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How can I lower the back?

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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 03:47 AM
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Default How can I lower the back?

Hi guys!
I´ve on my 68 a VBP monospring with long bolts, see pics. The problem is, that the back is too high. What can I do to lower it? Longer bolts will scratch the street I think, look:







Thanks, Günther
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 04:04 AM
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Seeing how the bolt is right next to the tire I dont think you will have a problem with a longer bolt.
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 06:20 AM
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 11:04 AM
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Gunther,
From looking at your pics, the car should be sitting lower than it appears. Give us a call at 800-237-9991 or 727-345-5292 and ask for Gary or Steve.

Sincerely,
Alan G.
VBP - Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 01:36 PM
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Hello!
Thanks for your help! I would call you but the problem is, that my english is not verry good. It´s easier for me to write, because I can check up in a dictionary.
So what do you think what is wrong with the back?

Here is a pic where you can see how it is mounted on the rear end:



Günther

Last edited by Günther-C3; Sep 9, 2009 at 01:39 PM.
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 02:02 PM
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Your vette is beautiful. What length bolts are you using now?
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 02:19 PM
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Thanks!
I don´t know how long the bolts are, I´ll measure it the next days.
Here a side-view:
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Günther-C3
Hello!
Thanks for your help! I would call you but the problem is, that my english is not verry good. It´s easier for me to write, because I can check up in a dictionary.
So what do you think what is wrong with the back?

Here is a pic where you can see how it is mounted on the rear end:



Günther
Gunther,

The picture looks like the spring mounting pads are in the wrong place. There should be a total of three pads. One thin pad on both side of the spring and one thick insulator pad between the spring and the rear end cover. The picture looks like all three pads are between the spring and the rear end. That would definitely increase the rear ride height.

If that does not fix the problem, please look for the serial number and / or production run numbers of the spring. These will be a series of numbers that are hand written near one end of the spring with a grease pen. Those numbers will let us look up the exact spring rate and arch of the spring…

Sincerely,
Alan G.
VBP - Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 04:35 PM
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Hi!
Thanks for reply!
Can you make a drawing where the pads should be? The spring is a 360lb comp spring.
On the both sides of the spring is a metal plate, aprox. 3mm thick, not a pad. The 3 pads you see on the photo are all equal thick. Is the assembly wrong????
Thanks, Günther

Last edited by Günther-C3; Sep 9, 2009 at 04:39 PM.
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 05:02 PM
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Gunther
Do you have a better picture showing the bottom side of the spring itself?

I ask as from the pictures you have posted, I think it looks like a TRW style spring, not a VBP style spring.

The TRW style spring is known to have too much arch and causes a too high rear end ride height condition. The fix may be to buy a new VBP spring and not use the TRW style spring.

We need picture to see if the spring is flared out (TRW) or straight (VBP) from the bottom side.

Also your locknut for your inner passenger side strut rod looks loose. Be sure thats tight if you havent already done so.

PS-You did good on the purchase of this car. It is VERY nice.

Brent.

Last edited by MN-Brent; Sep 9, 2009 at 05:09 PM.
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 06:59 PM
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I don't know how much lower you will want to go, you drive shafts look to be level.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by MN-Brent
Also your locknut for your inner passenger side strut rod looks loose. Be sure thats tight if you havent already done so.
Here is another pic from the spring. Do you think it´s aTRW spring??? And thanks for the information about the locknut, I´ll fix it!

Günther

Last edited by Günther-C3; Sep 10, 2009 at 07:07 AM.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Günther-C3
Here is another pic from the spring. Do you think it´s aTRW spring??? And thanks for the information about the locknut, I´ll fix it!

Günther
Looks TRW to me since it flares out as it get closer to the outer ends and its giving you the telltale ride height problem.

Call VBP and buy a new spring if you want to lower it or else try to ditch some of the spacers-cushions above the spring on the mounting perch. Not sure if that's possible.

Im sure you have some good Vette clubs in Germany-Austria area as well. Maybe they can help set you up.

Good luck and post pics when your done. Just watch out for going too low as your tires stick out a little and the halfshafts are suppose to be parallel to the ground at minimum or even have a slight down slope going out to the tires.

Read the Chevy Power Book for C3 suspensions set-up:
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 01:44 PM
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Default rear ride height

Gunther,
The spring is definitely a TRW type and not a VBP. I think TRW sold the tooling and equipment to make them to Muskegon Brake Corp. several years ago. It was a very good spring but on the early C3's the 360 could be a little too much - both in arch and rate …

I do not know how the center mount pads should be used with the TRW spring but from the picture, the pads or insulators between the spring and the rear end look awfully thick. Maybe someone on the forum who has a TRW spring could post a picture showing the center mount setup...

Sincerely,
Alan G.
VBP – Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
St. Petersburg, FL
800.237.9991
http://www.VBandP.com
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 02:46 PM
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Thanks guys for your help and sorry :oto VBP that I thought it was your spring. But I got a binder with invoices from the pre-owner and there was an invoice form a VBP spring, so I thougt it is a VBP. Sorry again.
I´ll start a new thread about pics from a TRW spring.

Thanks, Günther
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