Tackling rear suspension for the first time. Have a few questions...

[tirwin]

Just like the title says, I need a little help building a better mental picture of what I'm about to do.

Here's where things sit right now. The engine is out of the car and the rear shocks have been removed and shipped to Chuck Moreland to be re-valved.



The ride height was previously set at Euro ride height but the spring plate was at it's max travel. The first thing I'm trying to understand is how I can reset it more in the middle of the adjustment range when I install the new (stiffer) 28 torsion bars? I can't quite wrap my brain around how to account for the stiffer spring rate.

The other thing is I have read all the warnings that the spring plate can snap back violently when removing the bolts if you don't take the load off the torsion bars. With all of the weight of the engine out of the car already and the shocks off, does that mean the t-bars are fully unloaded at this point?

When I put the jack under the trailing arm to remove the shocks I couldn't jack it up much at all without lifting the car off the jack stands so I wasn't sure if that meant I had fully unloaded the t-bars at this point. I plan on taking the calipers off to remove that weight too.

Thanks for the help!

[jsveb]

I don't think the load is completely off the TBs before you remove the lower lh bolt that holds the spring plate. I unloaded the spring plate with a jack and them remove that bolt and finally lower the plate down to completely unload the TB

[tirwin]

Got it now! I just went back and reviewed Craig_D's thread and between your explanation and his pics I think it finally clicked. Thanks!