Thread: Rear suspension question

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I have a 37 Chevy Coupe, it has a 73 Camero rearend with leaf springs. Springs are in good condition, problem is I bottom out fairly frequently, usually when there is a dip in the road like where a trench has been cut and refilled but at a lower road height. Basically both back wheels have to drop at the same time. Anyway rebound has me into the bump stops. So I am trying to figure out a way to fix it.

My question is, can coil over shocks be used effectively with leaf springs on my set up? If so would they cure my bottoming out issue? if the answer is yes to those, then what # coil over would I need? If the answer is no to the combination, then any ideas....LOL?

Thanks,
Brett

Sounds like the problem is in the design of the rear frame if it bottoms out that easily!!! How much travel do you have between the bump stops and housing???

A couple pictures of what your working with would help..I'm with Dave on this that coupe isn't that heavy(2700#) 73 camaro (3100#). Somthings in the wrong place.

I have the bump stops removed now, and in the right circumstance the driveline will now hit the floorpan at the rear yoke. I have about 5"-6" between the yoke and the floorpan sitting still.

Like I say, it don't do it real often, but will hit when the rearend unloads and then rebounds. But both sides have to drop and rebound together, one wheel dropping and rebounding will not hit anything. I am wondering if my springs are worn more than I think they might be. Nothing is broken.

Air shocks will solve your problem but stiffn the ride. I had a 38 coupe and used chevy van springs longer and wider. but rear was narrowed

Seems to be a common problem, with this vintage Ford. The frame on these cars is too close to the body floorboards, and when you change to paralell springs , the rear end sits way to high. When you use a lower/flatter spring you have the rear or other parts hitting the floor boards. I have a 40 coupe with the same problem. My car always rode rough, going over bumps. One day I was looking over the rear suspension, and found a shock, that had broken off at the top mount. I removed both shocks and let the car off the jack and was surprised how much lower the rear of the cas was sitting. Turns out the car was riding on the two shocks which were bottomed out, and holding the car up for clearence. The guy who built this car apparenrtly could not figue out the problem either. With the car sitting just using the springs,the top of my 9" Ford rear has about 6" of clearence, till it hits the floorboards. I've talked to several people, but no one really has a good answer. I was concidering air shocks also which wound be an easy solution, if they make them short enough for this application. Gabriel does list many models but haven't had the time yet to call them.

I was giving air shocks a consideration and then thought about coil overs. But after looking at the shock angle I am not sure coil overs would be the way to go. So will probably just stick a set of air shocks under it and be done.

Ditto.....Alot less money also !

If the shock angle is too radical, and there's not enough suspension travel air shocks will be nothing more then a band aid!!!! Air shocks might stop it from bottoming out but ride and handling will suffer......

Not sure if it is too radical, or even beyond what angle is too radical. I could move the upper shock mount to decrease angle, but that would make for a very short shock. I am currently running a Napa 94005 gas shock, which is a pretty short travel shock. Sitting still the shock is just about the center of its travel range. Not even sure if someone makes an air shock that would work.

most shocks will only have 4 1/2 to 5 in of travel. pumpkin hitting the floor is common. especially with a 9 in or 10 bolt. just the price we pay to set low . shock angle should be 15 to 30 degrees. shocks mounted straight up are pretty much useless. if your springs are loaded and fairly straight you might try a heavy first leaf ( short one ). it will limit spring travel.

Gasser it

Oh, NOOOO, can't gasser......LOL gotta keep the low and mean look. I will start calling shock companies tomorrow and see if I can come up with a set of air shocks that will work. Part stores can't do anything without knowing what car it is on, and in this case that makes no difference...lol Always something.

You have 5-6" freeplay and teh yoke hits the floorboard? You must mean 5-6" with the car up on jackstands and the rear hanging free, right?

or maybe the pinion isn't the right offset for the drive line tunnel--

no bumpstops!!!!!

And sounds like shocks are totally wiped and/or bottoming out