Raise the rear

[dewbers]

I need your help guys and gals... The rear-end of my gal is simply to low! I've asked this question before on a thread and just recently someone posted pictures of their car and I commented on how much better theirs looks than mine! He mentioned springs, but I don't remember all of what he said and of course, I can't find the post. Mine drags when pulling from the driveway. I don't want to do air shocks, as the smooth ride is then sacrificed. What options do you all recommend? Springs? If so, where do I get them and what's involved with replacing them?

All advice is welcome.

Thanks gang!
:beers:

[Austrian455]

You could put additional air bags in. They are designed to raise the rear of the car when towing a trailer or if you´ve got heavy stuff in the trunk.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Air+Lift/022/60755/10002/-1#

You will need the control unit:
1 gauge kit (applies same preassure to both sides)
http://www.jegs.com/i/Air+Lift/022/25592/10002/-1

2 gauge kit (controls every side seperatly):
http://www.jegs.com/i/Air+Lift/022/25812/10002/-1

You could mount all the controls and gauges hiden in the glove box or the ash tray.

If you want to replace the springs, that should be a easy job.
Just put the car on jack stands, and use a spring compressor tool.
Simply remove the old spring, compress the new one and put it in.
Maybe if you´ve got woren out springs in your car you should also replace all the rear end bushings. If you want to replace them, I would put Poly bushings in.

[Robroy]

Steve,

New springs and shocks would probably do the trick.

A low budget variant is to put in a set of spring boosters (picture below). You basically jack up the car and put these babies in and spread them out to make the spring coil sit higher

[WDR]

Go for new springs. You won't be disappointed.

[Gum,beest]

Hi Steve
I think putting in airbags as Peter suggested is fine if your hauling or towing once in a while

The bushings that Per suggested are indeed low budget and i have no experience with them but i personally would end be comfortable with it

My advice is go with new springs and new bushings in my opinion the best way and it looks stock

Springs and PU bushings are easily found on for instance ebay (check these links)
Front spring (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-73-BUICK-CENTURION-Coil-Spring-MOOG-5270_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713Q2em153Q2el126 2QQcategoryZ33582QQihZ024QQitemZ370158733731QQtcZp hoto) approx $101,-
Rear spring (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-73-BUICK-CENTURION-Coil-Spring-MOOG-5549_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a3Q7 c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQha shZitem370158733592QQitemZ370158733592QQptZMotorsQ 5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories) approx $81,-
Front PU bushing (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=140200881988) approx $63,-
Rear PU bushing (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=140200886069) approx $88,-

Installing them is straight forward if you have a spring com presser tool as Peter say ed

And if you put in all new bushings the handling of the car will greatly improve

[EEE]

I had air shocks and larger tires in the back. Got it pretty much where I wanted it to be.

[73 Centurion]

I had spring spacers in for years without any problems or change in ride stiffness. It's the cheap quick solution you could use while you pick out the springs you want.

Buick was known for it's smooth ride and one of the ways they acheived this was a complex chart for choosing the rear spring rates. Different springs were specified for 4-door vs. 2-door, vs. convertible. I beleive the convertibles had the stiffest springs because they have they weigh more and the roof mechanism shifts the weight toward the rear. There were also variations for 350 vs. 455. I've heard about the different spring rates, but have never seen an actual chart. You'll probably have to settle for whatever spring you can get. It will be stiffer than your current tired springs and that will change the ride but you'll get used to it quickly and it will wallow a bit less in the corners.

The springs are very easy to replace and you don't require a spring compressor (but it's recommended).

Heres how to replace the springs without a compressor. Loop a chain through each spring and around the axle. You want to be sure they don't pop out as you work. Put chocks in front of the front wheels and jack up the car and support the frame on jack stands. Place a jack under the axle and compress the springs a bit. Unbolt the lower shock mounts and slowly lower the axle. When the wheels touch the ground, swear and jack everything up higher :spank:. If you want to skip that last step make sure you have the back end high enough for the springs to be loose when the axle is lowered.

You should be able to make note of where the spring coils end and undo the chain (it should not be under tension). Lift out the springs. Move any rubber pads to the new springs and put them in with the coil ends just as they were before. Jack up the axle, rebolt the shocks (not a bad time to replace the shocks) and drive away. :error: OK take it off the jack stands, remove the chocks and drive away.;)

John

[dewbers]

Good stuff gang... three questions.
1 - spacers - where to get them - what are they normally priced?
2 - where to find the "right" springs for the rear. (Erik gave me some great examples above, but how do I tell if they are correct?)
3 - should I replace both front and rear

[centurion 455 ragtop]

:Sorry

Got into this late.

Air shocks??? I use them but I do NOT recommend them UNLESS you plan on towing some serious weight. Otherwise they suck. When I am not towing I lower them to about 20 pounds. The ride is OK a little on the stiff side, but livable. I pull about 4500 pounds so it would be too much for the air bags and if I got cargo springs (heavy duty), well when I am not towing the ass end will be higher than a Chevy full of illegal Mexicans in Southern California:p Oops can I say that:eek: YEP I CAN:moonu: And its damn funny too:laugh:

Air Bags??? I would give them a shot. They do not really make the ride stiff, yet it does raise up the back a bit. What is nice they can be adjusted depending on how much air is in them.

Spacers??? They are the low budget way and will do the trick, but years back with my GS when it was a street car I tried them, I hit a hard bump or wave in the road the body rises a bit and the darn spacer used to fall out.

New Springs and Shocks??? Most likely the correct way on going. But you may find new springs will raise the car too high. You may catch it right the first time, or you may end up changing a few different rate springs before getting it right. Also you may end up having to change the fronts to equal out the ride height as you cannot adjust them as we all know.

My advise?? :confused4::sleep:Try the air bags. They are very reliable and the price will not break you, plus you can install them very easy in your driveway.

[72gsx4me]

Steve,

Here is my 2 cents. My friend Srecko has a Black 73 Centurion Convertible that he did a body on restoration. He did it all. He first changed rear springs and it did raise it up, however over time it does go down a little. He then went to the airbags and those worked but made the rear end go over bumps like a brick. He took off the air bags and then added the spacers on top of the rear end spring perches. He actually made them himself. Now the car sits perfect with still a good ride.

My car sits like yours and i want it up a few inches. Got new springs from lee auto parts and went to ebay and bought aluminum spacers that sit on rear end purches.

I am not a fan of the bags or air shocks.

Good luck.

Wil:beers:l

[The German]

Very interesting thread also for me ! I have air shocks but have to pump them pretty hard to get up the rear end as high as I like it, so that I thought about what has to be done earlier. But until now I did nothing and I´m driving with the hard pumped air shocks. Anyway – now, after reading your advices here - I guess it would be better to cut away the reason of the problem: my spring on the right side seems to be caught by rust more than the left one so that I not only have a low rear end without the air shocks but also a little difference in the height between the left and the right side.

Now John told us that springs might have different spring rates but he has no further information about them. Therefore my questions are : Does anyone know more regarding different spring rates for the different Centurion bodies (4-door , 2-door, convertible) ? Or other way round : What specification have your new springs, John, Rick and Will ? And what is your recommendation what specification and where to buy them ?
Would be great if you would find some more time to give us these infos here ! :user:
Thanks in advance !

[Centurion717273]

Just don't get carried away and get the back end up to far. nothing destroys the lines of these cars quicker than the back end being higher than the front.

[The German]

Kurtis, I´m with you, but guess noone wish it to be a lot higher than shown in my pic down here (that´s with pumped air shocks).

[Smartin]

That's a good lookin' Buick.

I'm a fan of the lower ride height, mostly because of the fact that it makes the car look more sleek and elegant. I had a set of cargo springs in the convertible a couple years ago, and they made the car sit like you have it posted there Rolf. (without the air bags pumped up). When I replaced the wheels, I put the regular springs back in and used the air shocks for adjustability.

[The German]

Yesterday we had a meeting of the Buick Club of Germany and I asked for some informations regarding different spring rates there. One of the friends immediately said: "Oh, no problem; I have best connections to a specialist who produces springs how you would like to have them. Only drive to him, tell what height and stiffness you want and you will get it !".

So forget my questions - that´s the solution for me ! :xyxthumbs:
On the other hand Steve might be waiting for an answer to the different spring specifications (?).

BTW: Thanks, Adam, for your info.; I love driving the car as it´s shown in the pic in my last posting and that´s why I want to have it at that height without being forced to pump the air shocks as much as I have to now.