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| Front spring pockets, 87 GT. (Page 1/2) |
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mountainman
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JUN 29, 03:14 PM
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I recently purchased an 87 GT that is lowered way to much for me. 2 inches in the front. Constantly scraping the front end and rides like a tank.
Anyway, it seems like the easiest way to raise the car an inch or so would be to put a metal spacer between the spring and the upper spring pocket. My question is, is the mating area where the coil meets the pocket a flat surface or a half moon shape for the spring to sit into? If its flat I could just make a large flat washer to fit into the pocket. 4.5 inch diameter outside, 3.5 inch diameter inside, 3/8 inch thick.
This might not help the ride, but will certainly get it up out of the dirt.
Thanks, John M.
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Patrick
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JUN 29, 07:12 PM
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Used front springs for '84--87 Fieros are plentiful as well. That's another option. Could probably pick up a pair in The Mall for next to nothing.
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cvxjet
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JUN 29, 07:37 PM
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I actually have slightly lowered springs up front on my 85....But it would bottom all the time when driving back roads. I made spacers out of 1/2" plywood and then soaked them with FG resin....It takes a little carving to get the correct shape to fit those pockets- they are actually oddly shaped. The spacers raised the car approx' 3/4".
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Patrick
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JUN 29, 08:11 PM
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It's quite common for lowered '84-'87 Fieros to "bottom all the time" or "ride like a tank" because the metal cones that the front coil springs mount over haven't been shortened. Just cutting the rubber bump stops back a bit isn't enough.
I'm not saying that's necessarily the case here, but it's an unwise shortcut to not bother shortening the metal cones when lowering or cut springs are installed. (It's a fairly involved process to cut and re-weld the shortened cones).[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-29-2021).]
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mountainman
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JUN 29, 10:03 PM
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I thought about used Fiero springs but I've got 10 inch, 275 lb. coil overs in the back. I think stock springs would be unbalanced with the new rear. Car originally had 7 inch 350 lb. rear springs. The car had about 1.5 inches before coil bind. The back end now works very well.
IF I can get a 3/8th spacer in between the car and the spring that will lift the front end about 3/4 to 7/8ths of an inch. And allow more shock travel. I don't know if the metal bump stops have been cut. I'm guessing not.
One thing about short springs, they should be easy to get out! j
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Patrick
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JUN 29, 11:27 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by mountainman:
I don't know if the metal bump stops have been cut. I'm guessing not.
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Decent info in This thread.
| quote | Originally posted by mountainman:
One thing about short springs, they should be easy to get out!
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True... but stock springs, with a bit of coaxing, really want to come out! 
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cvxjet
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JUN 30, 01:20 AM
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I cut my bump-stops by 3/4".......But my 205/55-16 tires were then hitting the fenders.....So I then added a 1/8" washer under my bump-stops (Modified the rubber so that they are bolt ins with nuts welded in the subframe. If I had it to do over I would cut the bump-stops but only 1/2" (Depending on tire diameter) [This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 06-30-2021).]
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Patrick
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JUN 30, 02:38 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by cvxjet:
my 205/55-16 tires were then hitting the fenders...
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I suspect it was the offset of your wheels which was the actual culprit. When I was autocrossing my lowered '84, I ran 225/50/16 tires on all four corners, and had absolutely no clearance problems. That was with the metal cones shortened by 3/4". The front wheels/tires would tuck up under the inside of the fenders at full compression of the suspension, and it didn't matter if the wheels were pointing straight or turned from lock to lock.
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cvxjet
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JUN 30, 03:35 PM
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It was rubbing on the fender liner- but only when I hit big (Deep) dips.....my wheels have 38 mm offset.
Of course, if I was "Super-duper coolie-O" (Like the youngsters nowadays) I would lower it to the ground and then tilt the wheels to a 30 degree angle....But I would rather have my suspension......."Suspenseful"......
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fieroguru
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JUN 30, 08:11 PM
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