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72 suspension redone, ideas on lower the front or raise the rear
I just redid the entire suspension front and rear.
Front
Global West upper and lower control arms
Gymkhana front coil springs
Bilstein sport shocks
Addco 1 1/4" sway bar
Borgeson gear box conversion
VBP spreader bar
18 x 8.5" Foose F117 Nitrous wheels
245/45ZR18 Nitto NT555 tires 26.57" dia
Rear
VBP 420 lb composite spring
8" spring links
Bilstein sport shocks
new stock trailing arms
Global West adj strut rods
18 x 8.5" Foose F117 Nitrous wheels
255/45ZR18 Nitto NT555 tires 26.97" dia
Now my dilemma, I cut an entire coil out of the Gymkhana coil spring in front and am debating on cutting more out or go from a 8" rear spring bolt to a 7" thus raising the rear end instead of lowering the front. Ideas on what you did?
Did you give the suspension a chance to settle? You changed a lot. There is no suspension bind right?
With the 18" wheels and low profile tires IMCO you need to lower the whole car. The gap over the top of the tires creates the illusion the diameter of the tires is too small.
Sorry don't mean to sound harsh just my thoughts on your question.
Did you give the suspension a chance to settle? You changed a lot. There is no suspension bind right?
With the 18" wheels and low profile tires IMCO you need to lower the whole car. The gap over the top of the tires creates the illusion the diameter of the tires is too small.
Sorry don't mean to sound harsh just my thoughts on your question.
Lol, it wasn't harsh. I understand the lowering and would love too. I fear that since I have already lowered the rear 2" and the front 1.5" before I cut an entire coil out for about 2.5" front drop total. I don't know if I cut anymore off the coil springs if I am going to bottom out or rub the body on sharp turns. Right now I have about 1/4" clearance between the front tire and the fender body wile turning at its closest point.
I think for now I'm just going to roll with it as it is and how they settle after a season. I'd hate to cut anymore have them settle and be too low. I'm already 2 1/2" lower in front and 2" lower in rear then stock. I already jacked it up loosened the bushings and moved it around then dropped it. It came down in front another 1/2" after doing that. I don't think the coils were seated right in the pocket.
The front coils should be seated properly on the top. There is a hole in top a arm you can see down to see if the top is seated. I use white tape on the very end to see it more clearly. Adjust that first then let it settle for a few hundred miles.
I cut mine to short some time ago and it was nothing but a pain in the azz even going over dips in the road it would hit the front air damn. What's important is to have wheels and tires that measure about 27in tall to fill the fender wells.
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Did you let the car set on the ground before tightening the control arm bolts? If the control arm bushings are in a bind, it could cause the front end to be up in the air like that.
The front coils should be seated properly on the top. There is a hole in top a arm you can see down to see if the top is seated. I use white tape on the very end to see it more clearly. Adjust that first then let it settle for a few hundred miles.
I cut mine to short some time ago and it was nothing but a pain in the azz even going over dips in the road it would hit the front air damn. What's important is to have wheels and tires that measure about 27in tall to fill the fender wells.
that is why I put it up in the air to get the front right to seat correctly. I have 26.57" tires in front and 26.97" in the rear.
Did you let the car set on the ground before tightening the control arm bolts? If the control arm bushings are in a bind, it could cause the front end to be up in the air like that.
Thats what VBP said. Once I have an Easyrider bike show coming up Sat. and Sun. in Columbus. After that I will be back on the vette!
I have the same problem, what I didnt think about when I cut the springs was the length of stabilizer bar end links. Before you do anything try removing the end links and see if the front lowers anymore.
I dorked with the VB&P one inch shorter 550# fronts for years. They were too short as delivered and i changed out various spacers to get the height i needed. It is a lot of time swapping a-arm spacers or for that mater cutting springs. I came to the conclusion to make things adjustable.
You just can't beat throwing a spanner wrench on a front coil over and changing the ride height in a couple of minutes.
To the other posters..... King lear did not state a front BS. 18 x 8.5" Foose F117 Nitrous wheels 245/45ZR18 Nitto NT555 tires 26.57" dia
But I run 4.5 and 5 inch BS front wheel and you have to run smaller diameter than 27 inches. Actually smaller as the width goes up. Because on lock to lock the tires will shine up the frame rails
I have the same problem, what I didnt think about when I cut the springs was the length of stabilizer bar end links. Before you do anything try removing the end links and see if the front lowers anymore.
I just went out and checked how they set. Here are the sway bar end links on the ground. looks like the bolts might be pushed back a bit but do not look like they are hitting anything or affect the height. Could be wrong though, it wouldn't be the first time. I will try tomorrow night to jack it up, loosen the control arm bolts, put her on the ground and see where I sit. Right now I am 28-1/2" dr side, 28" even pass side" in the front ground to fender with the 26.57" tires. 29" both sides in in the rear with the 26.97" tires.
To the other posters..... King lear did not state a front BS. 18 x 8.5" Foose F117 Nitrous wheels 245/45ZR18 Nitto NT555 tires 26.57" dia
But I run 4.5 and 5 inch BS front wheel and you have to run smaller diameter than 27 inches. Actually smaller as the width goes up. Because on lock to lock the tires will shine up the frame rails[/QUOTE]
4.5 BS all around and they do not rub lock to lock. If I went any wider in front they would come closer to the fender then the frame as I tried the 255's in front first just to see, but they are .4in taller too. Could get away with it if I went with shorter tires.
It is so sad to see salt splash on such a beautiful Vette!
I was trying to tell people that you can't fill the wheel well with big diameter tires when you go to 4.5 BS
It takes about 230 pounds to compress a 460# spring a half inch. So with a driver in the seat the car would be nearly level. But it is odd to me that it would be a 1/2 difference
It is so sad to see salt splash on such a beautiful Vette!
I was trying to tell people that you can't fill the wheel well with big diameter tires when you go to 4.5 BS
It takes about 230 pounds to compress a 460# spring a half inch. So with a driver in the seat the car would be nearly level. But it is odd to me that it would be a 1/2 difference
The salt wasn't planned, welcome to Ohio, snow came a day early and she got caught away from home, lol. Sad part is the salt you see is only from a mile trip from the car wash to my house.
I have the 550# gymkhana springs in front, I took the 460's out. They had it up at about 30.5" in front so they had to go.
Letting it settle is a good plan, but I had the same issues and decided that I had enough cutting the stock springs then going to VBP 550lb, that didn't change things much, so bit the bullet and went with coilovers and have full adjustment in ride height and a nice smooth ride. It tell you it sucks having to take things apart to get the "right" ride height several times
Near 29" in the front is a bit high, you can get away with that in the back. I would again recommend you get the top the spring in it's pocket, if it goes to far you are looking at near 1 in. higher.
Like I said find the hole in top a arm ( unless you have aftermarket ) and get the tops of the springs located properly and the bottom of the spring just sits where it sits after.
Near 29" in the front is a bit high, you can get away with that in the back. I would again recommend you get the top the spring in it's pocket, if it goes to far you are looking at near 1 in. higher.
Like I said find the hole in top a arm ( unless you have aftermarket ) and get the tops of the springs located properly and the bottom of the spring just sits where it sits after.
Something it not correct if you have cut that much off and still sit so high.
02-14-2016, 01:11 AM
72 suspension redone, ideas on lower the front or raise the rear
Something it not correct if you have cut that much off and still sit so high.
