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Lowered swing axle

G.R.G.R.

Finally after a lot of work I got the back end of the Speedster down. What a PIA...I'm a newbie to this type of suspension...Lower a Ford or Chevy you just install lowering blocks...LOL. Following may be 'old hat' to some of you...but...

 

So anyway I started with the back end being up in the air, from the fender lip to the ground I was 26 1/2 up on the drivers side, 26 3/8 on the passenger side. Front end is 22 3/4 drivers side, 22 3/8 passenger side.

 

So, of course I screwed up some where, I'm a newbie to these things...duh! Followed Gordon's instructions...but those are for IRS, swing axle is similar but...duh!

Got it all put back together, lowered it to the ground...uh, oh! way to frigging low on both sides.

 

 

 

Did a research on Samba, found a swing axle chart and started all over again...BTW if you do pull the torsion bar all the way out like I inadvertently did...don't worry, just start from the point where you get the bar to engage the inner splines, torsion bar doesn't care where it engages. Important be sure before you take anything apart that you mark the swing plate and the torsion bar as a reference point. Both my torsion bars have a triangle on them with a dot of white paint on the tip and the swing arms also have a dot of white paint on them.

 

So finally I got it back together...

I now sit at 23 3/4 on the drivers side and 23 3/8 on the passenger side...all around front to rear I'm around and inch higher in back...Hey it is a lot better than near 3" LOL...I can live with it. The rear wheels have about 2-3 degrees neg. camber, which I understand is good?

 

Starting height Pic 1 finished height, Pic 2...don't have enough room in my garage to get a full on profile for comparison

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"Breathe in, Breathe out...life is too short to sweat the small stuff...God,Family and Country"

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G.R.G.R.
Originally Posted by crhemi (Bill):

What's it measure with you in the drivers seat? I need to raise mine an inch

Bill,

It is 23 3/4'' with my weight in the drivers seat, 23 3/8'' with my weight on the passenger side... I know that much about lowering suspensions that you need to take into account 'loaded' weight 

G.R.G.R.

Here is the spline chart I used courtesy of Samba:

If you need to raise the car you just reverse the +/- measurements, this will allow, if using both inner and outer splines measurements about 3/4'' height adjustment increments per spline adjustment and keep the camber at near 0...'fine tuning' so to say. My car had about 2-3* neg camber when I started and it has the same now.

 

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Last edited by G.R.
G.R.G.R.
Originally Posted by ALB:

Gary- Do we get to see the whole car with the new attitude?

And guys with swing axles- you don't want to go much lower or the fulcrum plates (the half round spacers that sit beside the axle ends in the differential) get chewed up.

 

Yes, it'll be soon, right now we have snow on the ground and it's freeking cold outside. Right now our 2 car portion of the garage is full of old furniture from my wife's office and our 2nd bedroom that we need to get rid of. So no room to get a full on profile yet.

 

New Speedster for me...new carpet, furniture and paint for the wife...LOL

__________________________________________________________________

 

BTW following the Samba chart if you go much lower than about 6-7 the swing arm would have to be notched I understand from reading the threads on Samba and you'd get a lot of neg. camber. Also using an angle gauge/protractor is a real help(wished I'd read that when I first started this process), use it to determine your 'stock' setting as a reference after lowering the spring arm down, write it down, make your adjustment, take a reading again write it down for use on the other side of the car, then re-assemble just snugging everything down on both sides, put the wheels on and lower it to the ground bounce the car up and down several times and roll it forward and back to let everything settle...then step back and see if it sits how you want it to... if you are satisfied, raise it up, remove the wheels, and torque everything down...axle bolts are speced at 80-85 ft lbs of torque and the side cover bolts are 30-31 ft lbs of torque. 

 

One very important step before starting, either remove the drums and disconnect the e-brake cables on both sides, or, like I did, loosen the cables completely inside the car then grasp them firmly underneath the car and pull them out about 2-3 inches, otherwise you won't be able to swing the axle back and out of the way.

 

Gary

 

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