DSE 3" Drop Leaf Problems

[NvrDun71]

Having some ride height issues with a set of Detroit Speed 3" drop leafs I recently installed on my 71' Nova project. I am running there speed kit 1 front and rear which basically consists of the their upper/lower control arms, 2" drop springs up front, and 3" drop leafs in the rear with the red DSE koni shocks all the way around.

Currently the car is sitting 2" lower than the front, on the passenger side rear & 1-1/8" lower on the driver side rear. Front is dead nuts level from side to side at 23 5/8".

Measurements at each corner are:
Driver Front: 23 5/8"
Pass Front: 23 5/8"
Driver Rear: 22 1/2"
Pass Rear: 21 5/8"

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b19/SlvrSierra/Mobile%20Uploads/image_2.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/user/SlvrSierra/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_2.jpg.html)


I have spoken to DSE about the issue and they can't peg the source of the problem and have offered no real solution. This car is a very clean 2 owner, low mileage car that has never been wrecked, raced, abused, etc and has all original sheet metal so I find it hard to believe it is the car.... All suspension was tightened after weight was on the car, and the car has enough miles on it now where settling shouldn't be a factor anymore. With any additional weight added to the trunk or rear seat passengers will make this problem even worse.

DSE claims that this combination of parts should sit level, but in this application it clearly does not... These issues have me contemplating a rear leaf spring swap and possibly a shock upgrade? Looking at the Hotchkis 3" drop leafs and their fox shocks all the way around as a possible alternative? and or ridetech smooth body Q series shocks...

I'm hoping someone else has ran into a similar issue or has a better combination of parts I can swap to? Due to time and money constraints a 4 link or torque arm swap just isn't in the cards at this point in time.

Any help and all suggestions are appreciated!

[rickpaw]

What are the measurements at the rockers (front/back).

It seems to me that the rear wheel openings on Novas are a little flat at the top, whereas the fronts are more rounded, making it looks like the rear is lower than the front.

Maybe it's optical illusion, but your car actual looks like it sits higher on the rear, based on the ground clearance

[rchaskin]

I have the same setup, and my car looks pretty similar to yours.

I sent you an email with some pics, I don't have a PB account.....

[workng247]

I agree with the previous post that your car is not lower in the rear, it only looks that way because of the difference in the arch of the front and rear wheel well openings.

I doubt there is anything wrong with the DSE stuff and I doubt that swapping them out for different leafs/shocks will change anything. Obviously you need to be measuring with the car on a level surface, not so obvious is how uneven level looking concrete can be. If you haven't done so already, move the car around and measure, I'll be it changes some. If you can't get happy with it you could experiment with a little shimming. You may not be able to get it perfect but should be able to get close.

[Sieg]

The stance looks pretty good to me and slightly higher in the rear. Though without pictures on a level surface it's hard to be certain.

How many miles have you driven on the set up?

Use a digital or bubble level on your rocker to determine front to back level. Check with a full and empty tank to know the difference. Maybe use the rear lip of your trunk lib to determine left to right level?

Do you know that your rear wheel opening arches are exactly even? You could pull the rear wheels and run a string line down the rocker extended into the wheelwell and check the arches.

Are your leaf bushings and shackles lubed and evenly torqued?

Did you compare the spring arches before installation?

[69x22]

If the rearend brackets on your axel tubes are not welded on perfect to each other it may give you a preloading effect that could cause a lean.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

yep, look at the body line and not the wheel openings.

[Spiffav8]

Having some ride height issues with a set of Detroit Speed 3" drop leafs I recently installed on my 71' Nova project. I am running there speed kit 1 front and rear which basically consists of the their upper/lower control arms, 2" drop springs up front, and 3" drop leafs in the rear with the red DSE koni shocks all the way around.

Currently the car is sitting 2" lower than the front, on the passenger side rear & 1-1/8" lower on the driver side rear. Front is dead nuts level from side to side at 23 5/8".

Measurements at each corner are:
Driver Front: 23 5/8"
Pass Front: 23 5/8"
Driver Rear: 22 1/2"
Pass Rear: 21 5/8"



Couple of questions.


Which points are you measuring from to get your numbers?
Did you tighten up all the nuts and bolts before dropping the car back onto the ground?

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Couple of questions.


Which points are you measuring from to get your numbers?
Did you tighten up all the nuts and bolts before dropping the car back onto the ground?


Measurements at each corner are:
Driver Front: 23 5/8"
Pass Front: 23 5/8"
Driver Rear: 22 1/2"
Pass Rear: 21 5/8"

Sorry missed that. There are alot of variables with these old cars. Body sheet metal off abit or a slight difference in frame rails.

We had a similar deal with a 69 Camaro and Hotchkis leafs. Even switched sides and it still existed.

[Che70velle]

I don't think you have a suspension component issue. Here's why...
If your car, or any vehicle is low, or high at a given corner, the opposite corner of the vehicle will be the opposite in height. For example, if the RIGHT rear of my Chevelle is low an inch compared to the left rear, then my LEFT front will be somewhat higher than my right front. Corner weights work the same way also.
Vince hit the nail on the head. These cars have a variance. It could be that your cars sheet metal has been replaced, and whoever did it didn't keep the car square during that process. I'm guessing, of course. You might have a pristine car that's never had any sheet metal work, rare, but maybe.
Another thing I'd look at if I were you, are the front springs. If they are not seated, or indexed properly, it will throw the rear end heights off, and it would be way more exaggerated at the rear, due to the Novas design of a short front overhang, and a long rear overhang.
Just some thoughts...

[Vegas69]

The only way I know of to get the exact stance you desire is coil overs. When a car is properly corner weighted, it won't be level side to side anyway.
I agree that it's a body opening issue, not a stance issue.

[craig510]

If you think it is a bad spring, swap the rears left and right. If it follows the spring you may have an issue with the springs and DSE should take care of it. If it levels out, all good and it was probably just some tolerance stack up. If it stays the same it is probably the body and you may just live with it, or get it on a frame machine take to get some measures and see if it needs a pull.

[Spiffav8]

Measurements at each corner are:
Driver Front: 23 5/8"
Pass Front: 23 5/8"
Driver Rear: 22 1/2"
Pass Rear: 21 5/8"

Sorry missed that. There are alot of variables with these old cars. Body sheet metal off abit or a slight difference in frame rails.

We had a similar deal with a 69 Camaro and Hotchkis leafs. Even switched sides and it still existed.

What if he measured at the rocker, next to the wheel well? That's assuming the car is straight.

I had this issue with my Red 67. I ended up having DSE ship a second set of springs and then taking the two that had similar arches. Once installed I didn't tighten any of the hardware till the car was on the ground and sitting close to level. Seemed to solve the problem.

[hotwired]

Looks great and level to me? I just installed spc upper and lowers and ats tall spindles and measuring to the wheel openings the drivers sits 1/2" lower than then the pass. Frame measurements and suspension pivots are all equal to the ground . Mine appears to be in the sheet metal and I hope to shim it out when I line up the body panels.

What size wheels and tires are you running. I like the stance, I am looking to run 245/40 and 275/40 on 18's.

[NvrDun71]

I have the same setup, and my car looks pretty similar to yours.

I sent you an email with some pics, I don't have a PB account.....

Appreciate it Randy, have a few questions for you I will include in my email response
The stance looks pretty good to me and slightly higher in the rear. Though without pictures on a level surface it's hard to be certain.

How many miles have you driven on the set up?

Use a digital or bubble level on your rocker to determine front to back level. Check with a full and empty tank to know the difference. Maybe use the rear lip of your trunk lib to determine left to right level?

Do you know that your rear wheel opening arches are exactly even? You could pull the rear wheels and run a string line down the rocker extended into the wheelwell and check the arches.

Are your leaf bushings and shackles lubed and evenly torqued?

Did you compare the spring arches before installation?

Several hundred miles on the car once assembled, but it has had full weight on the car for over a year and has been sucked down on several tow trucks in that time.

All bushings are evenly lubed and torqued, this was done with full weight on the car also. I did not compare wheel arches befopre install as the car has been down for about 10 years. Appreciate the ideas on the additional checks, the car is currently at the interior shop and was trying to brainstorm ways to investigate a fix.

If the rearend brackets on your axel tubes are not welded on perfect to each other it may give you a preloading effect that could cause a lean.

To my knowledge they are, but will def double check them again

yep, look at the body line and not the wheel openings.

Couple of questions.


Which points are you measuring from to get your numbers?
Did you tighten up all the nuts and bolts before dropping the car back onto the ground?

These were just quick measurements from the top centerline of wheel opening to level ground. All nuts/ bolts were evenly torqued with full weight on the car.

What if he measured at the rocker, next to the wheel well? That's assuming the car is straight.

I had this issue with my Red 67. I ended up having DSE ship a second set of springs and then taking the two that had similar arches. Once installed I didn't tighten any of the hardware till the car was on the ground and sitting close to level. Seemed to solve the problem.

That's interesting about comparing arches of multiple sets of the same springs. Would like to do that but I'm not sure DSE is going to be willing to send a replacement set, still in discussions with them now....

Looks great and level to me? I just installed spc upper and lowers and ats tall spindles and measuring to the wheel openings the drivers sits 1/2" lower than then the pass. Frame measurements and suspension pivots are all equal to the ground . Mine appears to be in the sheet metal and I hope to shim it out when I line up the body panels.

What size wheels and tires are you running. I like the stance, I am looking to run 245/40 and 275/40 on 18's.

Front: 17x8 - 235/45/17
Rear: 17x9 - 265/40/17