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Can I raise the rear of my 1969 Camaro with the 4-link system?

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Uncled1961

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I recently purchased a 1969 standard camaro. I installed new springs in the front but now my rear is 1.5" lower than the front. I was going to install stronger leaf springs but I was told to install a 4-link system on the Camaro. All these system says it will lower the rear end 2" to 3" which is not what I want. Yes I want to have that vintage look with the rear wheel well about 2" above the rear tire. I don't want to follow the latest craze and lower the car. I don't like that look for this style of car and you couldn't drive it around my area without bottoming out on the roads.

I do not want to go with air shocks, or shackles. I was hoping to find a 4-link system that would get me what I want.

What about a rear shock relocation and using adjustable coil overs on them?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
#4 ·
SMH 👎
 
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#5 · (Edited)
If your rear is already sitting in a lowered stance, then you may just be OK with the stock or slightly raised from a stock stance.
To can get an idea of ride height see the section the factory AIM in the PDF file below. I would inquire with the mfr. tech dept. of the suspension package your considering, and ask them about ride height based on factory height as a starting point. When you measure, bear in mind the most common original wheel / tire was F70-14 and height was 26". If you don't want to lower the car it's best to go with new leafs.
 

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#6 ·
Why go to the trouble and expense of a 4 link install just to alter you ride height? That’s like saying you’re going to paint the internal walls of your house by demolishing the entire house and building again.

Swap out your rear leaf springs to the desired height. They’re usually advertised as stock height or lowered by x inches so find what you’re after and go from there.
 
#7 ·
Just take a measurement of where it is sitting now and where you want it to sit. Take your leaf springs to a shop and have them rearched. They can set and height you want and it is the cheapest option available.
 
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#10 · (Edited)
Get in touch with Mike at Eaton Detroit Spring. He knows more about ride height and springs than almost anyone. You tell him the specific info on your car, make, model, year, and current front and rear ride height and also tell him that you want the car sitting at approximately X inches off the ground in the rear and he'll get you the near-perfect arched leaf spring to get that height. I agree with others here... going from leafs to 4-link coil over sounds like somebody likes to spend your money... a lot of it LOL. Correct leafs will be a fraction of the cost.

Edit: You can probably get your current springs re-arched locally but I don't know if places that do that have the experience to calibrate the exact ride height you'd want.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I had the exact same problem. Wanted to raise the rear 1-2". Already have 5 leaf springs.

Dived into the subject and found several ways. Was looking for the least invasive one.
Even pulling the leaf springs out to have them rebuild was too much action for me.
So i saw some people doing this mod, asked how it rides, got positive feedback.
So went ahead and installed heady duty support shocks.

The monroes raised my rear 2". Their springs are a little heavier duty than the gabriels. i would expect them to raise rear by 1-1.5".

Ordered cheap from rockauto, installed in less than 30 min.
Amazingly the ride is smoother than before (simple worn out gabriels), especially when bumping over something.
Its how i would expect a car to handle in the first place to be honest..
Maybe the springs rates of leaf spring and coil spring just add up positively, maybe its the big 255/60 R15 tires that were looking for some firmer rear to work properly..
dont know. but it works nicely

Image


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#12 ·
You can raise the rear about 1/2" by removing the rubber pad between the leaf spring and the rear end mount. Let the axle mount sit directly on top of the leaf spring and put a thicker block underneath the spring to fill in the gap. I've been running this for a number of years.
 
#14 ·
A 4-link sounds like a great idea if you want the outcome that it provides. But, like others have said, its not the best route if all you need to do is raise the rear up to what sounds like stock ride height. Assuming the front springs you put in are stock height. I agree that a set of new, oem replacement springs would be the best solution for you.
 
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#15 ·
Do not buy Heidts4 link kit, I put it in my car and the rear dropped 3 inches. I called Heidt up and they said that was the intent. I had to modify the mounting brackets and weld in new brackets for the coilovers. Rides and handles good also lighter then the leaf springs.
 
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wally68years
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