ratcityrain

Here is the rear set up currently on my car:

Tanabe Sustec Pro II Coil overs with adjustable rear springs
18x9 rims with a 23mm offset
224/40/18 tires
-3 degree camber shims
plus a couple hundred pounds of wood & stereo equipment in the back of the xB

The problem I'm having is that I am having to use sprint technology rear springs with the coil over set instead of the springs that came with the coilovers.

When the sprint springs are installed and the rear spring adjustment is at the lowest it can go, the gab between top of tire and bottom of fender is about an 1" to 1 1/4"

when i have the tanabe springs installed and the spring adjustment set to the highest it can go, then the car isn't drivable anymore as the rear fenders drag along the sidewall's of the tires.

The problem now is that neither one of these springs give me the ride height & the look I want to go with 'cause it's either too high or too low. I think that if I could find some form of spacer to give me another 3/4" where the springs get installed at would be perfect. Also, another option, if available, is that I have been told that there are devices that I can clamp onto the springs making it so they cannot compress all the way down which is what I think the tanabe springs are doing (compressing so much that it lowers the car too much)

Basically right now my car sits like a hot rod where the back end sits up higher than the front end and I don't like it anymore (plus i'm getting made fun of lol)

I can do any of the work myself, but I just am not an expert on other solutions available to get the final look I want.

Thanks for your help

swartzautoman

iTrader: (3)

do not use the spring clip things, they suck.

i don't have time right now but ive got a few ideas on what you could do

ogerdgonz

You could add rear air bag helper springs like they install on trucks to help prevent the tanabe from bottoming out.

You could get a higher load capacity spring set from tanabe that would not settle as low due to your stereo set up.

bbszero

iTrader: (6)

If you figure the dimensions, i could have a couple spacers machined for you, to sit on top, or under the springs, so you could use the tanabes.

ratcityrain

^

that would be great. all i can find are some rubber ones that either go inbetween the coils or there eare spacers out there i can put below or above the spring, but most of them say they are made for the front, not the rear.

i think a spacer would be perfect for me. would the ones you make be so the spring could sit on it?

ogerdgonz

You do not want a spacer you need ti figure out a way to unload that spring so it can still perform its function or else you are going to wear the shocks out really fast and ride for crap.

bbszero

iTrader: (6)

They could be made however you want them to sit. it'd basically just be round spacer, however thick you need, it'd probably have to have a groove for the spring to sit in. I'm not an engineer, but seems like it'd do the trick.

ratcityrain

what do you mean by unload the spring? i am not ready to get rid of the stereo set up to lighten up the load so i rather determine another way to complete what I want to do

ogerdgonz

I know you want to keep the stereo that is why I am recommending air helper springs or air shocks to lighten the load carried by the coil spring

swartzautoman

iTrader: (3)

ok, this is what i did.

i have Tien SS coilovers and the rear spring is a 180 pound spring.
then the car was unloaded it sat a bit tall in the rear. i wanted to go lower but when im on my way to car shows ive got alot in the car and it squats down real low, but then when i get to the show and unload everything its sittin tall again.
i real need a stronger spring.
i looked at all the different spring spacers........... i didn't want to go that rout.
so this is what i did.
i found a compainy that made a spring that was the correct I.D. and was 225 pound load and 7" tall.
it worked perfect.
ive still got my adjustment collars.
my back tires are touckin when im un loaded and only squats between 1/2" to 3/4" when it loaded.
the only problem ive run into is the springs are real short and if the car is put up on a lift the rear springs will fall out.
its not a problem if the car is on the ground and you ony jack up one side at a time or you jack it up by the tortion beam.
the front isn't a problem, never has been.

the sronger spring made the ride better all the way around.
it still handles bumps good and handles corners better + it still sits low and i can carry all my needed cargo to the shows.
its perfect for me.





this is how it sits when its unloaded



here it sits loaded down


no rubbing issues.
but then again my rear fenders are rolled and ive got -3 camber

ogerdgonz

To prevent the spring from falling out install a suspension limit strap like they have on race trucks. It prevents the axle from dropping low enough that your spring would fall out.

swartzautoman

iTrader: (3)

thats what i plan on doing just havent done it yet

ratcityrain

How much did it cost you to get those springs made? The look you have is what I need/want, only difference is that the weight will never change unless I remove all the stereo equipment.

swartzautoman

iTrader: (3)

about $75 each, i didn't ask for chrome, it was just an added bonus.

give me the specs of the sprint technology springs and i can get a set made for you.
i would need I.D., pound, free height and the height when compressed.

Sciond

hmmm I wonder how this would work with my progress coils....

ratcityrain

let me get back to you as soon as i can get those numbers

cee_dub2003

I had to do the same thing with my coilovers. I am actually using a Weapon-R 400lbs rate spring in the rear. I also use Koni adjustable shocks. I am runnign 18x9 with 20 offset. 225/40/18
Here is what i did!

whitej47

air shocks FTW. dude, don't mess with all of this other stuff just go with air monroes in the rear. You will be happy you did. $65 for the whole set up, and you can adjust from within the car.

Sciond

hmmmm^^^ yeah I saw that on another site I might replace My Konis with them to try it out

whitej47

I will tell you, the ride is crap with lowering springs. They will ride superb with air in the rear tho.