Rear suspension questions...

Discussion in 'Technical' started by MrP, Jul 5, 2012.

  1. MrP

    MrP Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2011
    Messages:
    404
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Vehicle:
    1970 Maverick 302
    Hey guys, since moving the battery to the rear, the aluminum heads, and all the lightweight goodies under the hood, the front end is up a good .5 and the rear is sagging now lower than the front.

    Aside from aesthetics, when I really get on it with ONE passenger! My rear or possibly driveshaft is hitting the body when it shifts and hooks....

    So aside from new springs, would the caltrac bars raise the rear end up some? I literally only need .5" or so. I do not want to buy new springs unless it is really necessary.

    Should I add in some timbrem or beefy bump stops of some kind? Also when I go to fit larger tire back there I might need to lift the rear a bit?

    TIPS?
     
  2. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2007
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    272
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    Buffalo N.Y.
    Vehicle:
    1972 Maverick 2 door.Original V-8 3 spd std shift.Also a 72 one owner Sprint sporting a 351 Windsor
    You should buy new springs...It sounds like its finally necessary...
    Cal tracs and weak springs wont help you...
     
  3. MrP

    MrP Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2011
    Messages:
    404
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Vehicle:
    1970 Maverick 302
    I really do not want to have to swap springs....The money could be put toward posi....
     
  4. MrP

    MrP Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2011
    Messages:
    404
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Vehicle:
    1970 Maverick 302
    A cheap fix would be throw the gf out but she is only 110lbs!
     
  5. Jsarnold

    Jsarnold Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2008
    Messages:
    2,842
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    102
    Location:
    Raleigh, North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    '72 Sprint
    I don't know your situation, but it doesn't have to cost much if you can do the work yourself. You can either get some used Econline springs (see the tech article) or add a used leaf to each of your current springs (that's what I did and I like the result).

    I would NOT put limited slip in with sagging springs. You didn't say your were going to do that but, just in case you're thinking about it. :)
     
  6. MaverickDan

    MaverickDan I wanna go fast!!!

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2007
    Messages:
    808
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Midlothian, VA.
    Vehicle:
    73 Maverick 4dr
    A cheap "fix" is put on longer shackles. Really you should put new springs on before a lsd or locker. After I put my 3.80 locker diff in on the old springs the car got what I like to call "booty shake" every time I got on it the back end of the car started shaking really bad and was very hard to control. Here's the thread http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=69822
     
  7. MrP

    MrP Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2011
    Messages:
    404
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Vehicle:
    1970 Maverick 302
    Man, this is going to be complicated....I cant buy springs unless I measure mine to make sure I do not lift the rear a mile high...
     
  8. pegleg1858

    pegleg1858 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2012
    Messages:
    161
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    kentucky
    Vehicle:
    69 1/2 maverick
    Try air shocks. Less than a hundred bucks. Adjust the ride height to where ever you want.
     
  9. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2007
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    272
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    Buffalo N.Y.
    Vehicle:
    1972 Maverick 2 door.Original V-8 3 spd std shift.Also a 72 one owner Sprint sporting a 351 Windsor
    DO NOT put air shocks on a mav...You will wreck the shock mounts/floor pan...
     
  10. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Messages:
    26,456
    Likes Received:
    2,835
    Trophy Points:
    978
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    MACON,GA.
    Vehicle:
    '73 Grabber
    ...:rofl2:...:biglaugh:...:rolleyes:
     
  11. diddie

    diddie Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    259
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    75
    Location:
    indiana
    Vehicle:
    two 1977 Maverick 2drs.
    i saw this comming air shocks are no good for our cars! your putting a bandaid on a gun shot wound, it might cover it up now but it will cause more problems later!
     
  12. MrP

    MrP Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2011
    Messages:
    404
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Vehicle:
    1970 Maverick 302
    I have had bad exp. with air shocks. But have had a TON of luck with timbrems...

    They are a huge rubber overload bushing. I used these to control wheel hop and tighten up the rear end of my 2 door explorer when I was "racing" it.

    I put a half leaf husky overload spring with a ton of preload on the leaf pack, installed these huge rubber bushings and then lowered (raised) the axle with drop blocks until I had about .5" til the rubber bushings.

    It had good ride qualities but once you hit a big bump or when around a long sweeping corner, it would push on the bushings which were fairly progressive and really flatten the vehicle back out.

    Unfortunately caused some under steer issues even with 295 front tires....But I never rolled the thing and I managed 2 reckless driving charges with it!
     
  13. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2007
    Messages:
    6,538
    Likes Received:
    153
    Trophy Points:
    203
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    71 Maverick
    the cal tracs wont raise the car at all. they will help with the dip during the hard shifts. that is the springs wrapping up and that is what caltracs counters.
    i would suggest just adding a leaf to your current spring pack. much like the econoline van post above.
     

Share This Page