Anone have a front spring handy they can measure? Inner diameter, outer diameter, and uncompressed height? Are they the same size top to bottom, or do they taper at all?
Let me see if I can find the results... Patrick and I were discussing this a while back and different years had some different dimmensions... and yes there was a taper on mine. I will edit in the info when I find it...
Edit: here is the discussion on front springs... hopefully it will help answer your questions... Note there is whole list of spring ratings out there too... looking and will add https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/113983.html
What Patrick found...
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Originally posted by Patrick: 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.)
Now what I found on my 84 Indy...
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Originally posted by redraif: 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
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Originally posted by redraif: 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... no matter where or how I measure the height 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.
Edit: there is a difference in heights across the 84-87s
The codes can be found on a paper tag on the spring or on the Service Parts Identification Label on the left front inner fender. The spring codes for my 85 GT from the label are; 6JH, 7JH, 8YM and 9YM (JH = FJH, YM = NYM)
6 code = left front spring code 7 code = right front spring code 8 code = left rear spring code 9 code = right rear spring code
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Originally posted by fierosound:
I have an assortment of front springs and decided to take a picture to show how they compare. This may be useful to those wanting to swap stock springs around.
The 11-3/4" long (1 coil cut off) FJD coils were on my GT before I installed lowering spindles. I needed to return to using longer springs after that.
84 springs are their own group, as 85-87 got new ones with the redesign of the lower control arm. They are interchangeable however, as I installed my cut GT springs (11-3/4" long) in my Indy to lower it. See here: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/110639.html
Here is an old thread where I measured an 86 GT spring for fitment into my 88:
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Originally posted by fieroguru: The 86 GT spring is about 13" tall, the thickness of the rod is thicker than the 88's (0.499" vs. 0.490") , but the coil diameter is slightly tighter (3.706" vs. 3.860"). The estimated rate of the stock 86 spring is about 215lb/in.
Wow, I don't know how I missed those. I've seen the RPO codes before with stiffest - softest, but not the measurements. Interesting how the 84 arms also had different springs than the 85-87's.
Was hoping to find something in the aftermarket that would work without having to spend $260 on Eibachs that I wouldn't need the rears for since I have coilovers on the back. Looks like 3.5" ID and 4.5" OD with an approximate height of 11-12" (stock height - 1" lowering) is an oddball size?
Wow, I don't know how I missed those. I've seen the RPO codes before with stiffest - softest, but not the measurements. Interesting how the 84 arms also had different springs than the 85-87's.
Was hoping to find something in the aftermarket that would work without having to spend $260 on Eibachs that I wouldn't need the rears for since I have coilovers on the back. Looks like 3.5" ID and 4.5" OD with an approximate height of 11-12" (stock height - 1" lowering) is an oddball size?
It's nice that you are trying to be resourceful, but I'm guessing you already know about Rodney's lowering ball joints? If you are just looking at springs, my only suggestion if you want to cheap out on springs is start cutting coils. Most people say its a horriable idea, sure, you get what you "pay" for.
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11:22 AM
fieroguru Member
Posts: 12475 From: Champaign, IL Registered: Aug 2003
Wow, I don't know how I missed those. I've seen the RPO codes before with stiffest - softest, but not the measurements. Interesting how the 84 arms also had different springs than the 85-87's.
Was hoping to find something in the aftermarket that would work without having to spend $260 on Eibachs that I wouldn't need the rears for since I have coilovers on the back. Looks like 3.5" ID and 4.5" OD with an approximate height of 11-12" (stock height - 1" lowering) is an oddball size?
Moog 2278 is a spring with 3.42" ID, .609 wire diameter and 11" free length, but the rate is 435 lb/in
Moog CC251 (variable rate) has ID of 3.838, .593 wire, 12.7 free length and 260 lb/in rate. This one could have 1/2 to 1 coil removed and result in a decent height/rate combo.
Wow, thanks for bringing together all that information, that is really nice to know. This confirms my thoughts that the two 86 GT's around here have a lower front ride height then my 86 SE because of different spring rates/heights of a GT compared to SE.
[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 01-12-2012).]
It's nice that you are trying to be resourceful, but I'm guessing you already know about Rodney's lowering ball joints?
Yep, but I already have his normal replacement ball joints, and the lowering ones only work with 15"+ wheels, I still have the 14" high-techs. I'd settle for stock ride height if I could just get something a little stiffer than stock, was hoping to kill two birds with one stone. 200-250 would be a good starting point I think.
Yep, but I already have his normal replacement ball joints, and the lowering ones only work with 15"+ wheels, I still have the 14" high-techs. I'd settle for stock ride height if I could just get something a little stiffer than stock, was hoping to kill two birds with one stone. 200-250 would be a good starting point I think.
Ok, well then, start chopping coils! This gives you a lower ride height AND a stiffer ride! Costs very little to nothing!
.JPG)
