Front Lowering Wedge install
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 494
Likes: 138
From: Chesapeake, VA
Front Lowering Wedge install
Instructions say glue wedge to frame. 2 DIYs I found in here say glue to spring, which is better? And I guess marine epoxy is about the only way to keep the wedge in place?
Thanks
Rick
Thanks
Rick
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Rick,
Nothing gets glued to the frame. The wedge (pyramid shape) gets glued to the monospring. Ensure
you remove the old rubber off the springs seat.
Nothing gets glued to the frame. The wedge (pyramid shape) gets glued to the monospring. Ensure
you remove the old rubber off the springs seat.
Last edited by PLRX; Dec 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 494
Likes: 138
From: Chesapeake, VA
Are you supposed to keep that metal piece that was glued to the top of the rubber? I guess it would give the wedge a better platform to ride on than the frame. And you remove the shim that was on top of that too - right? I don't see it in your installed picture.
What glue did you use?
What glue did you use?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Are you supposed to keep that metal piece that was glued to the top of the rubber? I guess it would give the wedge a better platform to ride on than the frame. And you remove the shim that was on top of that too - right? I don't see it in your installed picture.
What glue did you use?
What glue did you use?
Im the lowest it can be with monosprings using 285/40ZR17 all around.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Sorry OP don't mean to hijack, just happen to see this thread..
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
You made me think of a question with this response. I've been reading the DIY lowering threads in the C4 Gen sec lately. Gonna lower mine but I'm just cutting the rubber out and not using wedges. I also have the same size tires in the front. Do you think I'd be able to get away with removing the shims as well?
Sorry OP don't mean to hijack, just happen to see this thread..
Sorry OP don't mean to hijack, just happen to see this thread..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
I was reading the one thread where they say to leave about a 1/8 in of rubber on the top, I'm assuming that would keep it off the crossmember.
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
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 494
Likes: 138
From: Chesapeake, VA
No worries....
One thread I cam across mentioned shaving the bottom of the triangle - He used a belt sander.
but yes you must have something to keep spring off the frame.
but yes you must have something to keep spring off the frame.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 567
Likes: 36
From: Fairfax VA
I've had good results bonding wedges to the spring using Devcon Plastic Welder:
http://www.devcon.com/products/produ...elder%E2%84%A2
Also agree its not a good idea to let the spring ride directly on the cross member as could lead to shortened spring life.
Here are a couple of pics of a front sring I did a couple months back for friend of mine.
http://www.devcon.com/products/produ...elder%E2%84%A2
Also agree its not a good idea to let the spring ride directly on the cross member as could lead to shortened spring life.
Here are a couple of pics of a front sring I did a couple months back for friend of mine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
These are the two threads in the DIY section
Both threads are very good with lots of pics
Wedge Install
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting.../lowering.html
Cutting down the rubber only
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...-i-did-it.html
Both threads are very good with lots of pics
Wedge Install
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting.../lowering.html
Cutting down the rubber only
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...-i-did-it.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
I think the wedges are 0.42 or so, there is a thread on here about it. I cut mine down so that with those thin metal shims make the total height the same time as lowering wedges. Haven't dropped it back on the ground yet.
I wonder if the metal shims are different from year to year. (I'm referring to the glued on thin ones not the 1/4" aluminum ones.) On my 84z51 it was solid metal and on my 86fe1 it was a frame with nothing in the center. So, if it is a complete piece I'd feel fine running it with the pyramid shaped wedges, if you have the ones without a center then it could potentially only be pinching the edges of the shim and reducing contact of the majority of the wedge on the frame.
I wonder if the metal shims are different from year to year. (I'm referring to the glued on thin ones not the 1/4" aluminum ones.) On my 84z51 it was solid metal and on my 86fe1 it was a frame with nothing in the center. So, if it is a complete piece I'd feel fine running it with the pyramid shaped wedges, if you have the ones without a center then it could potentially only be pinching the edges of the shim and reducing contact of the majority of the wedge on the frame.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 494
Likes: 138
From: Chesapeake, VA
I wen to West Marine this morning and bought this - $25 (better be good)
yup, lots of extra - I don't want that sucker coming loose.
on my 90 the upper plates are solid, after cutting them off with most of the rubber attached - I heated the backside with propane torch and the rubber popped right off. I am going to use them on reinstall. The spring was a bitch to scrape the rubber off while being careful not to scratch.
That epoxy said set in 2-3 hours and full cure in 24 at 72 deg. So I waited 4 hours (with clamps) and then slide spring into place and loosely installed the brackets - I will finish putting back together tomorrow.
yup, lots of extra - I don't want that sucker coming loose.
on my 90 the upper plates are solid, after cutting them off with most of the rubber attached - I heated the backside with propane torch and the rubber popped right off. I am going to use them on reinstall. The spring was a bitch to scrape the rubber off while being careful not to scratch.
That epoxy said set in 2-3 hours and full cure in 24 at 72 deg. So I waited 4 hours (with clamps) and then slide spring into place and loosely installed the brackets - I will finish putting back together tomorrow.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
You are about 90% done.
Congrats!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
I like these threads when lots of pics are added..
. Nice job.
How hi up in the air do you have your front end? Just getting mine up today. I'm about 14 inches to the bottom of the tire.Wondering if thats high enough to get the spring out.
. Nice job.How hi up in the air do you have your front end? Just getting mine up today. I'm about 14 inches to the bottom of the tire.Wondering if thats high enough to get the spring out.
Last edited by qws; Dec 26, 2011 at 06:55 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 635
Likes: 1
I question why you have to reuse the upper metal plates again when lowering? I didn't, they were so thin they didn't really add anything and the spring tunnel has almost the same shape as the metal plates. So I left them out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 494
Likes: 138
From: Chesapeake, VA
*Tech tip. The bolts (at least mine) are shanked with only about 1.5 inches of thread, lot's of washers required. I put the aluminum shim plate on bottom and still had to use a couple of washers on each bolt.
