Raising rear suspension

[sonoronos]

I know this is a weird request, but does anyone know what springs could be used to "lift" the rear of the car by 2"? I removed the AC system from the front of my corolla, so now the front rides 2" higher than normal. I like the look, to be honest, and I want to make the rear of the car match the front. I know what you're thinking..."hoopty-mobile". In reality, however, it actually looks good on the car.

[RobMilkshakes]

I really doubt the AC system delete would do that....
but ok...

but I have no answer for your question, sorry.

[bcp477]

It IS entirely possible that deleting the AC would lead to the ride height increasing by an inch or more......depending on the stock spring rate. The weight of an AC compressor (and the other bits in the system) represent a greater proportion of the total weight of the car than the AC system in a heavier car - yet the AC components are normally the same. The compressor used on a car like a Corolla is not somehow "lighter" than the unit used on a larger car, such as a Camry (unless it is a significantly lower capacity unit). An AC compressor usually weighs on the order of 60 lbs (my Camry compressor weighed a bit more than 66 lbs, by actual measurement). I can speak from personal experience about that - to date, I have removed the AC, PS....and a few other bits from the front end of my Camry.... about 140 lbs, in all. The ride height HAS increased just about 1.25".

Which leads me to the next point. You may like the looks of your car, with increased ride height, but your suspension settings, especially CAMBER, are no doubt now screwed up. I'd be very surprised if you don't now have POSITIVE camber on your front wheels. This will lead to increased tire wear, unless corrected.... not to mention strange handling characteristics. You can correct camber by use of an "alignment kit" (camber correction bolts).....but I'd really suggest that you look into bringing the ride height back down to normal, at least....rather than jacking up the rear to match. Your car will handle better for it.....and you won't have wacky tire wear issues to deal with.

I am in the process of correcting the issue with my Camry....I just haven't decided exactly how. Probably a set of shorter springs.

I have an AE92 project car, which I am just beginning to work on (I just bought it a very short time ago)....... and it will have, at the very least, the AC and PS deleted (as well as any other weight I can reasonably jettison). I will definitely correct the suspension issues this will create - that is "doing it the right way".

[eage8]

I've taken off and installed my AC compressor again and my ride height didn't change at all. I also highly doubt that compressor is any more than 15-20 lbs. (I know for a fact that's it's 14.9 lbs. on my rx-7... and they were about the same weight)

have you moved the car after you removed it? it's quite possible that your springs just haven't settled back down after you jacked it up.

can you post pictures of your car? it's possible that you just have blown rear dampers or sagging springs.

for reference this is my corolla at stock ride height (yeah, I know, it looks hilarious):

[SCT]

That's why I like my done-for struts and slightly sagging springs. Whenever I see an ae92 with new oem suspensions, it's looks too high off the ground!

I doubt taking the AC stuff out on the ae92 would do something like that. I shaved 40lbs out the front when I did the trans swap, still pretty much level. And now that someone broke into my car and stole my sub and amp from the trunk, car still is pretty much level IMO or at least I don't feel a change.

[sonoronos]

Hey guys, I know it's hard to believe, but I'll post the pictures tonight. I was hoping maybe an older camry or rav4's springs might be compatible. Good point about the alignment, Looking at the car, it doesn't appear that I have any sort of positive camber, but I'll double check with a straight edge and ruler.

[RobMilkshakes]

Just getting in and out of corolla didn't change the ride height by 2 inches, it did change a little but not anything near that. Now I'm not a big guy, but I weigh much more than an AC system.

[SuperRA]

Someone have a girl get on the hood and measure the amount the ride height changes. You can snap some pics while you are at it too. lol

[bcp477]

All good points, gentlemen. Perhaps it was not the AC removal.....but something caused this (unless the OP is imagining the whole thing). The only common factor, that we know of, is the AC removal.


(And my Camry DID rise up on the springs by 1.25". I knew this would happen, I just didn't know how much. But, I made careful before and after measurements....on the SAME piece of level ground. There's no mistake on that.)

[jmaz87]

THIS WILL MESS UP HANDLING/SAFETY

your absolute ONLY/BEST option is a set of lowering springs i know donald had a few sets... you HAVE to lower the front... raising the back will totally throw off your weight Xsfer

BELIEVE ME I HAVE COILOVERS AND HAVE PLAYED WITH EVERY CONFIG THERE IS... NEVER raise rear more than an 1-1.5" above front...

SPIN CITY...:P

[sonoronos]

Sorry for the delay, good folks - work is being a pain this week with the job climate being as screwed up as it is. Everyone who wants to stay employed around me has to work 10% harder for the same amount of pay.

I can have camber adjusted. The whole camber issue has been noted, but doesn't really answer my question.

The pink line shows that the wheels are level. Note that I removed my entire A/C system up to the sensors attached to the high and lo AC lines that enter the cabin. (Note that removing the two sensors completely will cause the radiator fan to run all the time.) That included the AC pump, pulley, bracket, lines, condenser, cylinder, and condenser fan. These things were heavy, I'm sure the total weight removed from directly over the front of the car was 100 lbs or more.

Because the driver's COG is just about that the middle of the car, most of the weight is distributed over both axles equally, as opposed to the weight of the A/C system, which is almost all entirely in front of the front axle.

Now that there's photographic proof that the front of my car is indeed higher than the rear of my car, can anyone answer my original question? I'm not looking for a huge increase in rear clearance, just 1.5" or so. Based on eage8's picture of his 'rolla, it looks like my rear springs are sagging big time.

Another reason for doing this is that with 2 180 lb people in the back of my car, plus luggage, the rear of the car looks absolutely slammed, and bottoms out easily on bumps.

[bcp477]

Yep.....exactly as I expected. Your Corolla looks just like my Camry does now, as regards the "nose in the air" stance. I too, removed all of the AC components, back to the firewall (plus the PS pump and some other bits). Same deal.

(But really, it COULDN'T have been because of the AC removal......that only weighs mere ounces !!!! ) I TOLD you guys so....... but NOOOOOOOOO !


Ok, enough of that. Unfortunately, I do not have a solution to offer.....that involves raising the rear end to level the car. In order to do this, you will need to find TALLER rear springs.....which will fit the Corolla (rear) struts....and be of the correct spring rate to NOT throw off the balance and handling of the car. That is a TALL order - because none of the catalogs of any of the suppliers of coil springs, be they OE or aftermarket, will list parts for such a conversion. The ONLY way to effect this will therefore be to measure the dimensions and wire diameter of a set of Corolla rear springs (and to know or measure the spring rate).....then compare as many part #'s as necessary (for other applications), till you find suitable springs. Totally "hit or miss"......even if you had access to a warehouse full of different springs to examine.... you may never find them. Even if you did find a taller spring, there is no guarantee that the Corolla rear struts would accomodate it - you might just run out of vertical travel in the struts - and not be able to install such springs any way. So, you see, what you are asking for is likely never going to happen.

I won't suggest some half-a##ed method to "jack up" the rear of the car, with spacers, or something like that....because it wouldn't be safe and prudent.....and will just lead to ruining something.

Sorry, but I'll say it again. You'll be FAR better off with trying to return your front end to a normal ride height. The change in your front end has NOT caused your rear springs to "sag" (as you stated). What has happened is that the increased front ride height has caused an increase in rear caster, which causes the rear sruts to be more likely to bottom out. All the more reason to fix the front end.

I have a solution, which I have worked out for my Camry.....and which would probably work for your Corolla, too. It isn't a simple solution - but a workable one. If you are interested, just ask and I will post an explanation.

[sonoronos]

Originally Posted by bcp477

The change in your front end has NOT caused your rear springs to "sag" (as you stated).

I didn't state that at all. I merely stated that the rear springs may have sagged. I did not state any relationship between the front being raised and the rear springs sagging.

From what I understand, spring sag is a function of spring age - that is, a 17 year old car will have springs that have sagged from continuous operation. This car carries a lot of stuff in the back often, and I'm sure that it's taken its toll.

Originally Posted by bcp477

I have a solution, which I have worked out for my Camry.....and which would probably work for your Corolla, too. It isn't a simple solution - but a workable one. If you are interested, just ask and I will post an explanation.

I'd be interested in hearing what you did. Did you cut the springs? Install coilovers?

[eage8]

I would replace your rear struts and possibly your springs... there is no problem with your front suspension. your rear suspension shouldn't be bottoming out on bumps...

[jmaz87]

I 2nd that!!! Your problem is that the Rear is sagging not the front being raised...

new springs (even with a 2") should raise it or at least not bottom out

I would replace all 4 springs and shocks and be done