While rebuilding the front end I cut a single coil off the bottom of each front coil spring. I left the UCA and LCA bushing bolts loose until after loading them and I still have a 4x4. I made sure the ends of the coils fit in the groove of the LCA. Can not figure it out.

Ideas?

you have to drive on it for a few days and it will go down alittle more

did you cut the bumpstops?

quote Originally posted by fierobrian: you have to drive on it for a few days and it will go down alittle more

I still have the LCA and UCA bolts partially slack. Should I just drive around a bit and watch for it to go down?

quote Originally posted by Tumble weed: did you cut the bumpstops?

Yep, sure did.

hmmm looks like were in the same boat, i havent cut mine but i really want to.







at least your front end isnt that high lol. (stock 2.8 auto)

- seems me n you both have some seriously rare fieros, yours is 253 made?? mines 262.

quote Originally posted by fierobrian: you have to drive on it for a few days and it will go down alittle more

I agree.you need to drive it (the bushings are dry).

The 88s are notorious for riding high in the front. Four fingers is about normal for stock height. One coil cut is giving you it looks like 3 fingers. It might settle a little bit more, but if you go any lower on cut springs you run the risk of rubbing on big bumps.

On the 88, it's possible to get the front spring in "out of place" at the top.
I had a similar issue with mine. Had to take it apart again.

Both of my cars have had one coil cut from each front spring.
It did take a while for the springs to settle, but they weren't that high.

This pic was taken just a few days after the springs were cut.


This pic was taken almost a year after the springs were cut.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 09-22-2007).]

I heeded your previous warning and made sure the tops and bottoms of the springs were properly seated. Looking at your pics, raydar, I think mine looks like yours did right after cutting. It just looks a bit worse as my color is brighter and it highlights the dark area between the tire and the yellow fender. Hopefully it will settle out like yours did.

[This message has been edited by sjmaye (edited 09-22-2007).]

225/45/17 with i full coil of the back and two full coils off the front (one of top and one off bottom) i didnt cut anything else or do anythign else at all, just hacked off the coils... I wanted a little rake (the rear is about 1.5"-2" higher then the front) to mine so i didnt drop the rear too much. I was also trying to keep the front a little up their because i want to get a "closed mouth" chin spoiler from fierowarehouse.com someday...

YEAH, the inner wheel wells are out as i was planning to paint the car. Plus i decided to redo them flat black, i think they look pretty good on the car. Also i do need to do something about the rotors, i think i will get some of those dealios that go on behind the rims to hide it all... the 11.25" brakes looked good when new but of course they get rusty quick...

[This message has been edited by SLOWnSTEADY (edited 09-22-2007).]

Strange- All the pics in my original post above are now gone. At least that is what I am seeing in my browser. Why would that be?

you probly didnt copy and paste..you may have lost your originals to the thread.... id save them from the thread and put them back on your browser

quote Originally posted by 88 Silver Formula: you probly didnt copy and paste..you may have lost your originals to the thread.... id save them from the thread and put them back on your browser

I used PIP to post them. I see they are now back up there. Strange.

my lowering balljoints in the front SLAMMED my front end without hurting my performance at all, i LOVE them.

It worked out that the engine swap dropped the back down alot for me already, so the front leveled out nicely.

I have an old 1986 Plain Jane notchback 2.5 stick shift. If I take one coil off of each spring how much lower will it ride?

Thanks
Joe Crawford
Texas

quote Originally posted by josef644: I have an old 1986 Plain Jane notchback 2.5 stick shift. If I take one coil off of each spring how much lower will it ride? Thanks Joe Crawford Texas

sjmaye,
Ya got the quote, but forgot the mesage
Joe

quote Originally posted by josef644: sjmaye, Ya got the quote, but forgot the mesage Joe

doh! I meant to say based on my experience you can't tell how much cutting one coil would lower the car. Others have claimed ~1" lower.

Thanks, Joe!

[This message has been edited by sjmaye (edited 09-24-2007).]

quote Originally posted by josef644: I have an old 1986 Plain Jane notchback 2.5 stick shift. If I take one coil off of each spring how much lower will it ride? Thanks Joe Crawford Texas

Joe.
With the full weight of the car on the wheels, look at the distance between one coil and the next. That's approximately how much it will drop.
Actually, I believe it won't be quite that much, as the spring rate will increase a bit due to the reduced number of coils. The remaining coils will tend to sit just a little further apart, for the same load.
If I'm wrong, I'm sure that somebody will speak up. They have never been shy, in the past.

If your end coil runs back into the next coil (spring is flat on the end) then cutting that coil off will have less of an effect.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 09-24-2007).]

Ok you cut one layer off of it, so that the new "end" is about the same spot that it was before the cut? Anything else I need to know before I ruin 4 good springs?

Thanks for the info guys

Joe Crawford
Texas

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 09-24-2007).]

quote Originally posted by josef644: Ok you cut one layer off of it, so that the new "end" is about the same spot that it was before the cut? Anything else I need to know before I ruin 4 good springs? Thanks for the info guys Joe Crawford Texas

Don't use a torch. Or anyting else that will transfer a lot of heat into the wire. It will take the temper out of the spring.
I used a cutoff wheel to cut mine.

I may be wrong but doesnt cutting the coils mess up your suspension??

I have a couple buddies who did that to their cars and now the front wheels sit like this ---> // \\

It sucks for them cuz the tires dont sit on the ground properly and they just wear out the inside treads. Not to mention that it must cause other componets to wear quicker.

Im talking about a civic and an integra....do Fiero's have a stronger suspension design?

Obviously ppl have done this. Has it caused any problems?

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Dougie Murder
85 Fiero GT
Romeoliquorstore.com
Myspace

quote Originally posted by Dougie Murder: I may be wrong but doesnt cutting the coils mess up your suspension?? I have a couple buddies who did that to their cars and now the front wheels sit like this ---> // \\ It sucks for them cuz the tires dont sit on the ground properly and they just wear out the inside treads. Not to mention that it must cause other componets to wear quicker. Im talking about a civic and an integra....do Fiero's have a stronger suspension design? Obviously ppl have done this. Has it caused any problems?

I can't understand how cutting the springs on a Fiero could do this, mechanically. The orientation of the wheel is dictated by the upper & lower control arms and spindle.

Because they are unequal length swing arms is why they sit all cocked up after you're done 'lowering' it.
I seriously doubt if someone doesn't have the time or energy to get a lowering kit they could possibly be bothered with getting the car properly aligned with an alignment kit.

quote Originally posted by Dougie Murder: I may be wrong but doesnt cutting the coils mess up your suspension?? I have a couple buddies who did that to their cars and now the front wheels sit like this ---> // \\

Just need a 4-wheel alignment afterwards to get everything adjusted back to spec. You'll likely need the MOOG "problem solver" upper ball joints for the front with the slotted mounting holes for greater adjustment range.


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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-26-2007).]