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Front strut spacers to increase height

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:28 pm
by yellow3800
Its been several years now and my eibachs in front with koni adj shocks are now low enough to where the lemons "wide track" tires contact the fenders. Last week I removed the eibach 1" drop springs in favor of 89gt springs, and the rates are WAY off - eibachs being stiffer. So my question is

Can I buy a 1" spacer plate to insert between the upper strut bearing and top spring rubber seat inside the strut assembly to preload this spring a little more to get me my 1" back and retain some stiff spring rate?

I'd LOVE some coil overs.

and I'd like 5" front gnd clearance again instead of 4". It would definitely make for a better driver around town!

Andy

Re: Front strut spacers to increase height

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:56 am
by 3X00-Modified
Being that you wish to do .5" you may need to make a pocket type spacer, or ring type spacer, if you space between the mount and the factory angled spacer you will need to make it sort of like a colar, so when you put the other parts on they still have a centering hub to hold them in place. Or the other option is go on the other side of the bearing between that and the spring, which then you should pocket the spring side so it holds the spring in and it can't slide off.

You could also make an entire strut spacer that goes on the top of the mount to space it down from the strut tower... That might work best because then your not changing where the strut rides in the cartridge.

Re: Front strut spacers to increase height

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:35 am
by yellow3800
I was thinking of that the other day - spacer ON TOP of the strut, not within... makes sense if the stock springs are not variable rate, like the eibachs claim to be.

I'm already using one of those rubber spacers between coils. It helps, but its not enough.

Sounds like more fabrication. I have to check a local race shop that has spring keepers [I know the lowers of coil overs...] maybe I could start with that.

I bet nobody else needs to raise the front end up on this board! lol

Re: Front strut spacers to increase height

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:03 am
by 3X00-Modified
Nope, I wouldn't mind dropping mine more, but my tires are too wide with the N-body knuckles and such and would rub the fenders if I did.

Re: Front strut spacers to increase height

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:14 pm
by Barry
Yeah I wish I could drop an inch up front, I hate having wheel gap.


Jon you should of rolled those fenders before paint!

Re: Front strut spacers to increase height

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:59 am
by yellow3800
I on the other hand, painted before the 3.8 deal [suspension] had been planned [just over a year later...] lol

Once I have an inch increase, tires can travel just over 2", and with konis, I think that'll be enough. Then we can talk about rolling fenders, but eh, more work!

Re: Front strut spacers to increase height

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:54 pm
by 3X00-Modified
Barry wrote:Yeah I wish I could drop an inch up front, I hate having wheel gap.


Jon you should of rolled those fenders before paint!
Fronts would be WAY too much to roll, I still have to grind some off the rear and get that to clear better... It's not bad doing it that way and then tape it off and spray with undercoating so it wont start to rust.