Rear end sag/'76 coupe

[kevinanderson]

Will a set of good shocks restore the rear ride height? This is a non Level Ride car.  Car has 40k miles. Could stand about a 4 inch boost. Thanks

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Kevin,

In a word, NO.

Basic Shockers will only assist in the handling of the vehicle as it is being driven.

In your case, the Springs are the only thing that dictate the ride height.

Superlift Shockers could be fitted, to raise the vehicle, and that would require fitting Inflation Points at the rear to pump up the Shockers to the desired ride height.

Bruce.

[TJ Hopland]

New springs or aftermarket air shocks are your options.   I would first try the air shocks.  They are about $100 for the pair.  There were only a couple of designs that covered most of the GM's from the 60's to 90's so they should not be that hard to find.  Some come with the air line kit, some its separate for about $20.  It has a valve on it like a tire so you can fill them with a tire pump or air compressor.   It will take you a while to figure out the proper pressure but I have found that once you find it you rarely have (or want) to change it.  If you think it changes the ride too much you can always then get new springs and run them with no air so they act like regular shocks.   I have had them or installed them in all my older big cars.  I dont think you will be disappointed.  They are usually easier and cheaper to install than springs.   Usually you can mount the valve back by the gas filler or under the bumper.  The lines are tiny so you can put them just about anywhere.   

[Chris Conklin]

I'd say to go for the springs. Especially since it is a non-ALR car, the springs have got to be pretty weak to sag that much.

[mgbeda]

I'd go for the springs as well.  Then you have it fixed right. 

I changed the rear springs on my '76 SDV and it was easy.  Basically once you disconnect the shocks the springs fall out.  The new ones I had to squeeze a little to fit in, but not much; I did it by hand and I am not very strong.

-mB