The front springs are uniform dimension. I don't have a set of springs to measure that are off the car, but I might be able to run a tape measure into the suspension tomorrow if no one has replied by then.
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08:49 PM
Jan 31st, 2011
Patrick Member
Posts: 39334 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
I noticed when I took the front springs out of my '84 to cut them down a bit, one end was larger than the other. To be honest, I forget now whether it was the top or bottom which was larger.
I don't have those particular springs to measure as they are back in the car, but I do have a set of aftermarket Intrax lowering springs here. One end is 4.25 OD / 3.25 ID, and the other end is 4.5 OD / 3.5 ID. Again, I don't know for sure which end is which.
I took the following picture while I had the car apart. On the left is the factory spring (DMF) that I took out of the '84, the middle spring is from Intrax, and the spring on the right is a Suspension Techniques unit. (Interestingly enough, the Suspension Techniques spring is the same diameter top and bottom, 4.5 OD / 3.5 ID.)
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01-31-2011).]
well, whatever end fits into the upper spring pad correctly.. should be the right end ..lol
if you look closely the top of the spring "should" be pitted a little from the moisture trap between the spring and the pad.. bottom should be smoother
[This message has been edited by scott0999 (edited 01-31-2011).]
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02:17 AM
Patrick Member
Posts: 39334 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
if you look closely the top of the spring "should" be pitted a little from the moisture trap between the spring and the pad.. bottom should be smoother
Now it's possible that my '84 had been altered (although doubtful), but the 84's do not have a rubber pad located at the top of the front springs.
quote
Originally posted by scott0999:
well, whatever end fits into the upper spring pad correctly.. should be the right end ..lol
Yeah, when it's all laid out in front of you, it's easy enough to figure out.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01-31-2011).]
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02:25 AM
L67 Member
Posts: 1792 From: Winston Salem, NC Registered: Jun 2010
My pet peeve here over the years is a lack of thanks, or even of acknowledgment, from people who ask for and receive help. When the original poster of this thread never bothered to thank any of us who offered him advice, I thought I'd look his posts up to see what his history here has been like. Wow, quite an eye opener.
According to what I've found, murrrey has started 42 threads asking for advice, and he has never, I repeat NEVER ever posted back and thanked forum members for their help.
Anyone can forget to post back and give thanks a couple of times, but this is unfreakin'believable.
I noticed when I took the front springs out of my '84 to cut them down a bit, one end was larger than the other. To be honest, I forget now whether it was the top or bottom which was larger.
I don't have those particular springs to measure as they are back in the car, but I do have a set of aftermarket Intrax lowering springs here. One end is 4.25 OD / 3.25 ID, and the other end is 4.5 OD / 3.5 ID. Again, I don't know for sure which end is which.
I took the following picture while I had the car apart. On the left is the factory spring (DMF) that I took out of the '84, the middle spring is from Intrax, and the spring on the right is a Suspension Techniques unit. (Interestingly enough, the Suspension Techniques spring is the same diameter top and bottom, 4.5 OD / 3.5 ID.)
Just figured I would add what I found since I have my front end apart...
Diameter measurements are done with a tape measure. I don't have a Micrometer Top: ID: 3 1/8 OD: 4 1/8 Bottom: ID: 3 3/8 OD: 4 3/8
Passenger side height: 12 1/2 Driver side height: 12 3/4
So the springs have a top and bottom and a left and right... That being said, I engraved mine with a "T " for top on both and "P" for passenger on the pass side
Passenger side height: 12 1/2 Driver side height: 12 3/4
So the springs have... a left and right
That's rather interesting, I've never noticed that. As a matter of fact, I've never heard anyone else mention that here over the years either.
Although I've got a set of front springs in the basement I could measure, if there's any difference in length it would be impossible to know if they were always different lengths or if one has simply sagged a tiny bit more after a couple decades of use.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-18-2011).]
I tried to remember where I read it in all my searches, but I read where someone said the driver side got a slightly taller spring to compensate for the driver ALWAYS being in the car... hmmm...
I will double check the springs tonight... before I cut them. I thought it was odd the passenger side was shorter. I expected the drivers side would be due to sag...
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04:53 PM
Patrick Member
Posts: 39334 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
I exit my car occasionally, for bathroom breaks if nothing else.
LOL! I checked AGAIN last night... the height might be a bit off... like 12.5 and 12.25... could be the garage floor I measure on was not level and the spring was sitting off... anyway... not matter where or how I measure the hieght of the springs are .25 different, with the driver side being taller.
I also notice the spring ends right to left were not bent uniformly. Seems the way the end of the spring was wound and bent to make it flat (top and bottom) was not consistant b/w the 2 springs. I have some pics, just have not downloaded and resized yet..
