wagon suspension help needed

[85crownHPP]

Id just put sedan variable rates in the rear to slightly lower a waggin

[Freshmeat]

I just ordered mine. 925/225. I meant to switch to 250s for the rear but in the process of doing it on my iPhone I forgot to switch them over. I guess we'll see what 225s look like on a wagon soon.

[gadget73]

Id just put sedan variable rates in the rear to slightly lower a waggin

spring rate is probably a bit low. 160ish vs the 175. Not a big deal unless you haul stuff.


David: assuming the same spring height, yes a 175 in/lb spring would sit lower in the same vehicle as a 225 in/lb would. If the spring height is not the same, then it may not be so.

[87gtVIC]

hmm decision, decisions.

[gadget73]

Tom's car is close to stock height in the back. It actually handles very well with that particular spring combo, and it rides far better than I'd have expected it to. Its stiffer than stock, but not objectionably so.

[87gtVIC]

He also has all new poly bushings everywhere!

This is how my car looks with stock front springs and wagon cargo coils in the rear:

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/48/l_5578505fd7c247af8c184b091f0293ca.jpg

To me it looks almost identical to Tom's ride height (maybe just a smidge higher in the rear), so I am not even sure if I should mess with anything.

Hey CaptainKRM where are the pics of that sexy wagon?

[GM_Guy]

Id just put sedan variable rates in the rear to slightly lower a waggin

Going from Sedan variable rates to Wagon variable rates in my sedan raised the back end exactly two (2") inches.

Going the other way around (sedans in a wagon) will drop it more than 2 inches due to the extra wagon weight. How much, is anybodys guess. If the spring catalog is to be believed, its 70lbs more for the wagon).

Alex.

[CaptainKRM]

Hey CaptainKRM where are the pics of that sexy wagon?

its not real sexy right now. too cold and salty here this should give you an idea as to how low the car sits - empty mind you

[87gtVIC]

wow that is pretty low!

[Freshmeat]

Those pictures don't do much for me. Can you get a frontal quarter shot?

[CaptainKRM]

Those pictures don't do much for me. Can you get a frontal quarter shot?

yeah when blizzard 2010 passes and i can dig it out, sure

[Freshmeat]

No! Now!!
We just had our second snow this winter. I've lived in Louisiana for 26 years and have never seen two snows in one winter.

[CaptainKRM]

so i got my new 250 rated rear springs from speedway today. they're still alot shorter than the stockers, so i'm concerned still. but i'll let you know how they work out.

[pvillese]

Going from Sedan variable rates to Wagon variable rates in my sedan raised the back end exactly two (2") inches.

Alex.[/QUOTE]

How does it ride with the wagon variable rate springs? I'm trying to decide what to do with my car(85 sedan). I am going to tow our camper with my GM and the weight I added to drive around in the winter is causing my rear end to really drag so there is no way the stock springs I have now would handle the car fully loaded and the camper too. I'm sure my stock springs are worn being 25 years old and 78k miles. My one thought is to add helper air bags that I manually inflate, which is what I had on my RRC and I really like being able to control the ride height, but seeing as my springs are probably pretty worn I should probably replace the springs too. My other thought, which I'm not a huge fan of due to the added height but has the lower cost, would be wagon variable rate springs. I'm also open to other suggestions but the cheaper the solution the better.

[Piece-it pete]

How does it ride with the wagon variable rate springs? I'm trying to decide what to do with my car(85 sedan). I am going to tow our camper with my GM and the weight I added to drive around in the winter is causing my rear end to really drag so there is no way the stock springs I have now would handle the car fully loaded and the camper too. I'm sure my stock springs are worn being 25 years old and 78k miles. My one thought is to add helper air bags that I manually inflate, which is what I had on my RRC and I really like being able to control the ride height, but seeing as my springs are probably pretty worn I should probably replace the springs too. My other thought, which I'm not a huge fan of due to the added height but has the lower cost, would be wagon variable rate springs. I'm also open to other suggestions but the cheaper the solution the better.[/QUOTE]

I really liked my Moog cargo coils, in my old 87 GM, for that car (vs a wagon etc). If you put say 25 50# bags of readymix in your trunk it'll still sag , but it generally rode a 'correct' height and took a great deal of beating, for very little green (65-70 bucks).

I have them in my 97 GM too. I'm a fan.

Pete