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adjustable front spring

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Old Dec 11, 2008 | 09:25 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by astock165
I used a weld nut from McMaster Carr (p/n 90596A033), that particular one is 1/2"-13.



You could likely use any type of weld nut though. I liked this one because it had a large flange. I simply bonded it to the spring with Gorilla glue and let it set up.
Excellent, thank you! Do you happen to have any pictures of this mounted on the car? I'm curious how it looks close to the shock.
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Old Dec 11, 2008 | 12:52 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Aardwolf
Excellent, thank you! Do you happen to have any pictures of this mounted on the car? I'm curious how it looks close to the shock.
I'll have to check but I don't think so. If I do I'll post them though.
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Old Dec 11, 2008 | 01:55 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by astock165
I'll have to check but I don't think so. If I do I'll post them though.
OK, does the bolt go through the perch by the shock?
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 10:09 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Aardwolf
OK, does the bolt go through the perch by the shock?
Sorry, no pics of the front, just the rear suspension that I make & sell.

The bolt doesn't go through the perch but does ride on top of it. What I did was Gorilla glued a thin piece of Delrin (you could also use UHMW) to the perch web on the lower A-arm and then let the end of the bolt ride on that so it wouldn't tear up the aluminum.

If you took a cross section through the spring & bolt it would look something like this:


Hope this helps.
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 10:53 AM
  #25  
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Great drawing, thanks! How long of a bolt did you use? Also how much drop was there? Did you still have to trim the middle mounting blocks to get the car lowered?
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 12:43 PM
  #26  
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Thanks for the liner description! I was considering modding my spring for this, but was concerned about what all that weight riding on a bolt on soft aluminum would do.
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 09:49 PM
  #27  
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You are correck sir. They dont make it for the old 86 hit the shock type adjuster and dont try to make it not hit the shock. you just have to buy the right weight spring and get lucky with cutting the thickness with the snap in shims . Beleave me they learned a lot from my stupidity. I go with a new week spring and put plastic shim at the tips to bring it up big zip lock holds it . If it wasnt for Gary more idiots would be parting out vets PS I have a 1986 spring for sale 80.$ + shipping

Last edited by Craig C.; Dec 12, 2008 at 10:07 PM. Reason: part
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 11:49 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Aardwolf
Great drawing, thanks! How long of a bolt did you use?
IIRC, it was about 1-1/2" but the hardware is relatively cheap so you could probably buy multiple lengths to have on hand when fitting. The longer the bolt the more adjustability you have.

Originally Posted by Aardwolf
Also how much drop was there? Did you still have to trim the middle mounting blocks to get the car lowered?
I got about 1" just taking the shim stacks off the ends of the stock spring. I did not shave the middle mounting blocks, I figured I'd leave that in my back pocket if I needed it. I lowered the front of the car and got it corner weighted in just that 1".

Originally Posted by StealthLT4
Thanks for the liner description! I was considering modding my spring for this, but was concerned about what all that weight riding on a bolt on soft aluminum would do.
No problem. The low friction surface seemed to help a lot. I'll be dis-assembling the front end in a couple weeks so I'll take pics then and post them back here.

Last edited by astock165; Dec 12, 2008 at 11:52 PM.
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Old Apr 1, 2009 | 11:31 AM
  #29  
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Default Drawing

Where would the weld nut be in the drawing? It looks like a bolt is drilled through the spring in the drawing.
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Old Apr 1, 2009 | 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by tshirttom
Where would the weld nut be in the drawing? It looks like a bolt is drilled through the spring in the drawing.
Yes kind of, a hole is drilled then netsert pressed in. The bolt threads through that. For small adjustments without that you could jack up the spring end just a little and tap in thin shim to the end.
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Old Apr 1, 2009 | 01:23 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by astock165
Sorry, no pics of the front, just the rear suspension that I make & sell.

The bolt doesn't go through the perch but does ride on top of it. What I did was Gorilla glued a thin piece of Delrin (you could also use UHMW) to the perch web on the lower A-arm and then let the end of the bolt ride on that so it wouldn't tear up the aluminum.

If you took a cross section through the spring & bolt it would look something like this:


Hope this helps.
If somebody wants to mod the stock spring Im sure you can buy just the adjuster from VB&P,Ive got a set if somebody wants to see a picture.
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Old Apr 1, 2009 | 02:22 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by Z51JEFF
If somebody wants to mod the stock spring Im sure you can buy just the adjuster from VB&P,Ive got a set if somebody wants to see a picture.
I'd be interested in the pic!
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Old Apr 2, 2009 | 08:11 AM
  #33  
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Here is a pic of the end of the spring with the threaded insert in place.



I've also fixed the link above to original F/S thread that has some additional pics.

And here is an updated sketch to show where the liner goes.


Last edited by astock165; Apr 2, 2009 at 08:24 AM.
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Old Apr 2, 2009 | 12:51 PM
  #34  
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I was going to post a picture now I cant find the thing,it looks like a mushrrom,the area that comes in contact with the spring is hard plastic type material.VB&P sells 3 adjusters of different heights..
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Old Apr 2, 2009 | 05:20 PM
  #35  
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I wonder if you could just use the C5/6 stuff

http://hardbarusa.com/hardbar/produc...products_id=48


This kit is a replacement for the unavailable adjusters on the ends of your stock spring. It uses stainless steel threads so it will not “rust weld” itself in place like the stock pieces, and has CNC machined Delrin pads. Please specify front or rear for C6's.
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Old Apr 2, 2009 | 07:29 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by BrianCunningham
I wonder if you could just use the C5/6 stuff
Gary & I actually tried it but the pucks for the C5/C6 are thicker than a C4 will tolerate. Thinning the puck led to failures as did some other ideas we tried. Because of the proximity of the spring end to the shock body this is a tough mod to get done well. I'm still working on a solution that I think is worthy of sharing with the forum.
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