need help fast lowering 90 vette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: las vegas nevada
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?????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: las vegas nevada
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 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: las vegas nevada
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
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
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.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
Yep, I'm with Pacer, Tighten the brackets first. 
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 674
Likes: 1
From: Daytona Beach Florida
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.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
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. 
