1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

OMFG problem with ST springs...

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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 03:45 AM
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From: wishing i was back in FL
OMFG problem with ST springs...

ok so i got my suspension technique springs. everything was going smooth. i get the rear on first and bolt everything back up and set the rear down. OH MY GOD. the rear of the car was atleast 4 inches higher! aahahhahaha, WTF! the spring looks weird as all hell tho, are these progressive springs? there's like 5 coils that are real tight and then the rest looks like the stock spring except it tapers in??? wtf. the overall spring is alot larger than the stock springs. i didnt even bother putting the front in yet. i checked the part number on the box and it matches up. anyone know whats up? are those "dead" springs that i can cut?
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 04:07 AM
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From: SPIZZOKOMTON
generally the stock springs have sagged so much that when you put new springs in, even aftermarket springs that "lower" one inch or whatever will lift the car up because the old springs were so saggy they were acting as lowering springs
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 04:08 AM
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From: SPIZZOKOMTON
and generally is is okay to cut one to one and a half coils off, just make sure you take your bump stop out and cut it in half at least
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 04:45 AM
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yea, well i figured it could have been sag, but you dont understand. i'll get a pic later today. there's no way even stock wheelgap was this much. hahaha OHHHH and i forgot to mention; the springs are bending!!! as in, when you get under the car and look at the spring from the side, it makes a half moon shape. WTF!!!! sounds like there's just too many coils right? **** i dunno what to do.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 05:05 AM
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You need to post pics. Both of the ride height and of the springs. The springs should sit straight with no bow. Do you have them sitting in the perches properly?

Did you compare the old and new side by side before you put them in? The diameters should be the same, the lengths, probably not. The rear springs have the same diameter, end to end. The front springs are tapered.

Yes, those are progressive rate springs. Center of fender lip will be about 24" high with stock wheels and tires.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 05:34 AM
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yea i put the springs side by side before we installed the ST's. the st's were taller in overall lengtha and the width was the same until the top end on the ST's which tapered. and yes, the springs are in as should be, except the top looks like (if it wasnt tapered on the spring) it could go up some more on it's perch... maybe a quarter inch. i dunno, it's weird. i'll try to get some pics shortly. they are definately BOWING.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 05:42 AM
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i have ST springs. i noticed the car was about the same height for like 2 weeks, and i was real disappointed with them, until they started to settle and the car appeared to be somewhat lower, but not as low as i wanted. funny thing is, that my new exhaust scrapes the ground as it is, and lowering the car more would cause worlds of problems! just wait for maybe 2-3 weeks (depends on how much u drive the car i guess) but yeah, maybe u can tell a diff
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 05:50 AM
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From: wishing i was back in FL
did your rear springs look just like your stock rear springs when you took them out? mine bunch up at the bottom then look normal thru the rest of the spring. it's so weird.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 06:13 AM
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From: St Joe MO
Look at the old springs. Are they the same diameter end to end? I went out and looked at the Eibachs I have on mine, but couldn't see them that well on the car. If I remenber there is no taper at all on the springs. If yours has a taper, maybe they boxed the wrong springs.

Look on the side of the coils. I know on the Eibachs' there is a part #, and a spring rate number. Compare those #'s to the ones listed on the box.


The rubber seat that the top of the spring sets in has a slight spiral, then a transition to the other part of the coil. If that isn't lined up, that could account for the gap and the bow. However, with a taper in the spring, I don't think that is your problem.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 06:51 AM
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Yeah, are you sure you got the back ones in the back? The front springs are tapered, the rear ones arent. The front ones would be stiffer to handle the engine weight and what not as well, so I would assume if you put the front ones in the back it would sit really high.

~T.J.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by RotorMotorDriver
Yeah, are you sure you got the back ones in the back? The front springs are tapered, the rear ones arent. The front ones would be stiffer to handle the engine weight and what not as well, so I would assume if you put the front ones in the back it would sit really high.

~T.J.
I would not be able to handle that one, kriiiist almightly that would be funny (not trying to be mean but that would be a real hoot.) and I don't think you would live it down for a while!
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 07:10 AM
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yea, it's pretty obvious which are front and rear. the front ones have a blunt taper to them and alot more space between coils. these rear ones have a very slight taper to them. doesnt seem right.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 08:04 AM
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Maybe they arent seated right? I have ST's on my streetcar and they make the car sit realllllllly lowwwwwwwwww. If they are curved like you said then something is wrong. I know they become real loose when you jack the car and almost will fall out on their own. Make sure the open coil end goes in the notch in the lower perch, and the top seat in the upper perch. Also shorten your bumpstops.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 11:39 AM
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From: St Joe MO
I haven't shortened the bump stops on my Eibachs yet and they do just that. Bump Bump.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 12:59 PM
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To me it sounds like you have the front springs on the rear. The coils on the rear springs will look a little smaller and they should be spaced apart a little more than the front coils. Also, the front coils probably taper in the last 2 inches near the bottom. I don't believe the rear springs taper at all, but I could be wrong.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 01:08 PM
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We need a pic. ST's should be fairly low and wouldn't raise the back 4". Did you check the part # on the rear springs?
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 01:08 PM
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do you have these springs? if so the bigger ones are suppose to go up front..
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 01:50 PM
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here's my car with ST Springs all the way around...the stance is level and fine...it did take a couple weeks for the springs to settle in...maybe they are just not seated in correctly...???

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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Unsupa
do you have these springs? if so the bigger ones are suppose to go up front..

unsupa, ok the springs that are labeled FRONT on my set don't look anything like those in that picture. now the ones that are labeled REAR look like the bigger ones in that picture. ahhhhhrrrrg
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 06:14 PM
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I've got RB springs in my car, i never cut some off my bump stops, should i?
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 06:19 PM
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my car raised an inch when putting in the eibach and tokico blues in the car, but instead of boucey bouncy bouncy front end. its rock solid.! i love it ,, feels like driving an a gocart!!
carl.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by CarlRx7
my car raised an inch when putting in the eibach and tokico blues in the car, but instead of boucey bouncy bouncy front end. its rock solid.! i love it ,, feels like driving an a gocart!!
carl.
mine lowered a little but as for the go kart thing, i feel the same way! funny how a 2000+ car can feel like a go kart. lol
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 06:35 PM
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which should i get ST or racing beat i hear good things about both and there about the same price on loation of buying... im using tokico ill's....if that makes a diff?
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 07:17 PM
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I'm suprised this hasn't been mentioned but, the trailing arms could be binding if you tightened the bolts with the rear axle hanging down. The bolts should be tightened with the car at normal ride height.

Last edited by REVHED; Oct 25, 2004 at 07:20 PM.
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Old Oct 25, 2004 | 07:58 PM
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i didnt take those bolts out. and the springs shouldnt be bowing so it's definately a problem with the springs. i'm going up to the garage where the car is at here in a bit to take some pics and pull the ST's back out. i'll show you all what i'm talking about.
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