73 rear spring install opinion

[George W.]

I am in the process of redoing my 73. The body is off and I am putting back parts on the frame. I fabricated some fixed mounts for the rear shock locations to hold the running gear in the approximate height of a finished car. My plan was to run the drivetrain after engine run in to look for grimlins prior to putting the body back on.

After installing the rear spring, I am concerned that the force applied to the lower shock mount, at normal ride height, may be more than it was designed for. Does the fully extended shock keep the trailing arm from dropping low enough to cause damage to the halfshafts and u-joints? If so than the shock mounts were designed to carry some load from spring tension when the car is lifted. But in the normal ride height the spring tension on the mount may be more than whats safe.

I would appreciate opinions and advice on the fixed shock mount.

George

[Joe L.]

Re: 73 rear spring install opinion

I am in the process of redoing my 73. The body is off and I am putting back parts on the frame. I fabricated some fixed mounts for the rear shock locations to hold the running gear in the approximate height of a finished car. My plan was to run the drivetrain after engine run in to look for grimlins prior to putting the body back on.

After installing the rear spring, I am concerned that the force applied to the lower shock mount, at normal ride height, may be more than it was designed for. Does the fully extended shock keep the trailing arm from dropping low enough to cause damage to the halfshafts and u-joints? If so than the shock mounts were designed to carry some load from spring tension when the car is lifted. But in the normal ride height the spring tension on the mount may be more than whats safe.

I would appreciate opinions and advice on the fixed shock mount.

George

George-----


I don't know exactly what you're getting at here. However, the tension on the mount is not a problem with the car at ride height or when the car is raised and the shocks fully extended. However, I would not run the car in gear with the rear suspension off the ground and the shocks at full extension. In this configuration, there can be some u-joint "interference". Instead, I would jack up the rear suspension so that the shocks are at something less than full extension and, preferably, with the suspension at near normal configuration. The suspension can be jacked up with jacks positioned under the bearing supports on either side. Of course, you also want jack stands on the frame, with the weight of the car resting on these.

[George W.]

Re: 73 rear spring install opinion

Joe, thanks for the information.

George