Stock Front Springs?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Stock Front Springs?
Well my align shop tried to cut the old stk springs enough to drop the front 2". They cut the springs the same, but the springs don't compress the same.
From what I have read the 460s are the same ride highth as stk and the 550s are 1" lower.
I have removed about #90 off the front end. It came up about 1/2" higher. I only want to slightly increase the spring rate since I'm not bottoming now.
I'm afraid that #460 and #550 would be too stiff once they were cut to the proper length. The rear spring is a stk 9 leaf that is being dropped w/longer bolts. I want to try to keep the f/r spring rates somewhat in balance. If I increase the fronts too much w/o increasing the rear spring rate, I'm afraid the car will not handle right.
What supplier might have some NOS stockers? I have Bilstein Sports to keep things smooth. Any help/advice out there? TIA
Ricisan
From what I have read the 460s are the same ride highth as stk and the 550s are 1" lower.
I have removed about #90 off the front end. It came up about 1/2" higher. I only want to slightly increase the spring rate since I'm not bottoming now.
I'm afraid that #460 and #550 would be too stiff once they were cut to the proper length. The rear spring is a stk 9 leaf that is being dropped w/longer bolts. I want to try to keep the f/r spring rates somewhat in balance. If I increase the fronts too much w/o increasing the rear spring rate, I'm afraid the car will not handle right.
What supplier might have some NOS stockers? I have Bilstein Sports to keep things smooth. Any help/advice out there? TIA
Ricisan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
If both springs were cut the same, there must be something wrong with the installation. Check the alignment holes in bottom control arm pockets.
Did you drive the car? May just need to settle in.
Did you drive the car? May just need to settle in.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Have a peek up inside, and make sure the spring is seated in the pocket properly. The end of the coil at the top has a recess it fits into. If it's not in that recess it'll affect how the car sits.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
I don't mean to hijack this post but I plan on cutting a coil out of my fronts. What about the flat 1st wind? Should the first revolution be haeted and flattened to sit in the pocket correctly?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,352
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
Both are valid points...
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Too Busy
George: Don't think that I've forgotten your kind offer. I'm afraid that 550s w/stk rear spring might be out of balance. I want to drop the front 2". If I cut your 550s another inch, that will be a very stiff spring.
I found some springs that are shorter 13". They are ment for a SB w/o air. Since I've taken #90 off the front, these springs "SHOULD" be a good start.
I plan a trip to Reno for training, no reason I can't visit?
Ricisan
I found some springs that are shorter 13". They are ment for a SB w/o air. Since I've taken #90 off the front, these springs "SHOULD" be a good start.
I plan a trip to Reno for training, no reason I can't visit?
Ricisan
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
It has been my experience that you don't want to drop your front end more that the one inch shorter 550 springs. Because one inch less spring makes the body @ 1.5 inches lower. You start to get body to tire contact unless you drop to 26 inches or less front diameter tires.
You can use tire diameter to raise and lower the front end
You can use tire diameter to raise and lower the front end
Last edited by gkull; Apr 7, 2008 at 08:35 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (home in Colorado Springs)
I put the VBP 460 springs in my project and the front looks way high, even now that the engine is back in. Body is off right now for the restro, but I'm wondering if I'm going to have to modify (cut) the new springs now???
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
My original type springs do not have a flat. One is not necessary as the spring will seat in the rubber bushing.
