1991 Loyale wagon FWD left rear coil spring rides low

[rickyhils]

1991 Loyale wagon FWD left rear coil spring rides low about 1 1/2 inches, unloaded. Right side is ok. I believe that using spacers is the wrong thing to do in general. It will only put more strain on the spring coil. However, I only do city driving now. Not sure how to select the correct replacement spring. Would guess that replacing both L & R at the same time is correct. Will go to my local Pick Your Wallet . . . . I mean Pick Your Part in Sun Valley CA.

Edited March 24 by rickyhils
spelling

[el_freddo]

Measure the shocks from the spring perch to the lower mount bolt. 

There’s a difference between the 2wd and 4wd rear shock units. Your issue may not be a spring - it could be a 4wd shock that’s been installed somewhere along the way. 

Cheers 

Bennie

[rickyhils]

Thanks. Nothing has been touched in the rear since new, as I got car in 2003 from original owner. I can put up with some sag as long as it is safe. --- Two new struts in front. Engine (non turbo) and 5MT run fine. Axles are good and I have two extra axles lying around. Need to watch CV boots for cracking. If cracks but not leaking, I will put on new CV boots and keep the axle going.  I'll keep driving it as a second car.

Edited Wednesday at 08:45 AM by rickyhils
spelling

[el_freddo]

Interesting… check that you don’t have: 

- a snapped spring 

- slipped lower spring perch 

- crushed lower shock mount 

- issues with the top spring hat/mount. 

Other than that I’m out of ideas. If you’re in the rust belt you’ll have to discuss with someone local to you as we don’t salt roads or get snow like you do over there from what I’ve read. 

Cheers 

Bennie

[rickyhils]

I will check all of those  - snapped spring,  slipped lower spring perch ,  crushed lower shock mount, top spring hat/mount.

But if all good there, then the spring has simply sagged and lost some of it's "spring".

Might be possible to take that control arm off and have a welder fabricate an elevated lower spring perch?

I have a friend who is very good with mig welding and metal grinding.

Am in Los Angeles area. So, no rust belt issues.

I want this old car to keep going for a while. It has the reliable SPFI. And the original A/C still gets cold.

And thanks for you replies.

Edited Wednesday at 02:53 PM by rickyhils
Added my location area.

[el_freddo]

Why not replace the rear springs? There are threads on here about suitable models to find parts from. 

I’ve got a set of early ‘90’s civic front springs in the rear of my L series. Stiffened up the rear end nicely and allowed more load carrying which is what I wanted. 

I’m not sure if this would lift the rear of your 2wd significantly as I don’t know how much lower the 2wd rear sprints were vs 4wd rear springs. Spring perch is in the same spot essentially with the change in lower mount height. 

I hope that makes sense! 

Cheers 

Bennie

[rickyhils]

Good idea .  Will look at suitable model springs on these threads.  I'll first check that nothing is broken or out of place at the spring and shock mount. Passenger side rear is good, so it will be straight forward to compare with driver side rear.

[SuspiciousPizza]

I used King Overload Springs, they ride rough at first but they improved the car's stability and load capacity greatly.

Later tonight I'll look up the part number for the springs and post em here.

Rear springs are a piece of cake to replace. Only hang-up I had was the upper mount bolts were torqued to infinity and beyond and it took a few minutes of whacking with a 500 ft/lb impact before they finally came loose. 

A few months ago I did see a few listings for NOS OEM springs, they are still out there but I went with King Springs for the handling and carrying capacity as well as the more consistent availability.

:]

[rickyhils]

Thanks, Pizza. Although I will keep looking, as my 1991 Loyale wagon is FWD and King springs are for 4WD.

Edited Thursday at 04:58 PM by rickyhils
added more info.

[SuspiciousPizza]

The parts manual I have is '85 -'90 so take this with a grain of salt. 

Rear Spring: 21091GA530

Left Front Spring: 21091GA260

Right Front Spring: 21091GA250

Front Strut Mount: 21033GA040... You could also use KYB SM5364

:]

 

 

Edited Thursday at 09:50 PM by SuspiciousPizza

[el_freddo]

10 hours ago, rickyhils said:

Thanks, Pizza. Although I will keep looking, as my 1991 Loyale wagon is FWD and King springs are for 4WD.

Springs will interchange. The only difference will be the rating of the spring and possibly the final ride height being a tad higher if they’re an uprated spring. 

If it levels your car out left to right it’s worth a go I reckon. 

Cheers 

Bennie

[rickyhils]

Thanks Bennie. Will be jacking up the car tomorrow morning and see whats up and compare measurements on L & R side. Will take a few photos. 

And YES I WILL BE USING JACK STANDS!

[rickyhils]

UPDATE. All seems good enough for now. My oversight and approach was somewhat lacking. There was extra weight in the back of the wagon all this time. Nothing broken or out of place at either L or R coil spring/shock mounts. Both shocks are still good. Left spring does sag but only just a bit. I got the car on a level driveway and took photos.  And I was I was able to temporarily get my fuel pump working again when the car wouldn't start this morning. Voltage was getting there, but motor was at a "dead spot" on the 34 year old orig fuel pump. So I reversed the polarity and spun it backwards for a few seconds. Then it was working as normal. Yes, I do have a Ford F150 electric fuel pump, but never got around to installing it. Need to check it for fuel line fitting adapters.

Thanks

Edited Saturday at 02:41 AM by rickyhils
add a few more decriptive words.