Ugh. Just picked my HHR up from having an oil change, and apparently the rear springs fell out of the boot (?????) when they put it up on the lift. I have the Goldline springs on front and back. Has anyone ever have this happen? I'm trying to reconcile how this could have occurred. As for the springs, do they look like they could be salvaged?? Will they could shooting out if I try to lift the car to put them back into place? Any advice is welcome, I'm a bit of a noob, had a mechanic friend do the lowering 4 months ago and it had been riding great until this. I'll try and post some pics up. Big thanks for any replies!!

 

Should be able to throw them back in, but they shouldn't fall out when lifted, hopefully some body familiar with that brand will happen along. Did your buddy use a lift ? Seems like he would have noticed if they fall out, something needs a little investigating.....or just lift the front to change the oil

 

Yep, happens with a certain generation of Goldlines. There is another recent post (within the last 3 days....try a search) with an owner experiencing the same problem.

I believe Lee333 (or something like that) was the first, many years ago.

Is appears, when the vehicle is frame lifted, the rear axle drops fare enough for the springs to tilt out and drop.

 

Thank you for the replies, Snoopy and SS, much appreciated. I talked to the guy who did the lowering for me and he thinks that is what happened- just dropped out when it was lowered. I'm going to jack it up tomorrow and just try and place them back in. Not sure what I will do when I have to replace my tires in a few weeks.

He had a question, though, if maybe the shock is too long? Your answer, Snoopy, makes me think this isn't the case. I used the KYB Exel-Gs because I saw others using them, too.

Oh, and double thanks Snoopy, I am looking for the other posts about this right now :)

 

I believe that is what Lee (?) thought....the shocks were to long. IIRC, he had customized shortened shocks made for his car. Can't say if he was ultimately successful.

Anyway, when your under the car, I would look to see if there is a way to Ty-rap the bottom of the spring to the "cradle". The springs really don't rotate in the seat, so that should work.

Oh and by the way, the spring has a rubber bumper inside of the coil. At one time it was suggested to cut most of this away (at a certain point). If your guy did this, at the time of the spring install, it probably contributed to the falling out problem. I believe most users of the Goldline product don't bother with the cut.

 

Thanks, Snoopy, found the old posts about this. Yep, need to find a shorter shock or use straps when lowering the back end. Oh well, live and learn.

And yes, Snoop, the instructions said to trim the bump stop, and he did. Although since the bump stop came out too, I don't think this contributed- it looks like the spring and bump came off together. I'll see if I can't pick up those bump stops just for the heck of it and see. And I am going to use the tie wraps, too, that does make sense.

 

Snoopy is correct, Lee was who had his Gen 1 Goldlines falling out when body lifted.

Stock length shocks allow the rear axle to hang too far down for the very short springs.

Either get shorter shocks (not cheap).. or make some limiter straps like 4x4 guys sometimes use..

The trimmed snubbers are there to allow the rear wheel to have more upward travel. No effect on when wheels are hanging down..

To re-install springs, just jack up one side at a time & install.. Till you get the travel limited.

 

Thanks to all the responders, I was able to just jack it back up and push them back into place. Looking into the limiting straps, found several folks who have lowered various vehicles have had to use those to keep the springs in place. Guess that is going to have to be my route, haven't been able to find shortened shocks as of yet.

 

If you can find a good auto parts counterman that uses paper books, they should be able to match up the specs to include your shortened length. The books have top and bottom connecter, total length and total travel listed for each number. That probably should be done anyway, given that the travel is changed.