C4 Front Spring Info? HELP!!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,149
Likes: 177
From: Chicago/Lake Geneva/Phoenix IL/WI/AZ
St. Jude Donor '06
C4 Front Spring Info? HELP!!!!
I am building a 57 Belair on a Paul Newman Carcreations chassis. I am having issues with the ride height. I was told the used spring I have installed may be part of the issue. The Spring ends @ the A arm are square pads not the typical pie shapped. The rubber end not the spring itself. GM # 17986459. I was told this is a one year only spring? Anyone have any idea what the spring rate on this is? The other suspension parts have a 94 date if this helps. I would like to know so I can order a new VBP spring but want a starting point.
Thanks for any help. Tommy
Thanks for any help. Tommy
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
My C4 parts book does not show any use of that spring p/n, but it does appear to be a legit number since there are similar numbers for the 91-96 springs. Maybe its a service replacement spring. Those tend to have different part numbers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,149
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From: Chicago/Lake Geneva/Phoenix IL/WI/AZ
St. Jude Donor '06
Yes FHA I was told is the manufacturer.
That's what I was finding as well. Chevy is no help, number has been purged. A chassis guy said it is a GM spring.
That's what I was finding as well. Chevy is no help, number has been purged. A chassis guy said it is a GM spring.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
FHA is not a manufacturer. FHA is a spring code the correlates to a spring rate.
Are you trying raise or lower the ride height?
Was the spring new or used when you got it?
It sounds as though you bought a used spring and a prior owner trimmed the pad off each end to lower the ride height.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
If I get a chance, I'll upload some pics of mine later today or tomorrow. Added pics. Gotta look close to see the pads. Also included a pic of a couple pads I trimmed off. The spring with lots of arch is a 1996 base suspension spring from my GS. The other is the VanSteel Z51 spec spring. Hats off to VanSteel/Hyperco (mfg), awesome quality spring.
Full size
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/corv...comparison.jpg
Last edited by 96GS#007; Dec 8, 2007 at 07:52 PM.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,149
Likes: 177
From: Chicago/Lake Geneva/Phoenix IL/WI/AZ
St. Jude Donor '06
FHA is not a manufacturer. FHA is a spring code the correlates to a spring rate.
Are you trying raise or lower the ride height?
The car is sitting to low. I am getting tire rub on the fender lips.
Was the spring new or used when you got it?
Used front and rear parts from a salvage yard. I saw the car they came off of and it was a theft recovery missing the drivetrain, not a wreck.
It sounds as though you bought a used spring and a prior owner trimmed the pad off each end to lower the ride height.
The pads are there, just not what I have seen in the catalogs.
Are you trying raise or lower the ride height?
The car is sitting to low. I am getting tire rub on the fender lips.
Was the spring new or used when you got it?
Used front and rear parts from a salvage yard. I saw the car they came off of and it was a theft recovery missing the drivetrain, not a wreck.
It sounds as though you bought a used spring and a prior owner trimmed the pad off each end to lower the ride height.
The pads are there, just not what I have seen in the catalogs.
The later springs have a pad that is glued to the tip. It's about an inch thick. Not unusual for people to trim the pads off to lower the front.
If I get a chance, I'll upload some pics of mine later today or tomorrow. Added pics. Gotta look close to see the pads. Also included a pic of a couple pads I trimmed off. The spring with lots of arch is a 1996 base suspension spring from my GS. The other is the VanSteel Z51 spec spring. Hats off to VanSteel/Hyperco (mfg), awesome quality spring.
Full size
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/corv...comparison.jpg
If I get a chance, I'll upload some pics of mine later today or tomorrow. Added pics. Gotta look close to see the pads. Also included a pic of a couple pads I trimmed off. The spring with lots of arch is a 1996 base suspension spring from my GS. The other is the VanSteel Z51 spec spring. Hats off to VanSteel/Hyperco (mfg), awesome quality spring.
Full size
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/corv...comparison.jpg
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
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From: Texas
What engine are you running in the car? I'm guessing that there may be too much weight up front for the Corvette springs.
You'll need add shims on top of the rubber spring mounts that are towards the center of the spring. If you're using a Corvette mounting method, GM sells shims or you can cut them out of aluminum to the thickness you desire.
You'll need add shims on top of the rubber spring mounts that are towards the center of the spring. If you're using a Corvette mounting method, GM sells shims or you can cut them out of aluminum to the thickness you desire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Australia
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Chicago/Lake Geneva/Phoenix IL/WI/AZ
St. Jude Donor '06
What engine are you running in the car? I'm guessing that there may be too much weight up front for the Corvette springs.
You'll need add shims on top of the rubber spring mounts that are towards the center of the spring. If you're using a Corvette mounting method, GM sells shims or you can cut them out of aluminum to the thickness you desire.
You'll need add shims on top of the rubber spring mounts that are towards the center of the spring. If you're using a Corvette mounting method, GM sells shims or you can cut them out of aluminum to the thickness you desire.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,149
Likes: 177
From: Chicago/Lake Geneva/Phoenix IL/WI/AZ
St. Jude Donor '06
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
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From: Texas
Could still be a weight induced issue. Steel body?An inch of shims isn't that much. My Vette had nearly 3/4" of shims from the factory with the base spring and it sat pretty low in the front.
How much do you need to raise the ride height?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,149
Likes: 177
From: Chicago/Lake Geneva/Phoenix IL/WI/AZ
St. Jude Donor '06
I have added shims until I could not add anymore!
I need another 1/2 to 3/4 inch for no tire rub issues.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
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From: Texas
- Add a pad to each lower control arms.
- Buy wheels with a different offset in order to tuck them into the fender wells
- Relocate/change the spring/chassis mounting points to move the spring downward. Are you using the entire C4 frpont suspension cradle?
- Try a different spring (might end up in the same boat)
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,689
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From: St Petersburg FL
St. Jude Donor '07,'13
Springs
Hi Tommyn,
If you need some help, please do not hesitate to call my techs, Gary or Steve, toll free at 1-800-237-9991. If you can give us the total weight of the car, your issues and what you want to accomplish, we can set you up in just the right arch style and spring rate to get you just where you want to be. We manufacture alot of different arch styles for various applications and kit cars. We also manufacture them in many different rates to fit the weight and driving style.
All of our springs are on sale from now until the end of the year too. If you cannot get the one you have to work, please feel free to call us.
Best Regards,
Pattie Cooke, Sales Mgr.
VBP (Vette Brakes and Products)
If you need some help, please do not hesitate to call my techs, Gary or Steve, toll free at 1-800-237-9991. If you can give us the total weight of the car, your issues and what you want to accomplish, we can set you up in just the right arch style and spring rate to get you just where you want to be. We manufacture alot of different arch styles for various applications and kit cars. We also manufacture them in many different rates to fit the weight and driving style.
All of our springs are on sale from now until the end of the year too. If you cannot get the one you have to work, please feel free to call us.
Best Regards,
Pattie Cooke, Sales Mgr.
VBP (Vette Brakes and Products)