2WD XT rear springs LIFTED my car!!?? What gives?

[TROGDOR!]

So I thought 2WD XT rear springs were supposed to make a 3-door ride lower? I used ONLY the springs, NOT the struts.

 

My RX rear struts were so badly rusted that I couldn't get them apart without breaking them. So I ordered new struts from the parts store. I measured before putting them on the car, and yes, they were the same length as the old ones. Yet now the car sits an inch higher than before!!

 

What's the deal here?

 

 

Yes, I've confirmed that the springs did indeed come from a 2WD XT. When I put the strut together, they barely compressed at all.

[TROGDOR!]

Could it be that the struts are especially stiff from being stored uncompressed for so long? So maybe after a couple hundred miles they'll level out? This is my first time using brand new struts, thought I'd ask.

[bushbasher]

If the shock is the same length and the lower spring perch is in the same location relative to the shock body, then the shock itself wont make any difference in height. Its just a damper. The spring stiffness and length, and the lower perch location will affect it though. Did you measure to make sure the perches were in the same location in relation to the shock body? BTW they are not struts in the rear, because they dont affect suspension geometry (ie dont take any side loads like a strut does)

 

Im betting that your new rear shocks are made for a 4wd wagon or something like this and your parts guy figured it was all the same thing.