Lowered front end
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 235
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
Lowered front end
I just bought a 1985 Coupe. The front end has been lowered to the point that I can't slide my fingers between the tires and the fenders.The tires do not rub when you turn them, much to my suprise, and the car rides and handles well. I cant' figure out how the car was lowered. Do they make drop spindles for this application or is there a problem with my leaf spring. Jacking the car is a nightmare. Looks great but I could use some guidance. Thanks.
Troy :confused:
Troy :confused:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Henderson NV
Re: Lowered front end (drumboytroy)
My '87 suffered from the same malady. Scratch one front spring. Unfortunately it costs a lot to have a new one installed. With the front end sitting so low, you bottom out on speed bumps, etc. This is why it pays to have someone who is familiar with Corvettes along when you look over a Corvette with the idea of buying it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 235
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
Re: Lowered front end (vetteseniorcit)
Thanks for the reply. I can change out the spring myself as I plan on upgrading the suspension anyway. I noticed that it has my sway bar in a bind so I figured it was a malady instead of a modification. Do these springs just collapse or break? What kind of spring did you go back with? I've been looking in Ecklers and Mid America.
Thanks again.
Troy
Thanks again.
Troy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa CA
Re: Lowered front end (drumboytroy)
What kind of shocks are on the car?
This may sound strange but I took off the Bilsteins in the front and had them replaced with Monroe's best. It started getting lower and lower every day until it looked like a stink-bug in about a week. Those Monroe shocks didn't have enough pressure in them to keep the front up to normal height.
I replaced all the shocks with KYB's and everything was normal agian. And then I lowered the car, haha.
BIG JIM
This may sound strange but I took off the Bilsteins in the front and had them replaced with Monroe's best. It started getting lower and lower every day until it looked like a stink-bug in about a week. Those Monroe shocks didn't have enough pressure in them to keep the front up to normal height.
I replaced all the shocks with KYB's and everything was normal agian. And then I lowered the car, haha.
BIG JIM
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 168
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From: Crystal Lake IL
Re: Lowered front end (BIG JIM 54)
I just did all of this and went with KYB's. Could have been a little stiffer for my liking, but the KYB's are a huge improvement, especially for the money. Got mine from a local parts store for $41 a piece. Same thing as ordering with shipping.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Lowered front end (drumboytroy)
Check if the front spring has started to delaminate (fiberglass beginning to splinter). If not, the previous owner may have removed the metal spacers or the rubber isolators that sit on the top of the spring and secure it against the crossmember. New shocks would be a band-aid fix if the spring is bad.
[Modified by mk2001c, 2:30 PM 8/4/2003]
[Modified by mk2001c, 2:30 PM 8/4/2003]
[Modified by mk2001c, 2:30 PM 8/4/2003]
[Modified by mk2001c, 2:30 PM 8/4/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 13,356
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From: tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Re: Lowered front end (drumboytroy)
You say it still runs ok. Right? No noises, no streeing problems?
Lots of us, especially me, wish to lower our/my cars.
So if it ain't broke? You know what I mean.
Just use some ramps to get it up high enough to put a jack under her.
Just my humble thoughts.
tony
:chevy :chevy :chevy :chevy
Lots of us, especially me, wish to lower our/my cars.
So if it ain't broke? You know what I mean.
Just use some ramps to get it up high enough to put a jack under her.
Just my humble thoughts.
tony
:chevy :chevy :chevy :chevy
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
Re: Lowered front end (oldace84)
Hey Tony and all other responders.
Yes the car drives fine,....no noise, it's not darty, tires don't interfere with fenders....ect. I do have to be careful over speed bumps though. But I did notice that my sway bar seems to be stressed on the passenger side. On the drivers side it is in the center if the mount bracket. On the passenger side it is slid all the way to the outside of the bracket. And.. the sway bar seems to be turned down in the front where it crosses the car. Seems this has got to put stress on everything. If I thought it was ok I'd leave it....it looks mean. Any suspension experts? What do you think?
Troy :rolleyes:
Yes the car drives fine,....no noise, it's not darty, tires don't interfere with fenders....ect. I do have to be careful over speed bumps though. But I did notice that my sway bar seems to be stressed on the passenger side. On the drivers side it is in the center if the mount bracket. On the passenger side it is slid all the way to the outside of the bracket. And.. the sway bar seems to be turned down in the front where it crosses the car. Seems this has got to put stress on everything. If I thought it was ok I'd leave it....it looks mean. Any suspension experts? What do you think?
Troy :rolleyes:
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 363
Likes: 11
From: St. Catharines Ontario CANADA
Re: Lowered front end (FC2000)
FC2000...thanks for that. :iagree:
I was itching to make that point. So... an improvement in height after new shocks are installed is ummm.....why?
This post is extremely simillar to one I have going also. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=621280
I was itching to make that point. So... an improvement in height after new shocks are installed is ummm.....why?
This post is extremely simillar to one I have going also. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=621280