I'm interested in lowering the front end of my 69 sport coupe by about 2". I'd also like to replace the drums with disc brakes. Which is the better way to go: Drop spindles or different springs?
Lowering front end...
Milhouse
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
shorter springs = bottoming out on rough stuff.
Dropped spindles are the way to go and safer.
Gee so thats the reason for dropped spindles!
youll retain full travel of the springs.
and you wont encounter alignment issues as with chopped springs.
beside most drum to disc conversion kits have the spindles included .
Dropped spindles are the way to go and safer.
Gee so thats the reason for dropped spindles!
youll retain full travel of the springs.
and you wont encounter alignment issues as with chopped springs.
beside most drum to disc conversion kits have the spindles included .
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension_geome.htm
Go to this page and scroll down to where it mentions dropped spindles. David Pozzi gives a good explaination of dropped spindles and the problems associated.
Most here seem to agree the shorter springs are the way to go. While just cutting your stock springs will work, the general concencus here is to go with a higher rate spring. This will help your handling a little. While the stiffer rate will minimize the bottoming out you may experience. Of course stiffer springs does mean harsher ride.
As a matter of fact, just go directly to David Pozzi's main camaro suspension website and read every page. He's pretty much the godfather of camaro suspension around here.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm
Brian
Go to this page and scroll down to where it mentions dropped spindles. David Pozzi gives a good explaination of dropped spindles and the problems associated.
Most here seem to agree the shorter springs are the way to go. While just cutting your stock springs will work, the general concencus here is to go with a higher rate spring. This will help your handling a little. While the stiffer rate will minimize the bottoming out you may experience. Of course stiffer springs does mean harsher ride.
As a matter of fact, just go directly to David Pozzi's main camaro suspension website and read every page. He's pretty much the godfather of camaro suspension around here.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm
Brian
If you were to cut the factory springs down, that statement would be true, but with performance springs, they are engineered to have an over-all shorter length and thus less travel, but are more 'structured' or stiffer throughout that range of travel. This means that you would be more likely to "bottom-out" a factory spring than a lower, yet stiffer, performance spring. And by stiffer that doesn't mean a harsh ride, just more stable. There is a little more thought put into the design process of lowered springs than just 'chopping' them.
To better improve the front geometry you want to use drop springs. That puts the lower control arm in a better location. Drop spindles could also cause tie rod to rim clearance problems. Drop spring are the way to go. By the way if you cut the stock springs you increase the spring rate. That is not a bad thing, but I would get a set of aftermarket springs. Do a search for Moog spring and you will find a good part number.
Brian
Brian
Joined
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1,317 Posts
I have done both (2 cars). I like the springs best. The spindles dropped it a bit too low so I ended up with coil-overs to raise it back up to keep the tires from rubbing. Now I'm in the "bad" part of camber curve. Drives terrible. I also have 8x17 wheels with 235/45x17 tires so there wasn't much fender clearance.
The dropped spindles came with bigger brakes; they also added 1/4" on each side to track width which is why I had trouble (they don't tell you that in the product info)
The car with the Hotchkis 2" springs drives much better. No clearance issues.
joe
The dropped spindles came with bigger brakes; they also added 1/4" on each side to track width which is why I had trouble (they don't tell you that in the product info)
The car with the Hotchkis 2" springs drives much better. No clearance issues.
joe
Joined
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6,661 Posts
If you drop the car 2" with springs, or the drop-spindles, your ground clearance is the same. At least with the springs, you are controlling it a little better.
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