Warning: To everyone lowering their vettes...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by GRX
Are those lowering wedges made out of urethane? I have some in the garage somewhere that never got installed. What if you where make them from something more durable like delrin? Something that wouldn't compress....just a thought.
They feel like poly. I think they'd hold up better if they were rounded on top, kinda like what they ended up as after being squashed. Anything to hard is going to chew itself up on the frame or bind up the spring, or be noisy as hell.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by DieL
I chopped the ends off the springs instead of all that work. Interesting discovery though
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
You did WHAT??? Can you explain this a bit better and maybe show some pics??
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by 87vette
He means he cut off the ends of the spring retainer brackets that come with the lowering kit. I did the same. Cut an 1/2" off.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
I need to see pics to be sure of what you are both talking about here.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,315
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
You did WHAT??? Can you explain this a bit better and maybe show some pics??
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by AGENT 86
He probably means he reduced the thickness of the rubber spring pad that sits on control arm.
So I pulled it all apart monday night, got it all back together last night, then just need to do upper balljoints and fwb's. This weekday stuff is killer, it took 15 minutes just to get all the grease off me so I can head to work.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Didn't GM widen the spring in 88? These aluminum brackets are much wider than the steel ones, and don't cradle the sides of the spring at all. Hopefully the control arms keep the spring centered in there.
The narrower steel clamps always caused nasty squeaking/creaking anyways as the inner sides of them rubbed on the spring pivots.
The narrower steel clamps always caused nasty squeaking/creaking anyways as the inner sides of them rubbed on the spring pivots.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by AGENT 86
He probably means he reduced the thickness of the rubber spring pad that sits on control arm.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 847
Likes: 1
From: spring branch texas
I think I probally need to take a look at my front spring after reading this, when I got the car the front sat so low the tires rubbed the underside of the hood when leaving my drive. After I replaced the shocks it raised it enough to keep from rubbing but the way my car sits now there is no need for the lowering kit in the front
Le Mans Master
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From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
No shet. I was hoping you had a more constructive answer, I've never seen a newer spring.
So I guess yours was like 87vette's spring? If that's solid rubber, than I suppose you could just carefully trim that, remove the spacer, and not even need the wedges right?
So I guess yours was like 87vette's spring? If that's solid rubber, than I suppose you could just carefully trim that, remove the spacer, and not even need the wedges right?
with the new wedge
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 590
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From: Boynton Beach, FL
I remember my 86 front spring mounts were as described in one of the previous posts, i.e, an aluminum block in a nylon saddle covered with rubber. I just lowered my 93 and the supports were solid rubber. The 90spring I replaced the 93 with also had solid rubber. Regarding the ends of the springs, I can't recall what was on my 86 but I know on my 90 I had an approximately 3/8" thick rubber pad that went between the spring and the LCA. My 93 had a 1" tall approximately 1.5" diameter cylinder of rubber bonded to the spring.
I replaced the 93 spring with a 90 R9G suspension spring that had no pad on the ends. I bonded a 1/4" piece of delrin to the bottom of the ends of the spring to ride on the LCA. I cut the stock rubber supports, installed the wedges and left out the aluminum spacers. The result was a car that sits very low, less than 26" to the top of the wheel well. Based on the original post, I might have to go back in and put the spacers back in.
Larry
I replaced the 93 spring with a 90 R9G suspension spring that had no pad on the ends. I bonded a 1/4" piece of delrin to the bottom of the ends of the spring to ride on the LCA. I cut the stock rubber supports, installed the wedges and left out the aluminum spacers. The result was a car that sits very low, less than 26" to the top of the wheel well. Based on the original post, I might have to go back in and put the spacers back in.
Larry
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by bdaly84
What type of bond or adhesive are you guys using or have used for the wedges?