C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

need help fast lowering 90 vette

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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 02:15 AM
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Default need help fast lowering 90 vette

i was doing the lowering procedure on my 90 i cut the stock rubber shim down to about a 1/4 inch i was bolting it back together and my aluminum spring holder bracket thing snapped in half i tightened it very tight but it didnt clamp the spring down all the way onto the shim what did i do wrong?????
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 03:05 AM
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anyone please i just next day ordered a new set from mid america i have about a 1/4 inch of shim i wanna make sure this new set doesnt break do you torque them all the way down or should i have just tightened it a little??? this sucks my car is out front on jack stands
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 03:20 AM
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Have you seen this?

http://webpages.charter.net/khasting.../lowering.html
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 04:00 AM
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i have seen and thoroughly read all the write ups for lowering they all cut off at halfway when the spring is modified i know install is opposite of removal but i need the install steps ..


i got the spring in and slid it into the control arm slots it goes into then i went to bolt it back in using my stock aluminum brackets and it was really hard to get the spring tightened down and it didnt wanna set right or anything ..


maybe i should have just slid the spring in but not slide it into both lower control arms it would been loose then i could have bolted it up fairly easily then i coulda pulled the lca on one side and get the other half of the spring in like that


idk tho any tips tricks or help would be appreciated
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 04:23 AM
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Originally Posted by patricksmithahhh
maybe i should have just slid the spring in but not slide it into both lower control arms it would been loose then i could have bolted it up fairly easily then i coulda pulled the lca on one side and get the other half of the spring in like that
That's probably the problem right there. Get both center brackets bolted on first with the ends of the springs still at full relaxed droop. Then attach the lower control arms raising them onto the knuckle with a jack until you can get the lower ball joint castle nut started. It sounds like you're trying to run the spring up against the frame by turning the bolts on the center brackets because the lower control arms are tensioning the spring. Remember to shave them down so they still clamp the spring in place.

Last edited by 86PACER; Mar 19, 2010 at 05:06 AM.
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 04:35 AM
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well i have the new clamps coming from mid america i wonder if i should just keep them the way they are sent and just put a rubber insert in it so it still clamps the spring?
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 05:02 AM
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I would do it the right way and shave them so they clamp.
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 05:07 AM
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i hear 7mm is a good number to shave off right is this correct??
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 05:09 AM
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Originally Posted by patricksmithahhh
maybe i should have just slid the spring in but not slide it into both lower control arms it would been loose then i could have bolted it up fairly easily then i coulda pulled the lca on one side and get the other half of the spring in like that
Yep, I'm with Pacer, Tighten the brackets first.
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 05:10 AM
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Originally Posted by patricksmithahhh
well i have the new clamps coming from mid america i wonder if i should just keep them the way they are sent and just put a rubber insert in it so it still clamps the spring?
after I cut down the rubber on the spring, I took the bracket and pushed it into place(with the spring out of the car). I then took a sharpie pen and marked on the bracket at the top of the rubber that I cut and used an air saw to cut the bracket down to size(u could probably use a hacksaw). It all tightened up nicely.
I also had to put a socket on the top of the bolt that the nut goes on to tighten it completely. Had to fish a long extension and universal joint down through the engine bay (very hard to find on pass side) you'll probably need someones help holding that while you tighten them down..
Good luck!!

Last edited by Bubba91; Mar 19, 2010 at 05:16 AM.
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Old Mar 19, 2010 | 05:14 AM
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The amount you cut off of the brackets is the difference between the old rubber spacers and the new spacers. In my case it was about 5/8 so that is what I cut off of the brackets.
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