

 

[Redrum]

Using air shocks for raising the rear is not a good idea. The mount points for the shocks are not designed to support the weight of the body and will eventually fail or the shock itself will fail for the same design reason.

If you want to "tighten" the suspension to keep from hitting the tires you can use air bags safely.

With that said, you will either need to get new wheels with more backspacing or taller rear springs to fix this properly. I beleive that the wagon springs are taller and possibly the El Camino springs....... do a search on this and you should find some information on exactly which springs are taller.

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Redrum (or Mike)
68 Corvette - 383 CI 427 HP
69 SS Chevelle being updated to Pro-Touring
97 Z-28

 

[Pat Kelley]

Air shocks supposedly need a minumim of 25 psi to keep from damaging the seals. I have air shocks on my 66 EC (I haul some heavy loads with it) and, when not carring a load, keep them at 20 psi since any more gives a rough ride and can overload the shock mounts. Air bags are much better and only some $10 more.

I don't think EC springs will help. I put new ones on my 66 EC and bottomed out on small bumps (this was with the shocks below 25 psi). I ended up putting those round rubber spring spacers at the top of the spring (where the anti-squeak rubber pieces go) so I could run lower pressure. It was very hard to get the springs back in. With a 70 you don't have this option since both ends of your springs are pigtailed.

Station wagon springs may have a higher rate, I don't know. But I'm pretty sure EC springs won't help. Correct back spacing is the proper way to fix it but you'll need new wheels.

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Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street
Pat's Page (CR Calculator, Utilites, car specs)

 

[blaster]

I have heard of pieces that are installed betwwen the spring coils that stiffen up the coils. What are they called? They would be exactly what I needed I think.

 

[71boo]

My Malibu had air shocks when I got it, so I purchased a set of air bags and KYB shocks and they work great! I eliminated tire rub on my wide tires (245/15/60) and I can adjust the rear for a nice stance. Another benefit of the air bags is that you can preload the rear suspension for better grip (less wheelspin off the line, better traction = faster ET, etc.) This is a temporary solution for my peg leg rear, until I go POSI.

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1971 Malibu Project car
(350 eng, TH350)
1994 Cavalier Z24 Daily Driver
(3.1L V6, 5 spd)
BOWTIES FOREVER!!!