Happy holidays everyone! For Christmas I'd like your help. I finally have some time off work to crawl under the vette and figure some things out. I've been getting a grinding/rubbing noise in the front end when I brake hard. If I'm out and driving nice I don't hear it but if I brake a little less gently it shows up. It's loud. I recently installed a VB@P front Performance Plus system. I thought it might be my sway bar rubbing in the bushings but after completely removing it the noise still is there. I was under the car looking for signs of rubbing and couldn't find anything. I realized I've never looked with the car on the ground. Here's what I found.



Back view:

With the car in the air the mono spring should contact the crossmember. Mine looks like someone placed a jack underneath it so it's caved in the middle somewhat. But with the car on the ground my spring still comes in contact with the crossmember. I can't even slide a sheet of paper in there. I get the noise when moving forward and braking hard even from a slow roll. When I do the same in reverse nothing. I replaced the rotors and calipers a few hundred miles before the suspension swap and they functioned normally so I have no reason to believe it's the brakes. But I have messed up stranger stuff before. For the most part I hear it when there's a big weight transfer to the front. What are your thoughts and suggestions? Thanks again and happy holidays!

 

A thunk noise? (I have the same suspension)

 

I'll have to make a video tomorrow and post it. I hope the side pipes don't cover up the noise. More of a rub/groan sound. Hard to explain.... Stay tuned!

 

You have something wrong the Spring should not be touching the Frame on the aft side as it is. Looking at the first Pic I see You have a fare amount of Frame Denting wich is nothing new. Could it be that the Dent I see in front is pushing the Frame lower in the Rear. The Spring is not going to hold up touching the Frame. I'd double check everything to make sure something isn't up side down or backwards. Then I'd think about some sort of Spacer or Shims to lower it at least 1/4" off the Frame. As these Frames get older they Sag in the Middle. It could be that Yours has sagged enough to be the Problem. It sounds like a big deal but Frame Shops deal with this all the time and its not that big of deal to straighten.

 

I spoke to a VB&P tech today and he told me a few guys are running spacers under the dual mounts with this front sway bar due to the same problem I'm having. He is sending me parts free of charge. Great customer service and tech support over there! Hopefully this fixes my problem. After looking at frame options I REALLY hope it's not that. Thanks VB&P!

 

Would appreciate seeing what VBP sends you... My spring rests against the frame as yours does, but I don't have the weight of the body on the frame yet... Just very curious what they are sending and if it works for you or not....

Thanks

Rogman

 

It has been about 4 years now since the install of the same set-up...and what I did was with the Vette on the ground, I backed off the 8 bolts just enough so that the spring would slide on it's own ....bounced the suspension ... Let it settle...and the spring will then be in what kinda a "neutral" position....tightened up bolts ...then did the rear spring as well...
The only problem that I have run into is for a few weeks keep checking the bolts... And tighten them as needed...because of the threads in the aluminum blocks.