Rear Spring mounting hardware issue
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Rear Spring mounting hardware issue
What are these 2 aluminum spacers for? They are loose and can be taken out, do I need them?
The pads look a little compressed, do I need to change these?
Will something flyoff while I drive?
Expert comments needed....
The pads look a little compressed, do I need to change these?
Will something flyoff while I drive?
Expert comments needed....
Last edited by slickfx3; May 4, 2009 at 12:16 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Will a poly bushing kit come with these pads and spacers?
why are shims needed? why can't they just use pads?
Last edited by slickfx3; May 4, 2009 at 10:14 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
slickfx3,
To answer your question, you are missing parts. I own a 1987 and it looks like yours is an 88 or 89. My 87 FSM lists from top to bottom:
1 insulator (looks like the rusty plate in your pictures still attached)
1 or 2 spacers above the spring (depends on performance package)
1 cushion (rubber around spring)
spring
1 or 2 spacers below (depends on perf package)
anchor plates (mounting hardware)
It does just bolt up to the batwing. If you replace it, there are good threads for how to do it. (very easy)
A bushing kit will not include those spacers
I believe they used shims in order to adjust the spring height for the different performance packages offered (z51, z52, convert) without manufacturing 3 different hardware configurations (shims are cheap).
I do not know if this is a common problem or not. I hope this helps.
John
To answer your question, you are missing parts. I own a 1987 and it looks like yours is an 88 or 89. My 87 FSM lists from top to bottom:
1 insulator (looks like the rusty plate in your pictures still attached)
1 or 2 spacers above the spring (depends on performance package)
1 cushion (rubber around spring)
spring
1 or 2 spacers below (depends on perf package)
anchor plates (mounting hardware)
It does just bolt up to the batwing. If you replace it, there are good threads for how to do it. (very easy)
A bushing kit will not include those spacers
I believe they used shims in order to adjust the spring height for the different performance packages offered (z51, z52, convert) without manufacturing 3 different hardware configurations (shims are cheap).
I do not know if this is a common problem or not. I hope this helps.
John
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
slickfx3,
To answer your question, you are missing parts. I own a 1987 and it looks like yours is an 88 or 89. My 87 FSM lists from top to bottom:
1 insulator (looks like the rusty plate in your pictures still attached)
1 or 2 spacers above the spring (depends on performance package)
1 cushion (rubber around spring)
spring
1 or 2 spacers below (depends on perf package)
anchor plates (mounting hardware)
It does just bolt up to the batwing. If you replace it, there are good threads for how to do it. (very easy)
A bushing kit will not include those spacers
I believe they used shims in order to adjust the spring height for the different performance packages offered (z51, z52, convert) without manufacturing 3 different hardware configurations (shims are cheap).
I do not know if this is a common problem or not. I hope this helps.
John
To answer your question, you are missing parts. I own a 1987 and it looks like yours is an 88 or 89. My 87 FSM lists from top to bottom:
1 insulator (looks like the rusty plate in your pictures still attached)
1 or 2 spacers above the spring (depends on performance package)
1 cushion (rubber around spring)
spring
1 or 2 spacers below (depends on perf package)
anchor plates (mounting hardware)
It does just bolt up to the batwing. If you replace it, there are good threads for how to do it. (very easy)
A bushing kit will not include those spacers
I believe they used shims in order to adjust the spring height for the different performance packages offered (z51, z52, convert) without manufacturing 3 different hardware configurations (shims are cheap).
I do not know if this is a common problem or not. I hope this helps.
John
Thanks John.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
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From: Los Angeles CA
When you say wedge, were you you get these?
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Now I can address the clicking and sqeaking noise in the back...
no I do not want to lower the car and scrape stuff, I want to raise the car back to original height, I think the rubber compressed over time and the car is lower allowing the spacers to rattle....
1/ the rubber cushions looks dry rotted, are they permanately attached to the spring?
2/ where can I buy a replacement stack of cushions, spacers etc?
3/ how precise to I have to get all the right parts to do the job?
4/ can I wedge something else in there to take up the slack?
5/What is the correct procedure to accesss the top of the spring to replace those cushions wihtout taking the whole suspension apart.
expert help needed....
2/I do not want to lower the car
no I do not want to lower the car and scrape stuff, I want to raise the car back to original height, I think the rubber compressed over time and the car is lower allowing the spacers to rattle....
1/ the rubber cushions looks dry rotted, are they permanately attached to the spring?
2/ where can I buy a replacement stack of cushions, spacers etc?
3/ how precise to I have to get all the right parts to do the job?
4/ can I wedge something else in there to take up the slack?
5/What is the correct procedure to accesss the top of the spring to replace those cushions wihtout taking the whole suspension apart.
expert help needed....
2/I do not want to lower the car
Last edited by slickfx3; May 29, 2009 at 07:24 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Place floor jack under spindle / upright and lift until weight is off spring.Remove spring bolt and lower.Do same to other side.
Spring now has no tension and you can remove the mounting bolts to the batwing do do what ever you want.
Reverse to install.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Thanks again guys for helping me make my Corvette better than before!
Rear spring mount and spacer repair
I lifted one side of the car, since the whole side came up
used 1/8" aluminum stock 10 bucks Home Depot.
threw out the fiber shims, they were smashed beyond usabiltiy
move one stock spacer to the top and kept a stock aluminum shim, total around 8mm. same as stock( I measured the fiber shims)
I jammed enough 1/8" spacers on the bottom to feel the isolators compress against the spring, but not too much, just right.
I think I didn't center the spring perfectly.
and the left rear wheel still has a clicking noise when I get on and off the gas, anyone know what that is, It ain't the spring mount that for sure
Rear spring mount and spacer repair
I lifted one side of the car, since the whole side came up
used 1/8" aluminum stock 10 bucks Home Depot.
threw out the fiber shims, they were smashed beyond usabiltiy
move one stock spacer to the top and kept a stock aluminum shim, total around 8mm. same as stock( I measured the fiber shims)
I jammed enough 1/8" spacers on the bottom to feel the isolators compress against the spring, but not too much, just right.
I think I didn't center the spring perfectly.
and the left rear wheel still has a clicking noise when I get on and off the gas, anyone know what that is, It ain't the spring mount that for sure
Last edited by slickfx3; May 30, 2009 at 09:39 PM.