Why won't it go down???

[novajess1972]

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...

[sinned]

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.

[MarkM66]

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.

[69MyWay]

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.

[907rs]

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.

[sinned]

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