Hello

My new car has TFS lowering springs, and is sitting on 225 40 18 tires. The previous owner did the mods. It sits way too low and is a very rough ride- I can't even get my hand between the fender and the tire. It seems to be riding on the bump stops

I am planning to order new drop springs hoping that this will resolve the issue

When I was working on the car yesterday, I also noticed that the front cross member where the bump stop hits is actually touching and damaging the boot on the upper ball joint on both sides. The pics were taken with the car on a hoist, with the wheels dangling and no load on the suspension.

Can anyone please tell me if these pictures confirm that the issue is my springs? I just don't want to go through the hassle of changing the springs if it doesn't solve my issue. Perhaps this wheel and tire combo is simply wrong for an 88 Fiero with drop springs and cannot work?

I also noticed the spring pad seems to be sort of wrapped around the spring, instead of sitting above it. Not sure if this is normal. I tried to take a picture.

Any suggestions are welcome. Sorry about the upside down pics, struggling to rotate and save them and post them properly

thanks

[This message has been edited by cam-a-lot (edited 06-17-2018).]

You can also see pics of the car on a drive-on hoist with the suspension under full load here.

Also a pic of the car as it sits on the road.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/141297.html


Fieroguru was kind enough to send me some PM to suggest replacing the springs, and I am about to order new Fierostore front drop springs. Just wanted a few more opinions on this- as I am not mechanically savvy and for me it will be a lot of work to change the springs. Can anyone confirm if this wheel and tire size "can" work with drop springs at all? Or should I be buying stock springs/ or different wheels/tires?

[This message has been edited by cam-a-lot (edited 06-17-2018).]

Yes, that is typical if you have KYB shocks and haven't addressed their longer length. Here is my spare front suspension with KYBs and the bump stop pad is touching the boot for the upper ball joint:


Here is my 88 with Konis at full droop... lots of clearance.


The 88 suspension is limited in droop by the shock length and KYBs (and Konis to a lesser degree) are longer than stock, so they will droop more. Additionally, depending on the state of lowering as well as the height of the bump stop, the longer shocks can become limiters to suspension compression where the shock will bottom out before the the bump stop does their job. If this is happening, then the t-bar that mounts the shock to the lower control arm will be bent down in the center.

The fix for both the droop issue as well as the compression issue is to mount the shock lower at the t-bar by using longer bolts and some spacers. Here are the spacers on my 88:


Here is a sample of shock lengths specified for the 88 Fiero... notice the KYBs are the longest.

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 06-17-2018).]

First, you are waaaayyyyy too low! Riding on the bumpstops...Bad for handling, bad for ride.....You need to get that car up at least 2 inches higher for the suspension to do it's job......Second, I believe that is an 88 and that flat piece of metal at the end of the subframe appears to be an add-on(Whoops- Fieroguru addressed that problem)......

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 06-17-2018).]

I agree.... car is ridiculously low. Wasn't not planned out well.

Thanks for the great tips. Does anyone know if the AC Delco replacement shocks for 88 are the correct length? They seem to be available.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sh...0:g:NTUAAOSwFXla1T9K

KYB shocks are 8.5" compressed and 13.0" extended.
Koni shocks are 8.0" compressed and 12.25" extended.
Monroe shocks are 8.0 compressed and 11.75" extended.
AC Delco (and Gabriel) 7.8" compressed and 11.7" extended.

You will be good with the AC Delco shocks from a length perspective.

Thanks Guru

So AC delco shocks should resolve my upper ball joint interference issue?

Can anyone tell me if given my existing tire size (225 40 18), if I were to use a TFS 88 drop front spring, would it be an improvement over the current clearance? I just don't want to go through the cost and hassle and have the car sit just as low.