Proper way to seat rear springs?

[jrbonds]

I've been reading and searching for 2 days and nothing helpful appeared.

So I replaced my rear end in my car last week, put new shocks on, new swap bar bushings, installed my LCA's and panhard bar. But when I'm shifting the back end "shifts" to the left.

A couple of people told me I need to "seat" my rear springs, but did not elaborate on how I am suppose to do this. Unless someone has other suggestions on why my back end is swaying after shifting into each gear. And no, it previously didn't do this.

[SMWS6TA]

Is the rear sway bar attached properly?

[98TransAmWs-6]

I've been reading and searching for 2 days and nothing helpful appeared.

So I replaced my rear end in my car last week, put new shocks on, new sway bar bushings, installed my LCA's and panhard bar. But when I'm shifting the back end "shifts" to the left.

A couple of people told me I need to "seat" my rear springs, but did not elaborate on how I am suppose to do this. Unless someone has other suggestions on why my back end is swaying after shifting into each gear. And no, it previously didn't do this.

Did you load the suspension a few times after putting everything back on? I am guessing you torqued everything down while the suspension was loaded correct?

[jrbonds]

Sway bar is right.....

But what do you mean by load? Guess I didn't do this.

[theorangeguy]

Sway bar is right.....

But what do you mean by load? Guess I didn't do this.

Pretty sure he's asking if you had jack stands under the rear end to simulate the tires sitting on the ground with the full weight of the car pushing down on everything you installed.

[98TransAmWs-6]

Sway bar is right.....

But what do you mean by load? Guess I didn't do this.

Jack the rear up until the springs are tight or until you just start lifting the car up by the rear or put the rear tires on ramps. Then re-torque everything to ensure it is still to spec. What you are doing is essentially mimicking the load it could be put under while driving tightening everything down with the suspension unsprung or not under load can result in everything not being as tight as it should with a variety of other problems.

[SMWS6TA]

^^^
this

[jrbonds]

Pretty sure he's asking if you had jack stands under the rear end to simulate the tires sitting on the ground with the full weight of the car pushing down on everything you installed.

Ah gotcha. Yes I did this. But i'm also a girl and had hardly any freaking help. So maybe my muscle strength on tightening stuff wasn't that great. I'll try this again tonight.

[98TransAmWs-6]

Using a torque wrench so you know it is tightened to spec would be the best plan if you have one.

[jrbonds]

Using a torque wrench so you know it is tightened to spec would be the best plan if you have one.

No my ex took it when I kicked him out. I'll see if I can borrow one.

[pajeff02]

Pretty sure most of the suspension stuff gets torqued to around 75 lb.ft.

[0rion]

let me ask you this just because I'm curious......how do you know the rear is shifting to the left if you're driving and shifting it? That rear has mulitple contact points that should keep it from moving around like that. LCA's, panhard, and sway bar. Do you have the stock or adjustable panhard?

[35th-ANV-SS]

Pan hard bar is the primary link to stabilizing the shifting of the rear end laterally. LCA's control front to back, and the torque arm controls rotational movement. I would also ensure your PHB is tight and that a bolt hole has not elongated causing slop. Could just be that this happened coincidentally at the same time as installing other suspension components.

[jrbonds]

let me ask you this just because I'm curious......how do you know the rear is shifting to the left if you're driving and shifting it? That rear has mulitple contact points that should keep it from moving around like that. LCA's, panhard, and sway bar. Do you have the stock or adjustable panhard?

Just feels loose back there, left/right movement when I shift. No even hard shifts. And it's a stock panhard bar, I ordered an adjustable one that should be in this Saturday I hope.

[0rion]

that panhard mounts from the back of the rear up to the frame so it really shouldn't be moving around like that unless something is loose or elongated like Jon said. Just tighten the shit out of everything when you put the new panhard in there.

[jrbonds]

that panhard mounts from the back of the rear up to the frame so it really shouldn't be moving around like that unless something is loose or elongated like Jon said. Just tighten the shit out of everything when you put the new panhard in there.

Yes I know. And I will. I am going to get under there tonight and take a look at stuff.

[jrbonds]

Sway bar nut was loose on the drivers side.
LCA bolt on drivers side body was almost gone. Only hanging on because it got wedged between the body and LCA.
LCA bolt on drivers side on the rear end was loose.
Panhard bar on passenger side was entirely loose.
Springs were tilted. Rotated to a certain position that I read on ls1 how to.

Went for a test drive and holy cow, NO more issues.

Oppppps.

[35th-ANV-SS]

Lucky your car didn't fall apart on you lol.

[SMWS6TA]

Stop doing stuff tired and late at night Jodi. :

[jrbonds]

I know. But it was to a point were I was worried and knew I had to crawl under there.

All good now. I'm torquing all that crap down Saturday while it's on the lift.