Sitting higher (Page 2/4)
hunter29 JUL 11, 07:23 PM
Thanks Patrick , I see now, mine is an 86, I'll have to pull the wheel and take a look , springs are not new, just upper pads.

I took another look at it in the garage and it looks a tad high ( maybe ) less than half inch I would guess.

I'll get a better photo and compare to others I have.
hunter29 JUL 11, 07:27 PM
I should see the spring resting on the control arm with full contact all around correct?
Patrick JUL 11, 08:29 PM
It's been quite a few years since I've had the suspensions apart on my '84, '86 and '88 Fieros, so I forget the finer details. If the end of the spring sits flat, then the orientation of that end of the spring isn't critical. However, if the end of the spring coil sticks out a bit at one end (as mine did when I cut/shortened them), then the end of that coil needs to "fit" in a reciprocal indentation on its spring perch.

I found an image demonstrating how the end of the coil spring sticks out on a cut (and sometimes even on an uncut) spring.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 07-11-2024).]

hunter29 JUL 11, 08:40 PM
Right, I took a closer look without removing the wheel, I think I may have one spring in wrong.

Tomorrow I'll remove the wheels and see what's going on.

If I change it I'm going to have to get another alignment right? As this would throw camber off?
Patrick JUL 11, 08:47 PM

quote
Originally posted by hunter29:

If I change it I'm going to have to get another alignment right?



I suspect you might have to, but I don't know for sure.
hunter29 JUL 11, 09:19 PM
Your very helpful, Im jumping to conclusions and I shouldn't until I get in and take a look, I measured the distance between fender and tire , they are the same.

So one spring off may not be the case.

What if I put them in backwards/ upside down from the way they were.

They are bent a bit, could that give the effect of new springs as one side is worn or softer than the other.

I'm just throwing crap out there. I don't want to redo this, don't know what chance I have of turning the spring without dropping the control arms.
jelly2m8 JUL 11, 09:54 PM
By the way, what size tires are you running? they look kinda small which would give that big gap look
hunter29 JUL 11, 10:03 PM

quote
Originally posted by jelly2m8:

By the way, what size tires are you running? they look kinda small which would give that big gap look



Stock 205 60 15
hunter29 JUL 12, 12:15 PM
Yeah, I screwed up, I'm off about 3 inches on drivers side, not sure about passenger side yet.

I now see where the spring end should be on the control arm.

Need tool for ball joints, then I'll spin the springs around to the proper position.

I was so concerned about putting them back as I saw them on the top I paid no attention to the bottom.

Stupid me...
hunter29 JUL 12, 12:19 PM