Why won't it go down???
 

Over the weekend I installed Hotchkis 2" lowering springs on my 1971 Nova. However, the front end doesn't seem to have gone down at all. It looks to me as it did before I installed the springs. Is the front going to go down or did I do something wrong? Do I need to change shocks? Please help... :eek:

This keeps coming up....the 2" drop is based on a brand new car ride height, not one with 30 year old worn out springs and sagging frames. The springs are a 2" drop, the problem is you already 2" of wear on your chassis.

Shocks have no effect on ride height. Springs wont go down. Gonna have to cut them or get different springs if you want it lower.

Are you sure the suspension isn't just hung up right now?

You might want to go back and loosen all the A-arm bolts and roll the car around and bounce on it. After it has fully settled, then properly torque the A-arm suspension bushing and sway bar bolts.

It is common to tighten it all up while on the jack stands. Once you lower it down it is bound up at the bushing. I see guys do this with Corvettes all the time right after major suspension work.

If you find that the suspension isn't binding, it would be a good idea to drive the car a couple hundred miles before you start cutting coils, as the springs will "settle" a little bit.

Yeah, what he said. "Good springs" won't settle but Hotchkis springs may.

Dude, it says right on the prescription that if it stays up for more than four hours you are supposed to see a doctor. :wow:




Oh, you mean your car......sorry. :rofl:

You ought to drive the thing for a month or so before you break out the cutoff wheel. I've yet to install a spring that didn't settle a bit after installation.

Damn True, you are a True Nut! :willy:

It turns out the springs were not installed in the indentions in the lower control arms, so it took a while for them to finally settle into place. I can't tell you how relieved I was (and frightened at the same time) when I was driving and heard the passenger side spring pop into place.

Thanks for all your feedback.

Holla! :yes:

Ride
 

Just my 2 cents,
Lowering spring numbers are based on a car with new stock springs.
Shocks do effect ride height, as high pressure gas shocks, like KYB's, can raise a car about 0.5-1", as they work a little like air shocks.
Also some shock fitments are very generic and the shock could be bottomed out.
Kevin

Ummm, no. I have never seen a conventional shock in my entire life that could actually support 600lbs (average weight per wheel that a shock would have to support in order to affect ride height), I can compress most shocks with my bare hands....or maybe I am just way more badass than I previously thought. If the shock makes an impact on ride height, something is terribly wrong. They also work nothing like air shocks which have a separate air bag for supporting weight.