VBP Front Mono Spring Conversion......
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
Ultimately, as I look back over the last few years or couple thousand miles, depending on how I measure it, between a complete and total steering part rebuild, control arm bushings, sway bars, smart struts, rear fiberglass, now front fiberglass.......probably should have just gone with that complete package all at once and been done with it.
Never mind a complete trailing arm replacement last year.
My car has been on the alignment rack 3 times in the last 4 years over all the replacement and upgrade parts.
Doing it all at once saves you more than just the money mentioned in the catalog when you think of all that extra alignment time.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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So I just asked. I got, "Gonna have to hear why it matters before I turn 'em around. Little SOBs are just barely long enough and the poly bushings don't squeeze down easy like rubber."
Claims he put 'em in that way simply because it was easier to push down than up on the head of the bolts.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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This time was $89.95.
AMAZING considering how long they worked on it. 3 hours.
Last year after the trailing arms though..........more .........the shop that did it was too smart to get caught by their own "Standard Pricing" for a 4-wheel alignment. They insisted on an hourly rate up front.
Doing toe on the rear, shimming camber in front and messing with getting ride height correct at all 4 corners on an older Corvette is more involved than adjusting for that new tie rod end installed on a daily driver after hitting a pot hole I guess.
Last edited by Krystal; Jun 16, 2007 at 01:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
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On the bright side..........how often do you normally have to do it?
Me? We screwed around with parts here now and more parts there later........BIG MISTAKE.......
Should have just done it all at once.
Now that it's all done and assuming I don't do something stupid to knock it all out of place (God Forbid) no reason to believe it won't hold for years especially given how few miles the car actually sees in a season.
No AC means I really do only drive the car on sunny Sundays.The T-Bird is really my daily driver in the Summer and both come off the road in winter anyway. I bet I'll be lucky to put any more than 2000 miles per years on the car over the coming decade.
Last edited by Krystal; Jun 16, 2007 at 01:55 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
It's good to have friends.
On the bright side..........how often do you normally have to do it?
Me? We screwed around with parts here now and more parts there later........BIG MISTAKE.......
Should have just done it all at once.
Now that it's all done and assuming I don't do something stupid to knock it all out of place (God Forbid) no reason to believe it won't hold for years especially given how few miles the car actually sees in a season. No AC means I really do only drive the car on sunny Sundays.
The T-Bird is really my daily driver in the Summer and both come off the road in winter anyway. I bet I'll be lucky to put any more than 2000 miles per years on the car over the coming decade.
On the bright side..........how often do you normally have to do it?
Me? We screwed around with parts here now and more parts there later........BIG MISTAKE.......
Should have just done it all at once.
Now that it's all done and assuming I don't do something stupid to knock it all out of place (God Forbid) no reason to believe it won't hold for years especially given how few miles the car actually sees in a season.
No AC means I really do only drive the car on sunny Sundays.The T-Bird is really my daily driver in the Summer and both come off the road in winter anyway. I bet I'll be lucky to put any more than 2000 miles per years on the car over the coming decade.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
yeah it's great to have talented friends. i've had mine aligned 4 times, i've got 139,000mi on it but w/the price of gas now i'm only averaging 4,000 mi the last 3yrs, no more long trips for mine. what shocks are u running? i've got bilstiens in the back n KYB's up front.
How do the Bilsteins compare for you.......front vs the KYBs in back?
Then there is Koni. A little more money to be sure but we've used them on other cars with good results.
This could easily be the topic of a new thread.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
The picture shows KYBs But I'm thinking about the Bilsteins Vette Brake sells. The KYBs are a pretty good inexpensive choice but they really don't seem to be up to the challenge or performance of this new spring. Not really surprised either. Despite the claim the KYBs for the back are specially valved for the Vette Brake FiberglassI'm not sure I've ever been happy with 'em.
How do the Bilsteins compare for you.......front vs the KYBs in back?
Then there is Koni. A little more money to be sure but we've used them on other cars with good results.
This could easily be the topic of a new thread.
How do the Bilsteins compare for you.......front vs the KYBs in back?
Then there is Koni. A little more money to be sure but we've used them on other cars with good results.
This could easily be the topic of a new thread.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I've been trying to find an inexpensive older 4-wheel Hunter machine to tuck in the corner of the garage. I hate letting someone else do work on my cars that I'm more qualified to do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
nice work! i wanted to do the steeroids thing but was to broke so i went w/a VB rebuilt ssteering box which turned out excellent.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
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EVERYTHING and I do mean all of it is new up front and tight now.
VERY HARD to just pull so much out to go with the rack and pinion.
HOW-EVER........
Yeah, that's next. Turns out there is good reason to wait just a little longer.
Talk to Pattie.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Posed to put the sway bar links on correctly so the sway bar functions correctly. You'd have to ask Zora Arkus Duntov or Dave McClellan why they're designed like that but I ain't gonna question it.
Better to do something right than to try and work around it and later find out why you're supposed to do it that way to begin with.
Better to do something right than to try and work around it and later find out why you're supposed to do it that way to begin with.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07