need another half an inch lower.....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
need another half an inch lower.....
1989 6 speed, originally fx3, After changing to z07 springs and heavy sways, I ended up finding out that the PO had run the front leaf spring with all the rubber cut off where it mounts to the car. The thing creaked and groaned and was annoying but looked awesome with its lowered stance. On the new spring I cut it down to about 1/4 inch of insulation but the front now is too high. I need about a half inch lower. I thought I would get used to it after a while but I can't. It looks dumb. Is there another way without serious spindle modification to lower it and not get my creaking back from cutting all insulation off?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
I have 2 OE/GM springs that have different insulators at the control arm end. One is the traditional "triangular pad" like one would expect and the other has an approximate 1 1/4 square cushion assembled to the control arm end. The one on the left is from a '93 I believe and the right is from a '91. How is your new constructed? You mentioned creaked and groaned, maybe the insulator was actually removed at each end. Do the ends of your new match the ends of your old? Perhaps the VBP insulators are of substantially less thickness to help?
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Last edited by WVZR-1; Sep 27, 2013 at 11:58 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
Yea I look again and I'm not even using insulators on the outside. I shaved the middle insulators down to 1/4 inch. The old spring had none but for some reason even though everything is identical my ride height is substantially higher. It is actually a full inch higher. The spring has definately settled.
It looks like the only "spacer" that could be removed would be what keeps the middle mounts oriented in the middle of the car.... if I remove the rounded ones and it just sits the rubber right against the frame will I start getting movement of the spring side to side or the wheels be talking? I track the car more than street drive so performance is way more important than looks but I feel I can achieve both.
It looks like the only "spacer" that could be removed would be what keeps the middle mounts oriented in the middle of the car.... if I remove the rounded ones and it just sits the rubber right against the frame will I start getting movement of the spring side to side or the wheels be talking? I track the car more than street drive so performance is way more important than looks but I feel I can achieve both.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 800
Likes: 2
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Since, the Previous owner installed the front spring at it's maximum lowering height (without the rubber wedges), your only option to get the front end that low again is to install front Coil Over shocks.
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Do you have offset lower a arm bushing to get more -camber? If not, this will help lower the car a little. If you do, then you would probably have to go back to a lower rate spring and/or anti-roll bar
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
Well considering I just moved to the stiffest spring offered to increase my track handling, moving back to a base spring for a ride height is out of the question. Coil overs would defeat all the work I just did (although that would be nice). I'm just confused why its more than 1/4 higher than it was. Something must have not sat right in the mounts or something.
I use shims to get camber but don't need anymore than about 2 degrees. My a arms are stock.
I'm going to take the mounts apart again and see if I can possibly alter them in some way. Just looking at the thing sitting at a stock ride height reminds me why these things look dated. Its amazing how an inch can change the whole look.
I use shims to get camber but don't need anymore than about 2 degrees. My a arms are stock.
I'm going to take the mounts apart again and see if I can possibly alter them in some way. Just looking at the thing sitting at a stock ride height reminds me why these things look dated. Its amazing how an inch can change the whole look.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
A while back, a forum member cut out a section of the lower a arm where the spring sits and fabricated and welded a pocket area an inch or so lower than stock. Perhaps someone can find a picture of it.