Guest 73LT1Z Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 I didn't think I was exaggerating... I guess the springs were reversed at some point, but the rear ride height seems OK. I bought this car with no front suspension, and the struts were assembled but not attached to the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Is that up on jack stands?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73LT1Z Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Nope- sitting on the garage floor- I do have the motor out for now, but even with it in, there was at most a 1/2" difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 With no engine is a different story altogether. You've got boots on the struts, but if you didn't I think you'd find that the struts are pretty much topped out. The front end of the car is very light so there just isn't enough weight to compress the spring. If you just stuck the engine in and it looked the same, that's probably due to the tires being "under" the suspension. If you roll the car back and forth the side load comes off of the tires and the suspension will settle in. To think about it another way: If you figure that your LT1 and radiator and hood and all the other little odds and ends weigh (for argument's sake) 700 lbs altogether, then you would have to have 700 in/lb springs for it to only sag 1/2 under the weight of the engine, assuming that the weight of the engine was carried only by the front struts and equally side to side. This doesn't include possible transmission weight some of which would also go to the front struts too. I think the Tokico springs are ~140 in/lbs. The stiffest springs I know of for the stock spring perch like you have in the pic is the 180 in/lb springs. So those would compress at least 2-3 inches. So something still isn't right. Maybe the suspension was not settled before, maybe the struts are frozen or something, but it should compress a lot more than 1/2". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Finished with the rears today. I decided to hold off on the bushings untill I have the proper tool, only so much I can take doing in the ice and snow. Cant complain about ride height. I think the wheels will move outwards more once I have moved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73LT1Z Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 I'll be interested to see how your fronts come out... I dissected my front struts tonight & found only 1 had a bumpstop . The springs uncompressed are 15" tall. I have no idea if this is normal, and I can see they were red at one point in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 I'll be interested to see how your fronts come out... I dissected my front struts tonight & found only 1 had a bumpstop . The springs uncompressed are 15" tall. I have no idea if this is normal, and I can see they were red at one point in time. Yeah I didnt have any bumpstops so far, just some thick playdough-esque grime caked all over my suspension. And I only have 100k miles. Must be the salt. My stock springs were also much taller than the Tokicos decompressed. Good weather today and I'll take some pics of the fronts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed260Z Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 The rear of my car has alot of camber, since I lowered it. The front stayed about the same. The Tokico's have 8 turns vs the stock 11 turns so their will be a size diff uncompressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 My stock rear springs measure 15" so sounds like thats your problem. Youre welcome to my fronts once I get them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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