Home page

Spring replaced - ride height high

Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling

13 Messages
Page 1 of 2
Share:
Sponsored Content

Already a Member?

Welcome back! Access your account.

Sign In

Not yet a Member?

Join our community! Registration is free.

Join Free

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/12/03 9:21pmMessage 1 of 13
Profile Pic
Free Member
Send PM
ORLANDO, FL - USA
Joined: 12/11/2002
Posts: 459
Vette(s): 1980 L82 Dark Metallic Green Coupe, Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, GM ZZ383....nice....
I finally had a shop replace my rear spring and the height to the center of the rear wheel well went from 28" to 31". Now my wheels lean inward and I have a bad shake above 45mph??? How much have other folks seen it settling and how long until it settles? Did you need the rear alignment changed? I have to do something cause this ain't workin. |cussing| Maybe I will need the longer bolts with this spring?
 
1980 L82 (5069 made), Dark Green Metalic (844 made)
Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, Sporting a ZZ383......... 
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support Vette Registry)

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/13/03 3:40amMessage 2 of 13
g
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 5/15/2003
Posts: 110
Vette(s): 1979 Black on Black, heavily modified. 1975 Orange, bone stock (for now).
did you get steel spring? Is it 7 or 9 leafs? Or composite? I'd say you'll need new longer 9" bolts to get the car to the ground again. |cheers|
|B|JOIN THE 1979 CORVETTE REGISTRY! |/B| |URL|http://www.vettefinders.com/79registry/ |/URL| |IMG|http://www.vettefinders.com/79registry/homesivu_tiedostot/79regyla01_tiedostot/bannerthe.gif |/IMG| |URL|www.c3-r.com|/URL|
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/13/03 9:43amMessage 3 of 13
K
Free Member
Send PM
Edwardsburg, MI - USA
Joined: 11/24/2003
Posts: 5
Vette(s): 1973 Red T-Top
See this thread at CorvetteForum.com

Composite Rear Springs - Why So High?
See ya, Mark |IMG| http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/10/web/382000-382999/382712_5_full.jpg|/IMG| '73 Red Coupe, no PB, no PS, no PW, no AT, no AC, no CC, no wood grain, no cup holders, no heater, no windshield washers, no AIR pump, no EGR valve, no spare tire, no bumpers!
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/14/03 9:21pmMessage 4 of 13
Profile Pic
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
Burke, VT - USA
Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7615
Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
SOLD - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am
"BLUBYU" - '04 Coupe
When I replaced the rear spring on "The Toy" I stayed with steel, but did order the longer bolts which allowed me to return the ride height back to where I wanted it. But I don't know that they will solve the camber or vibration issues you mention.

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/15/03 4:11amMessage 5 of 13
R
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
BINGHAMTON, NY - USA
Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3825
Vette(s): ......
Like the other guys said get longer bolts,that should bring it back down to the original hieght.If everything was o.k. b-4,you shouldn't have to make any other adjustments,unless you changed the adjustments on the strut rods.when I put new bolts on the ends of my springs I installed them up side down,too keep the threaded end up on top,I figured maybe it would keep some of the road junk off of threads,and keep them from rusting quite so bad,just in case I had to change them again |laugh| |wavey| |saluteflag| |withstupid|

C3VR Lifetime Member #93

Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/15/03 10:27amMessage 6 of 13
b
Free Member
Send PM
ATOKA, TN - USA
Joined: 9/25/2002
Posts: 120
Vette(s): 1975 Coupe, 1998 Coupe, 2000 coupe
Very nice to know about this, as I'm going to replace my rear spring soon. |thumb|
1975/L48/Coupe/4 Speed(1 of 1057)/Headers/true duals/aluminum intake/holley 750/MSD ignition/roller rockers/ |IMG|http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/1701_1800/1717/BSVette75d_sig.jpg |/IMG|
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/16/03 7:37pmMessage 7 of 13
Profile Pic
Free Member
Send PM
ORLANDO, FL - USA
Joined: 12/11/2002
Posts: 459
Vette(s): 1980 L82 Dark Metallic Green Coupe, Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, GM ZZ383....nice....
Well I got the longer 8" bolts today. They should go on this week some time. The spring I got was steel. There seems to be some discussion that during install you should lightly tighten the center, install the sides, place the weight of the car on the spring, then tighten the center bolts to spec. The shop manual doesn't exactly say this, but the Haynes manual does.

Looking at spacing down there, it looks like it will hit the tire if the spacers drop down two more inches. I post again after I get it done. |hammer|

|UPDATED|12/16/2003 7:37:03 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
 
1980 L82 (5069 made), Dark Green Metalic (844 made)
Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, Sporting a ZZ383......... 
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 12/17/03 1:52pmMessage 8 of 13
Profile Pic
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424
Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!
Snug thing up, but you should always do final tightening with anything that flexes with suspension height in the normal loaded position.
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 1/3/04 9:25pmMessage 9 of 13
Profile Pic
Free Member
Send PM
ORLANDO, FL - USA
Joined: 12/11/2002
Posts: 459
Vette(s): 1980 L82 Dark Metallic Green Coupe, Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, GM ZZ383....nice....
Got the 8" bolts put on last weekend. Ride height is still 3/4" high on the drivers side and 1 1/4" high on the pass side. I am not happy with the ride quality either. Seems more like a pogo stick, more bounce, and choppy. Rear end also feels like it wants to break loose on turns. I am going to try a spring from someone else or go back to my original. |cussing|
 
1980 L82 (5069 made), Dark Green Metalic (844 made)
Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, Sporting a ZZ383......... 
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post

Spring replaced - ride height high

Posted: 2/29/04 6:57pmMessage 10 of 13
Profile Pic
Free Member
Send PM
ORLANDO, FL - USA
Joined: 12/11/2002
Posts: 459
Vette(s): 1980 L82 Dark Metallic Green Coupe, Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, GM ZZ383....nice....
Well I gave the steel spring a couple months to settle in and she came down less than 1/2 inch. Performed like a pogo stick.

Pulled off the metal spring and put on a VBP composite 330lb spring. The ride height is perfect at 28.5 all the way around with lots of room to adjust the rear up or down. I can't believe the difference in the ride quality, this spring is awesome! This is one of the best mods I have made to the car. I don't know how well this spring works on other years but it is a great match for an 80. |thumb| |bouncy| |bouncy| |thumb|

|UPDATED|2/29/2004 6:57:48 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
 
1980 L82 (5069 made), Dark Green Metalic (844 made)
Gymkhana Suspension, AM/FM/CB, Sporting a ZZ383......... 
Be the first to like this post
Sign In to Like this post
Share:

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


Sponsored Content