86, rides low in the front?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 86, rides low in the front? (frank moran)
Maybe that's because the rear has so much clearance (or maybe a weak front spring). Measure clearance from top center of each tire to fender opening.
Here's data when mine was stock. Ride Height @center of wheel well:
Left F / R = 26.75” / 28” Rear=+1.25”;
Right F / R = 27” / 28.5” Rear=+1.5".
I dropped the both rears about 1 1/8"- 1 1/4" and she sits level and fills the wheel wells nicely now.
BTW, do you have Bilsteins?
Here's data when mine was stock. Ride Height @center of wheel well:
Left F / R = 26.75” / 28” Rear=+1.25”;
Right F / R = 27” / 28.5” Rear=+1.5".
I dropped the both rears about 1 1/8"- 1 1/4" and she sits level and fills the wheel wells nicely now.
BTW, do you have Bilsteins?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 222
From: Ca.
Re: 86, rides low in the front? (frank moran)
The 86's do sit low in front right out of the factory. As long as the tires don't rub don't worry. If they do rub the spring may be soft. If you want to raise it you need to add some shims.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 73
From: Sumter, SC
Re: 86, rides low in the front? (frank moran)
Where would you put shims, I've already had the front nose and clam off and could only adjust that area to square the body lines. Anyway, I use the old finger width Method. Holding your hand out I can get the width of 3 fingers between the top of the tire and center of the wheel well opening on the rear and 2 on the front, The front is between 2 and 3 but roughly that's it. I've seen them all over the place and there is a lot of difference between cars. If your shocks are worn I'd replace those first. I restored a 65 mustang and lifted the front almost an inch with only new shocks. Hope this helps.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma WA
Re: 86, rides low in the front? (frank moran)
I have an '86 also, and it sits lower in the front. It seems, from what I've been able to gather, that they just sit low from the factory. Mine only has 28,000 miles on it, so the spring is in good shape. If you don't have any tire interference, I'd just leave it alone. The only problem I had was my front spoiler was always hitting the ground. I solved this by triming one inch from the bottom of the spoiler. I now have plenty of clearance and it did not have any effect on my cooling. Hope this helps.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 1
Re: 86, rides low in the front? (frank moran)
Actually you may have a problem. 86's do not sit that low, and this problem I have only noticed it on 86 adn 87's. There is a rubber cushion that is glued to the spring, well they dry rot and collapse and this is what causes the front end to drop. Unfortuantly you will have to buy a new spring. The only other thing you could try is to call Vette Brakes and see if they could sell you one of the cushions that they put on there new springs.
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