Front spring install question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Front spring install question
HI,
I had several people e-mail about my alignment problem and some of them suggested that I might have installed the springs wrong!
I remember reading that to install the spring you need to make sure they are in the grooves and one drain hole is open.
The springs are in the upper and lower grooves of the frame and the lower control arm.
My question is where does the start of the coil go? does it go inside the deeper part of the groove on the lower control arm? I right now have the start of the coil on the inside part of the lower control arm, to the left of the drain hole on that side. Is this correct?
I am 3 degrees off on my caster and wanted to know if that could be where my 3 degrees are? I have no shims left to remove to make up the caster and camber. I was told I have a bent frame.
I am praying that I have the springs installed wrong. Otherwise I have bigger problems.
thanks.
robert
I had several people e-mail about my alignment problem and some of them suggested that I might have installed the springs wrong!
I remember reading that to install the spring you need to make sure they are in the grooves and one drain hole is open.
The springs are in the upper and lower grooves of the frame and the lower control arm.
My question is where does the start of the coil go? does it go inside the deeper part of the groove on the lower control arm? I right now have the start of the coil on the inside part of the lower control arm, to the left of the drain hole on that side. Is this correct?
I am 3 degrees off on my caster and wanted to know if that could be where my 3 degrees are? I have no shims left to remove to make up the caster and camber. I was told I have a bent frame.
I am praying that I have the springs installed wrong. Otherwise I have bigger problems.
thanks.
robert
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Front spring install question (Bluewasp)
I usually worry about the upper more than the lower.
I always make sure the end of the spring is in the slot and that one of the two holes is showing. The other is covered by the spring.
Hope this helps.
I always make sure the end of the spring is in the slot and that one of the two holes is showing. The other is covered by the spring.
Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Re: Front spring install question (BSeery)
I don't think that this is where your caster is, as I believe it's controlled by control arm location only. There is an "up" and a "down" to the stock springs though. You have to measure the spacing between coils and if I recall correctly, the last coil on the top is more closely spaced than on the bottom. I'm with BSeery though, it's easier to not have the spring correctly inserted into the tower. If ride height is OK, I wouldn't worry about it too much. you might want to make sure that there's no broken welds in the area though.
good luck
good luck
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,930
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
I agree with Frank and Bseery. If the springs are installed wrong, your front end would most likely look likes it's on stilts. What I have found when installing the front springs is that it is most important to have the top of the spring seated in it's socket. I had to stick my hand up into the upper spring socket to get and idea of when the indentation of the spring seat was. I then marked this spot with white(the kids pink and blue don't work as well:D:D)chalk. As Frank said the spring is installed with the shorter spaced coils at the top(if you can tell)---the spacings on mine were hard to discern. I made sure the top coil and end of the spring seat into the chalk mark I made. The bottom of the spring never aligned with the original indentations. As I slowly raised the lower CA, I tried not to move the upper spring seating and then angled the lower part of the spring to meet the CA.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: Front spring install question (BSeery)
I usually worry about the upper more than the lower.
I always make sure the end of the spring is in the slot and that one of the two holes is showing. The other is covered by the spring.
Hope this helps.
I always make sure the end of the spring is in the slot and that one of the two holes is showing. The other is covered by the spring.
Hope this helps.
