News: Putting FUN and FRIENDLINESS, FIRST into owning and learning about AMC small bodied cars, primarily Eagles, Spirits and Concords as well as vehicles built in AMC's Mexican subsidiary, VAM.

The AMC Eaglepedia can now be accessed using the buttons found below  This is a comprehensive ever growing archive of information, tips, diagrams, manuals, etc. for the AMC Eagle and other small bodied AMC cars. 

Also a button is now available for our Face Book Group page.


Welcome to the AMC Eagles Nest.  A new site under "old" management -- so welcome to your new home for everything related to AMC Eagles, Spirits and Concords along with opportunities to interact with other AMC'ers.  This site will soon be evolving to look different than it has and we will be incorporating new features we hope you will find useful, entertaining and expand your AMC horizons.

You can now promote your topics at your favorite social media site by clicking on the appropriate icon (top upper right of the page) while viewing the topic you wish to promote.


  • November 24, 2024, 08:22:12 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: Does My Wagon Look Low?  (Read 10161 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline MontanaEagle

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 194
  • Thumbs Up 11
Does My Wagon Look Low?
« on: February 11, 2011, 12:07:21 PM »
Looking at pictures of other wagons, I think mine sits a little low.  Does it just need new leafs, springs, coils, shocks, whatever?  Here's a couple pics.







The first one I have a lot of gear in it, so the back is lower than normal.  Second and third are unweighted.

If I do need to replace things, what kind of project am I looking at?  In terms of difficulty I mean are changing shocks, springs, whatever very hard?

Thanks for your help, here's a picture of a puppy for your troubles.

1984 AMC Eagle Wagon (Soon to be for mountain fun times)
1997 Honda Civic (Daily driver in the winter)
2009 JM Star Scooter (Daily driver in the summer)
2010 Schwinn Hybrid Bike (Daily driver in Spring and Fall)

"It may be too early to drink scotch, but it's never too early to think about scotch"

Offline IowaEagle

  • AMC Eagle Archivist
  • Administrator
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ******
  • Posts: 31968
  • Thumbs Up 477
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2011, 01:18:50 PM »
The pup  is probably weighing it down.     Nahhhhhhhhhhh, weak leaf springs are typically the cause of the sag.
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline jim

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 6484
  • Thumbs Up 102
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2011, 01:42:48 PM »
Maybe go to a lighter caliber in front? ;D
I'm right 98% of the time, and I don't care about the other 3%.
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people;
that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."
--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45
What part of "shall not be infringed" do they not understand?
08 Impala
01 Yukon 4X4
(There's more to life than fuel mileage)
83 Eagle wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
88 Eagle white woody wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
86 wagon parts car
Click for Little Rock, AR Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

AMC lifer

  • Guest
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2011, 02:35:56 PM »
Is that gun mount a factory option or after market item? Very useful for the deer that keep getting in the way.

Offline MontanaEagle

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 194
  • Thumbs Up 11
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2011, 02:55:52 PM »
Is that gun mount a factory option or after market item? Very useful for the deer that keep getting in the way.

After market.  Currently not controllable from the inside, but I'm working on it.  It will come in very handy during the Zombie Apocalypse/:censored: takeover.
1984 AMC Eagle Wagon (Soon to be for mountain fun times)
1997 Honda Civic (Daily driver in the winter)
2009 JM Star Scooter (Daily driver in the summer)
2010 Schwinn Hybrid Bike (Daily driver in Spring and Fall)

"It may be too early to drink scotch, but it's never too early to think about scotch"

Offline jim

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 6484
  • Thumbs Up 102
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2011, 05:41:17 PM »
So, what is the firearm on the bipod?
Meanwhile, back to the story -
Replacing leaf springs mainly involves work - if you can find some good springs.
Replacing coils requires a spring compressor and caution.  If one of those things were to get loose it could wreak havoc.
The front shocks have to come off to replace the coils, so if they haven't been replaced in the last few years that would be a good
time to do it.
There has been a lot of information posted about both leaf and coil springs.   
I'm right 98% of the time, and I don't care about the other 3%.
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people;
that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."
--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45
What part of "shall not be infringed" do they not understand?
08 Impala
01 Yukon 4X4
(There's more to life than fuel mileage)
83 Eagle wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
88 Eagle white woody wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
86 wagon parts car
Click for Little Rock, AR Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

Offline MontanaEagle

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 194
  • Thumbs Up 11
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2011, 06:45:12 PM »
So, what is the firearm on the bipod?

That's my 30.06, aka Deer Killer, aka Bear Killer, aka Big Blasty.  That was last fall before deer killing season I was up at the range siting it in and figured I'd take a couple pics.

I also notice that the forum censored the word before "takeover"  It referred to the communist party to which Adolf Hitler belonged.  Don't know why that's a naughty word.

I'll take a look around at springs and such.  I might have a friend look and see if the springs are sagging and all then try and find some newer ones.  I'll see if I can get a picture of the current ones to put up, do you think that would help diagnose?
1984 AMC Eagle Wagon (Soon to be for mountain fun times)
1997 Honda Civic (Daily driver in the winter)
2009 JM Star Scooter (Daily driver in the summer)
2010 Schwinn Hybrid Bike (Daily driver in Spring and Fall)

"It may be too early to drink scotch, but it's never too early to think about scotch"

Offline eaglefreek

  • Moderators
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • *****
  • Posts: 4011
  • Thumbs Up 209
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2011, 10:19:32 PM »
Your front doesn't look too low. You may want to try air shocks or the Monroe shocks with the overload springs in the rear. That would be the easiest thing to try and wouldn't take much time at all. As far as difficulty goes, in my opinion, changing the springs are a heck of lot easier than ice climbing or spelunking.
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission


 

"I know he'd be a poorer man, if he never saw an eagle fly,
Rocky mountain high"  John Denver
Click for Fayetteville,TN Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

Offline Jurjen

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3132
  • Thumbs Up 168
  • Dutch Eagle Preservation Front
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2011, 05:24:08 AM »
Yes, the Monroe MA700 will compensate for a little sagging. There are cheap too at $60/pair.
They come in a set complete with airline and valve. I installed the air valve behind the rear license plate.
A pressure of 40 to 60 psi will bring it back to normal ride hight.
"sparrows fly in flocks, eagles fly alone"

Eagle Wagon Limited 1983, Citroen C-Crosser 2010, Triumph Bonneville 1969, Yamaha XJR1300 1999, Yamaha TX750 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf0jpiW6tRI

Click for Leeuwarden, Netherlands Forecast" height="90" width="160

Offline Eagleearl

  • Eagle Sport
  • ****
  • Posts: 379
  • Thumbs Up 20
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2011, 08:29:10 AM »
Is there really a puppy in there?
The sag is not too bad. Helper springs or air shocks are all that is needed.

Offline MontanaEagle

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 194
  • Thumbs Up 11
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2011, 09:58:43 AM »
Is there really a puppy in there?

Yeah, I put Ruby, our Scottie, in there for photo purposes.  She hates Francine (too loud for her), but I figure I'll keep tormenting her and eventually she'll come to love her. 

I'll look into air shocks.  That should help especially when I have a big load.  Are they on RockAuto, or should I take a look at Napa or OReilly's?
1984 AMC Eagle Wagon (Soon to be for mountain fun times)
1997 Honda Civic (Daily driver in the winter)
2009 JM Star Scooter (Daily driver in the summer)
2010 Schwinn Hybrid Bike (Daily driver in Spring and Fall)

"It may be too early to drink scotch, but it's never too early to think about scotch"

Offline Jurjen

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3132
  • Thumbs Up 168
  • Dutch Eagle Preservation Front
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2011, 10:06:25 AM »
I bought them from Rockauto, but I think you can get them everywhere (also on the Evil Bay).
"sparrows fly in flocks, eagles fly alone"

Eagle Wagon Limited 1983, Citroen C-Crosser 2010, Triumph Bonneville 1969, Yamaha XJR1300 1999, Yamaha TX750 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf0jpiW6tRI

Click for Leeuwarden, Netherlands Forecast" height="90" width="160

Offline doneagle

  • A.M.C. EAGLES ARE EXSITEMENT
  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 754
  • Thumbs Up 29
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2011, 06:09:53 PM »


        HI    Nope looks just right to me ......Don
HI.....A BAD DAY WITH YOUR EAGLE IS BETTER THAN A GOOD DAY AT WORK ...A GOOD DAY WITH YOUR EAGLE IS PRICELESS

There are Eagles lovers and there are the uneducated and the best we can do
with them is try to EDUCATED them on the virtues of the BEUTEFULL cars that we drive   ...................don

4x4_Welder

  • Guest
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2011, 07:45:54 PM »
Mine was sitting about that low, a set of air shocks picked it up about an inch and it sits pretty nice now.  Those and new rear spring bushings will make a world of difference. 

Offline BenM

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1512
  • Thumbs Up 74
  • Pittsburgh, PA
Re: Does My Wagon Look Low?
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2011, 09:13:25 PM »
Mine sits about that low in the back with new springs and add-a leaf. No problems bottoming out. The front sits low on mine, I was bottoming out on the bump stops, so I replaced them with lower profile ones.  ;)

It sits about an inch lower then a Cherokee I think.
NSS#47184

1987 AMC Eagle Sedan -- 1976 Pacer Coupe -- 1968 Pontiac Tempest Custom S -- 1940 Mercury (& a 2002 Jetta Turbodiesel, 5 spd., the Wife's Daily Driver)

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk