bigdman Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 i have a monoleaf rear suspension sits to high for me, i would like to lower it 2 to 3 inches, but heres the problem i'm on a budget. does anyone know how i could keep the monoleaf and drop it. or coilovers, i've heard that coilovers can screw up the whole rear end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Nah, no one has shown any evidence that coilovers can screw up the whole rear end. Not saying it couldn't happen, but a handful of people have them and have had them for years and haven't noticed any problems. Coilovers are expensive though. $300+ for JUST the coilovers last I looked. What kind of budget are you looking at? The only real cheap way to do it is to install a sagging spring. That ought to cost you well less than $100. I've also seen a ghetto method by using an overload spring in reverse, one of those kinds designed for trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 I would recommend the coilovers after seeing Jay's ride, but like Shawn mentioned, they certainly aren't the cheap way to go......if have the car long enough, the rear end will start to sag on it's own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Miheala (or however he spells it) was telling me in the chat the other night that the regal gs leaf is lower, so that may be an option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 btw i am jay, the only thing on my sig chopped is my wheels (duh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 those wheels are tight yo!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 fo shizzle i picked them bitches up next to da wata tower here in town for like $300, they be 22'z yo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 i have a monoleaf rear suspension sits to high for me, i would like to lower it 2 to 3 inches, but heres the problem i'm on a budget. does anyone know how i could keep the monoleaf and drop it. or coilovers, i've heard that coilovers can screw up the whole rear end. Do what I do: carry all your ex-girlfriends in body bags in the trunk, that will lower the car tools actually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95oldsVan Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 I havent seen the Leaf set up real close,but there may be a way to lower it. I had an 86 Corvette with the rear mono leaf spring and the way to lower the back of the car was to remove the 2 side bolts w/castle nuts/cotter pins and install new bolts with thread locking bolts and adjust it that way. Are there 2 side bolts with a castle nut that determine the where the spring bolts down at?If so,I dont see a reason why you cant replace those bolts and install the nuts at a higher level than before,causing the back of the car to sit lower. As I said,I havent seen how its bolted all the way and this was the design of the Vette I had to lower it. If that will not work,another trick for the front of the Vette,which may be similar to the rear of car you have, was to shave off/remove the mono leaf main bushing/shims to allow a lower stance. Dont know if this helps but wnated to pass this along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95oldsVan Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 The computer got slow and made duplicate responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 The leaf isn't bolted down on the ends. It just rests on the back side of the strut knuckle. Here's an old pic I have that points out the different components of the rear suspension (IIRC, I was pointing out how the swaybar mounted) : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Another idea I had awhile back, but decided was either not feasible or too much work (I can't remember), was to cut out the center spring perch and mount the spring up higher. I seem to recall you could get a nice 2" drop that way, if it were practical to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdman Posted January 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 i'm on a budget of $100, i might try cutting out that perch, a 2 inch drop is pretty good. my car now looks like a monster truck it sits so high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 you should just leave it tall and take it mudding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95oldsVan Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 From the looks of the photos,can one install some shims under the spring were it sits inside on the ends?If you raise the spring sides,the car should drop some.Just curious...Im just going by a pic so not sure how much room is inside the pocket area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 The spring pushes down on the knuckles, so if you put shims in there, it would actually lift the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAMDIT Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 You could always bag it........ oh wait, never mind. You said you were on a budget! Seriously though, these cars are a pain to do anything with the suspension. I guess it's the price we pay for not being ricers......darn Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95oldsVan Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 The spring pushes down on the knuckles, so if you put shims in there, it would actually lift the rear. Duh me...I think youre right...Its been a while since I lowered the Corvette and remember now that when you can lower the spring ends it helps the car drop some.Raising the spring corners lifts the body more.Gotta lay off the Jack D's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 You could always bag it........ oh wait, never mind. You said you were on a budget! Seriously though, these cars are a pain to do anything with the suspension. I guess it's the price we pay for not being ricers......darn Sean mine will be bagged asap, but the wedding is getting in the way of that! can you send me a brief explination of how you did it, pics if u can? thanks jay loeridr6792@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAMDIT Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 You could always bag it........ oh wait, never mind. You said you were on a budget! Seriously though, these cars are a pain to do anything with the suspension. I guess it's the price we pay for not being ricers......darn Sean mine will be bagged asap, but the wedding is getting in the way of that! can you send me a brief explination of how you did it, pics if u can? thanks jay loeridr6792@aol.com Hey man, I don't really have alot of pictures of the current setup, but we are currently revamping the rear and once we start cuttin and welding we are gonna take mad pictures. We think we can get the car to lay frame, or unibody, or whatever hangs the lowest. We are finishing up a bag install on an S-10 and the Cutlass is next. I hope to have pictures sometime next month. Ill post em when I get them. later Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 thanks, i'll be waiting patiently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 if you shim the ends you raise the car. That's what the moog helper pads do. They fit in there and raise the car 1/2 inch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luminal67 Posted February 4, 2006 Report Share Posted February 4, 2006 Talk to this guy, George at http://www.flex-a-form.com. I he can make you a mono leaf that will lower the car. I run one and it sits like 1.5'' lower. I also have an extra one that sat even lower. The one I have is actually a modified 1967 Corvette mono leaf spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loominaz34 Posted February 4, 2006 Report Share Posted February 4, 2006 No, by adding shims, you would effectively raise the car, that's how truck lifts blocks work, but sideways. If the leaf mounted under the perches, then that would work the way you're thinking it should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhrarhG Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 hey luminal67, are you running the monoleaf that you can currently buy from george? If I were to call and order one, would I have to specify anything in particular, spring rates, distances, etc, or just tell him it's a w-body? I'm looking for around a 1.5-2" drop, just want to make sure i get it, and still a stiff suspension. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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