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OK forum experts, I installed my Van Steel mono 330# spring tonight. I followed the directions on their site that said to run the center plate bolts in by hand and then the outer bolts. At this point, I have all of the outer bolts started and the center plate is just snug. Based on my pics, is this how the outer bolts should look at this point. Any suggestions on how far up I should run up the nut? Should the outer ends of the spring be sitting lower on the bolt putting some pressure against the rubber bushing? It will be a while until I'm able to drop the car on the ground to adjust the ride height and torque the center plate bolts. Any suggestions on next steps and how far to run up the outer bolts for a stock ride height is appreciated.
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
Most of these composite springs cause the car to sit a bit high even with the longer bolts. I would start with at least three threads showing and if needed you can tighten the nuts further to raise the car.
Last edited by Redvette2; Nov 7, 2020 at 05:53 AM.
Reason: Changed lower to raise.
ahhh, No, Sorry. the more you tighten the nuts the higher the car go's. shorter bolt, Higher car, longer bolt lower car. I have mine at about 7inches with a measurement of 28 inches to the arch of the fender well. depends on the style of bushings your running and what you consider to be stock ride height.
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
Originally Posted by 4-vettes
ahhh, No, Sorry. the more you tighten the nuts the higher the car go's. shorter bolt, Higher car, longer bolt lower car. I have mine at about 7inches with a measurement of 28 inches to the arch of the fender well. depends on the style of bushings your running and what you consider to be stock ride height.
Yep correct....2:00 in the early morning here and I am a bit sleepy.
You really need to load the spring when tightening the center bolts. When I do mine I install the rear wheels, raise the car up a little more and put a set of ramps under the rear and lower the car back down onto there so that the spring is taking the weight
It doesn't have to be perfect, level or at finished ride height or anything. They just need to have the spring pushed fully onto the rear when tightening the bolts and not trying to "pull" the spring flat with the bolts
M
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
Here is a link to one of our posters previous spring thread that had a Van Steel composite information section. His charts shows that for the VS 330 the bolt length was calculated to be 7.5 inches for stock height.
You really need to load the spring when tightening the center bolts. When I do mine I install the rear wheels, raise the car up a little more and put a set of ramps under the rear and lower the car back down onto there so that the spring is taking the weight
It doesn't have to be perfect, level or at finished ride height or anything. They just need to have the spring pushed fully onto the rear when tightening the bolts and not trying to "pull" the spring flat with the bolts
M
Just so I understand, when you have the weight of the car on the spring, the outer ends will then apply pressure to the lower bushings. Am I correct with that understanding?
Yes
The car is actually "hanging" under the trailing arms by the two long bolts that go from the arms to the spring, so the cushions under the spring are compressed when the weight of the car is on the tires
M
Here's mine
With the wheels off the ground, the trailing arm is hanging down as low is the shock lets it and the spring isn't doing anything, the cushion is just there uncompressed. This is a VS low arch spring so that long bolt is pretty much loose as there is no weight on the spring when the wheels are off the ground
Here it is on the ground, you can see the cushion inside the trailing arm and the one under the spring are both compressed when the car is on the wheels
Weight of the car is on the tires, the weight of the car is on the spring and that bolt is what is keeping the spring (entire car) from going to the floor
So if you put the nut on more, it lifts the car up higher
Another way to think about it, the frame sits on the top of the spring. The spring will bend (compress) just enough to create enough force to support weight of the car. When you screw the nuts in further you are trying to compress the spring. But it doesn't need to be compressed any further to support the frame. So, it lifts the frame relative to the tire.
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