Lowered Front did not work
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Lowered Front did not work
I just attempted a lowering job on the front of my 92 coupe and it did not drop.
Here is what I did: I removed the spring, carefully removed the rubber on the top surface, sanded down to bare fiberglass and glued on the new wedges just like the instructions indicated. The new wedge was roughly 1/2" lower in height than the stock rubber. I re-installed the spring with only 1 of the 2 aluminum shims above the wedge with lithium grease and put is all back together. Drove around the block and then tightened the lower control arm bolts - just like the instruction said. With all this done, I measured the car and it only dropped about 1/8". So I drove for a couple days and checked again - same 1/8".
The spring is raised in the frame by 0.7" with the thinner wedge and one shim removed. I expected the front to drop by at least this much. What is going on? Has anyone else had this problem? I am a good mechanic and double check everything as I reassembled the front suspension.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Rob
Here is what I did: I removed the spring, carefully removed the rubber on the top surface, sanded down to bare fiberglass and glued on the new wedges just like the instructions indicated. The new wedge was roughly 1/2" lower in height than the stock rubber. I re-installed the spring with only 1 of the 2 aluminum shims above the wedge with lithium grease and put is all back together. Drove around the block and then tightened the lower control arm bolts - just like the instruction said. With all this done, I measured the car and it only dropped about 1/8". So I drove for a couple days and checked again - same 1/8".
The spring is raised in the frame by 0.7" with the thinner wedge and one shim removed. I expected the front to drop by at least this much. What is going on? Has anyone else had this problem? I am a good mechanic and double check everything as I reassembled the front suspension.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Rob
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Cruise-In I Veteran
When I lowered mine, I moved all the shims to the top (none touching the wedge). I think the reason I left the shims in was to accommodate the bolt length so that everything fit back together OK. I don't have my manual with me (or any pics as far as that goes), but it seems that there was another piece where the bolts, shims, etc. attached. This piece was alloy and it seems that I had to cut or file the ends down so that the spring would go up higher. You should be able to get about 3/4" to 1" drop. Good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Yes, I cut off 0.45" from the aluminum "U" brackets that hold the spring up in the frame. Had to use a stack of washers to make up for the material removed plus the shim. Seems like it should have come down more than 1/8"....
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Cutting the spring retainers does not drop the car more, it only keeps it mounted properly. Either way, you should cut them.
My midamerica wedges weren't .7 inches lower than stock. But, your car should drop more than the wedge difference, because the spring end meets the control arm inboard of the lower balljoint. (If it was halfway, then you'd get double the difference in wedge size.)
I wonder if you have bushings siezed up? When I did mine, the stock control arm bushings were siezed and wouldnt pivot at all, except for rubber flex/tearing, even if I put all my weight on the end of it. It doesn't take much force or binding to raise the car 1/2" more than it should be... just pull up on the front end and see how little force it takes.
My midamerica wedges weren't .7 inches lower than stock. But, your car should drop more than the wedge difference, because the spring end meets the control arm inboard of the lower balljoint. (If it was halfway, then you'd get double the difference in wedge size.)
I wonder if you have bushings siezed up? When I did mine, the stock control arm bushings were siezed and wouldnt pivot at all, except for rubber flex/tearing, even if I put all my weight on the end of it. It doesn't take much force or binding to raise the car 1/2" more than it should be... just pull up on the front end and see how little force it takes.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by l78vetteman
I just attempted a lowering job on the front of my 92 coupe and it did not drop.
Here is what I did: I removed the spring, carefully removed the rubber on the top surface, sanded down to bare fiberglass and glued on the new wedges just like the instructions indicated. The new wedge was roughly 1/2" lower in height than the stock rubber. I re-installed the spring with only 1 of the 2 aluminum shims above the wedge with lithium grease and put is all back together. Drove around the block and then tightened the lower control arm bolts - just like the instruction said. With all this done, I measured the car and it only dropped about 1/8". So I drove for a couple days and checked again - same 1/8".
The spring is raised in the frame by 0.7" with the thinner wedge and one shim removed. I expected the front to drop by at least this much. What is going on? Has anyone else had this problem? I am a good mechanic and double check everything as I reassembled the front suspension.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Rob
Here is what I did: I removed the spring, carefully removed the rubber on the top surface, sanded down to bare fiberglass and glued on the new wedges just like the instructions indicated. The new wedge was roughly 1/2" lower in height than the stock rubber. I re-installed the spring with only 1 of the 2 aluminum shims above the wedge with lithium grease and put is all back together. Drove around the block and then tightened the lower control arm bolts - just like the instruction said. With all this done, I measured the car and it only dropped about 1/8". So I drove for a couple days and checked again - same 1/8".
The spring is raised in the frame by 0.7" with the thinner wedge and one shim removed. I expected the front to drop by at least this much. What is going on? Has anyone else had this problem? I am a good mechanic and double check everything as I reassembled the front suspension.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Rob
Mike
Last edited by aboatguy; Nov 17, 2005 at 09:44 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,187
Likes: 309
From: SIMSBURY CT
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '25
Originally Posted by chucks88
I'm doing this this winter...you too John?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by CTYANK2
Hi Chuck. My front and rear are already lowered. I had the Corvette Connection (Dana) do it over a year ago when I had the car in there for the 3:07s. I didn't measure it before lowering but it just didn't seem to drop much. It was done by the standard instruction described above so I was just wondering if there was a way to drop the front a little more. Hope all is well in the new garage!
Check this thread,Thread
Last edited by aboatguy; Nov 18, 2005 at 10:57 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,556
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From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by l78vetteman
Yes, I cut off 0.45" from the aluminum "U" brackets that hold the spring up in the frame. Had to use a stack of washers to make up for the material removed plus the shim. Seems like it should have come down more than 1/8"....
I removed .625 from mine.
Mine after driving a few days dropped almost 1.5 inches.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,187
Likes: 309
From: SIMSBURY CT
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '25
Originally Posted by aboatguy
Nice looking Vert, however, it doesn't look lowered!
Check this thread,Thread
Check this thread,Thread
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4964.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4970.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4971.jpg
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by CTYANK2
Those photo's were taken before it was lowered. These are after:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4964.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4970.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4971.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4964.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4970.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4971.jpg
I don't see much rake on your car. It looks like they dropped the rear and not the front.
Were the shims moved to the bottom of the spring? If they were you can cut some of the rubber off of the spring ends to get some more drop.
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,556
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From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by aboatguy
I don't see much rake on your car. It looks like they dropped the rear and not the front.
Were the shims moved to the bottom of the spring? If they were you can cut some of the rubber off of the spring ends to get some more drop.
Mike
Were the shims moved to the bottom of the spring? If they were you can cut some of the rubber off of the spring ends to get some more drop.
Mike
The front does not look lowered to me. But it's hard to tell in a picture. To me mine does not look lowered either until I park next to a stock one and then it's 
holy hell that thing is short.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by fsr402
The front does not look lowered to me. But it's hard to tell in a picture. To me mine does not look lowered either until I park next to a stock one and then it's holy hell that thing is short.
Rake!
Last edited by aboatguy; Nov 20, 2005 at 12:06 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,187
Likes: 309
From: SIMSBURY CT
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '25
Yea, big difference compared to your white vert. My picture may not be at a good angle but the car sits level front to back. The front is definitely lower when I park next to a stock height car. Maybe I'll get time this winter to get under it and see what's going on-I'd like it a little lower up front.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 1
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
It took a couple of weeks driving around to get mine to settle.
Now it seems to be where it should be.
I swapped the spring at the same time to a Z51 front spring that had not been on a car for a while so I figured the spring needed to settle.
Not sure what would have gone wrong with yours. I'm debating cutting some of the rubber off the ends of the spring to get more rake. Now my car sits pretty level and I'm not raising the rear for rake.
Good luck.
Now it seems to be where it should be.
I swapped the spring at the same time to a Z51 front spring that had not been on a car for a while so I figured the spring needed to settle.
Not sure what would have gone wrong with yours. I'm debating cutting some of the rubber off the ends of the spring to get more rake. Now my car sits pretty level and I'm not raising the rear for rake.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Thanks for all the suggestions. I think that I will cut some off the rubber pads on the spring ends to get it down a little more. The car has settled another 1/8" after driving for a week. Still think I should have got a full inch out of the mods. Will re-inspect everything when I take it apart for the trim job on the ends. Thanks again.
Rob
Rob
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by CTYANK2
Those photo's were taken before it was lowered. These are after:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4964.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4970.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4971.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4964.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4970.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...2/CIMG4971.jpg