adjustable front spring
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 655
Likes: 2
From: Rio Vista ca.
adjustable front spring
Does anyone besides VB&P make an adjustable front spring for an '89 C4? It's been a while since I was looking for info on lowering the front of my car. An adjustable front spring seems like a great idea. Just don't want to deal with VB&P.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,150
Likes: 937
From: Fremont Ca
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I know the feeling.After some grief I got my spring.Theres one guy that seems to know what hes talking about,Gary or Steve.I dont think any other place makes these adjustable springs.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 655
Likes: 2
From: Rio Vista ca.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,150
Likes: 937
From: Fremont Ca
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
The spring really is the way to go.Just keep on these guys until you find what you need.If the weight difference was close I could give you the parts number for the spring I have but there is abit more weight between the Z and base car.The spring I have is 1077 pounds.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 655
Likes: 2
From: Rio Vista ca.
Hey Jeff,
How hard was the install compared to pulling the stock spring to do the standard lowering shim thing? How easy/hard is it to adjust for different ride heights and how low will it go?
Thanks, Kim
How hard was the install compared to pulling the stock spring to do the standard lowering shim thing? How easy/hard is it to adjust for different ride heights and how low will it go?
Thanks, Kim
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
I remember seeing a while ago a guy who made his own adjustable spring. Basically just drilled holes in the ends of the spring, inserted slugs, and tapped those for large bolts. Worked just as well as the VB&P, according to him. You may be able to find out where his holes were and replicate it, if you don't mind some fabbing
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
Link found:
It's the same guy who sells those heim-jointed rear suspension link kits. So probably knows what he's doing
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...n-mm-rate.html
It's the same guy who sells those heim-jointed rear suspension link kits. So probably knows what he's doing
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...n-mm-rate.html
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 655
Likes: 2
From: Rio Vista ca.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Manchester NH
Right now I have a Z07 front spring that I am selling that was modified to be ride hieght adj. Here is the link to the F/S thread.
In a few weeks I will also have a Z51 spring that was modified the same way. It will be coming off my car as I am converting to coilovers.
Unfortunately it would be very costly for me to manufacture leaf springs in small quantities, even more costly to do so with different spring rates.
I had looked into doing a group purchase for these springs some time ago but couldn't since I'm not a registered vendor.
In a few weeks I will also have a Z51 spring that was modified the same way. It will be coming off my car as I am converting to coilovers.
Unfortunately it would be very costly for me to manufacture leaf springs in small quantities, even more costly to do so with different spring rates.
I had looked into doing a group purchase for these springs some time ago but couldn't since I'm not a registered vendor.
Last edited by astock165; Apr 2, 2009 at 08:12 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 655
Likes: 2
From: Rio Vista ca.
[QUOTE=astock165;1568119244]Right now I have a Z07 front spring that I am selling that was modified to be ride hieght adj. Here is the link to the F/S thread.
In a few weeks I will also have a Z51 spring that was modified the same way. It will be coming off my car as I am converting to coilovers.
Thanks for the info and link, astock. My '89 coupe has the FE1 (soft ride) suspension and with my bad back I can't use a stiffer spring. I just wanted to be able to mess around with different ride heights for purely cosmetic reasons. Please thank BrianCunningham for passing my query along to you.
Kim
In a few weeks I will also have a Z51 spring that was modified the same way. It will be coming off my car as I am converting to coilovers.
Thanks for the info and link, astock. My '89 coupe has the FE1 (soft ride) suspension and with my bad back I can't use a stiffer spring. I just wanted to be able to mess around with different ride heights for purely cosmetic reasons. Please thank BrianCunningham for passing my query along to you.
Kim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Manchester NH
Drilling the hole in the spring was much easier than I had expected. It was actually harder to get thru the steel liner on the end than through the composite material.
My recommendation is be careful on hole placement though: if the jacking bolt is of any substantial length it can collide with the shock body. If you notice, there are two holes drilled on the ends. At first I put it as far outboard as possible but the bolt interfered with the shock. That's why I had to move it inboard as shown.
Otherwise it was pretty simple.
My recommendation is be careful on hole placement though: if the jacking bolt is of any substantial length it can collide with the shock body. If you notice, there are two holes drilled on the ends. At first I put it as far outboard as possible but the bolt interfered with the shock. That's why I had to move it inboard as shown.
Otherwise it was pretty simple.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 118
From: N. Babylon NY
I may be interested in this spring. How many miles on it? How much different was the ride compaired to the softer spring?
Thank You,
Steven
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,963
Likes: 709
From: WI
Drilling the hole in the spring was much easier than I had expected. It was actually harder to get thru the steel liner on the end than through the composite material.
My recommendation is be careful on hole placement though: if the jacking bolt is of any substantial length it can collide with the shock body. If you notice, there are two holes drilled on the ends. At first I put it as far outboard as possible but the bolt interfered with the shock. That's why I had to move it inboard as shown.
Otherwise it was pretty simple.
My recommendation is be careful on hole placement though: if the jacking bolt is of any substantial length it can collide with the shock body. If you notice, there are two holes drilled on the ends. At first I put it as far outboard as possible but the bolt interfered with the shock. That's why I had to move it inboard as shown.
Otherwise it was pretty simple.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Manchester NH
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.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Manchester NH
It was "stiffer" no doubt and I noticed less nose dive and body sway. I never drove it on the street though as my car is trailered to the track and back. They are both stock style springs however, so if you've driven a Z07 or z51 car, that's what it'll feel like.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 118
From: N. Babylon NY
Mileage: a little less than 1000 track miles.
It was "stiffer" no doubt and I noticed less nose dive and body sway. I never drove it on the street though as my car is trailered to the track and back. They are both stock style springs however, so if you've driven a Z07 or z51 car, that's what it'll feel like.
It was "stiffer" no doubt and I noticed less nose dive and body sway. I never drove it on the street though as my car is trailered to the track and back. They are both stock style springs however, so if you've driven a Z07 or z51 car, that's what it'll feel like.
Thanks again
Steve
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Manchester NH
It's clearly marked as FHA and the Halverson chart shows that spring as used from 88-91 so that's my guess for vintage. FHA = 93.1 N/mm or about 531 lb/in (5.71 N/mm = 1 lb/in)