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AMC Concord ‘82 rear suspension |
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Ajax101 
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Joined: Jan/28/2025 Location: Columbus, Ohio Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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 Topic: AMC Concord ‘82 rear suspensionPosted: Mar/07/2026 at 2:38pm |
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So I’ve had my concord for about a year, I’ve updated a few things (15” rims bigger tires, rear suspension) I've been wondering how to fix the rear being 5-6” lower than the front.
Early this year I went off road (ice related) and the gas tank blew with the old tire and rim. Since then, I replaced the shocks, leaf springs and gas tank (22 gallons) and on potholes and rough Chicago roads I can feel the back sway shift and generally bounce more than I think it should. I’ve never worked on a car this much before and I have the old manuals.
How do I fix the low rear? Do I need: A) 3-4” spacers B) Under-over axel conversion to lift 4” C) longer shackles |
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73Gremlin401
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Joined: Mar/02/2013 Location: Stmbt Sprgs CO Status: Offline Points: 1262 |
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Posted: Mar/08/2026 at 11:46am |
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There is only one correct solution - replace the 40+ year old leaf springs. Everything else you've listed is a band-aid at best. There are several good suppliers, and the cost is not outrageous. Contact the reputable AMC parts houses first (AMC Acres, APW, Kennedy).
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73 Gremlin 401/Richmond Gear 5-spd.
77 Matador Wagon 360/727 auto. 83 Concord DL 4-dr 258/904 auto  |
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AMXRWB
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Joined: Apr/25/2013 Location: Midwest Status: Offline Points: 1360 |
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Posted: Mar/08/2026 at 12:51pm |
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farna
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Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 21273 |
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Posted: Mar/09/2026 at 6:41am |
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So springs have been replaced. Concords used rubber isolators around the spring where it bolts to the axle. Were those replaced or eliminated? If the axle feels like it's "shifting" those are probably worn out. They can be removed and replaced with different u-bolts and I think you need earlier Hornet plates with shock mounts. If height is the problem and you've replaced the springs you can use bolt-on overload springs or AirLift air helper springs. You can modify the S-10 Ride Control kit. Might have to custom make an upper bracket.
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Frank Swygert
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1982AMCConcord
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Joined: Jul/13/2012 Location: Kenosha, WI Status: Online Points: 1472 |
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Posted: Mar/21/2026 at 4:20pm |
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I've bought 4 sets of springs for my Concord over the past 34 years. The last two sets are the only ones I've been happy with.
First of all... The front wheel wells are actually a few inches taller than the rear wheels wells so right away the difference in height looks more apparent. 2nd... For some of reason... the stock leaf springs were designed to be lower in the back but the problem of rear end sag becomes even more obvious when the leaf springs are old and worn out. 3rd... I've owned my 1982 Concord 4dr. since 1992 and tried many different sets of springs. I didn't like any of them until I ordered AMC Pacer Wagon/Concord Wagon HD springs with the tallest arch possible. The company I used twice is called Babcock Spring out of Milwaukee, WI. They were pricey but in my opinion... Well worth the money. I've bought two sets from them... one in the early 1990's and another in 2019. When measured to compare the before and after... The set from the 90's was only 3/4th of an inch on one side and almost an inch vs. the new ones after 30 years. I pulled these screenshots from Stengal Brothers Leaf Springs. You'll notice that the Concord and Pacer springs are the exact same length. This gives you a lot of options but I recommend going to the one with the highest arch... Which is 8&1/2 but... If you anticipate hauling a lot of people and things... Then I recommend the 8&1/4 arch with the higher 710 rate which means it'll carry a heavy load and still not sag as much under load. The Concord and Concord Wagon HD springs are the strongest available at Stengal Brothers. Other manufacturers MIGHT list the Pacer Wagon HD springs the opposite... So just be aware when you're looking... but regardless the Concord/Concord Wagon HD spring spec below is what I would ask for if I was you. Pacer  Concord  Here are pictures of my Concord. As you can see... Both sides sit tall and are even in the rear... But the front still seems to look higher... That's because again... The front wheel well arches are a little taller than the rear. In the future... I will install a set of drop plates on the front spindles to bring the front down a little. The set of plates I have only have a small drop... Which should be perfect for the look of my Concord.   Edited by 1982AMCConcord - Mar/21/2026 at 5:49pm |
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Ajax101 wrote: