87v6Bird

iTrader: (1)

Hi guys. Thought I'd share the results of my spring install over the weekend.

When I did the engine swap on my car a few years ago I went with new Moog springs front and back. I had 5660s up front and 5665s in the rear. I had put a little more than 20K miles on them but I finally decided my car was just riding too high with them.

I measured fender height on the driver's side before and after the swap. Here are my results:
Front Rear
Before 27.5" 28.5"
After 26.75" 27.25"
200mi 26.5" 27.25"
3 Months 26.25" 26.75"
1 Year 26.25" 26.625"
2.75 Years 26.125" 26.25"


For reference, I'm running 275/40R17 BFG Sport Comp 2 tires. I'll try to remember to update this as I put more miles on them to see if they settle more.

Before pictures:

Profile


Front Measurement


Rear Measurement


After Pictures:

Profile (Sorry this picture is rotated. Photobucket is not cooperating.)


Front Measurement

IROCgiraffe

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for posting... Subscribed

87v6Bird

iTrader: (1)

Update after driving for the week. The front has settled another 1/4". Now I'm at 26.5" front/27.25" rear.

ctoledo0834

How's the ride quality ?

ctoledo0834

In between these and the sportlines

87v6Bird

iTrader: (1)

I've never had sportlines to compare to. My springs were stock replacements.

When I installed these I also went from a set of Monroe shocks/struts to Koni yellows so I have a hard time drawing conclusions on what the springs changed. To me, the front feel softer while the rear is harder but that could just mean I need to tweak the adjustments on the shocks. That's something I intend to do, I just haven't gotten to it yet.

87v6Bird

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I updated the settling results in the first post as well.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

Does it ride stiffer than the MOOG springs?

87v6Bird

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It's seems to me like the fronts are softer than the 5660s while the rears are stiffer than the 5665s. It could be that my rear shocks are set too stiff though. I haven't had time to tweak their settings and compare.

87v6Bird

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I finally got a chance and backed off on the rear Koni's adjustments and the car rides much better now. I would say the ride is still a little stiffer than stock but nowhere near the jarring experience it was prior to adjustment.

I need to get the 89 TA rolling again and I'll be able to compare because it has the shocks and springs that came off this car.

87v6Bird

iTrader: (1)

Revisiting this since I answered it in another thread as well. I stand by my feeling that the Vogtlands may be a little softer in the front while stiffer in the rear even after shock adjustments. The picture shows what I'm comparing and gives some tire/ride height measurements as well.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

I just installed some used vogtlands today. What a PITA. I didn't use a spring compressor either.

I'm not sure what happened but the rear spring I had to compress by doing a bench press with it in the pocket (I'm very strong lol) and I was able to get it in. But I'm not sure if it's due to my Viking double adjustable rear shocks not having as much travel as an OEM type shock? By my rear was at full drop with the shocks holding it up. This was without the OEM rear spring isolator. No way I would be able to get it in with that on. So I just used some heater hose.

Fronts were even worse to get in but eventually figured it out without a compressor as the one I had wouldn't fit. Sitting pretty low now esp in the rear. It dropped 1.5-1.75" over what I had and it hasn't even been driven yet.

I'm more interested in the driving habits. This is a huge drop in spring rate for me in the front. I was running 800lb front springs on weight jacks and 150lb rears on jacks. I wanted a more comfortable ride than what I had as I only drive the car on the street now.

How would you say it handles? Bumps and holes obnoxious? Rough? Body roll? I figure it can't handle better as the fronts are less rate than stock. I'm glad the rears are stiffer as I always felt OEM was soft.

87v6Bird

iTrader: (1)

If I remember correctly, the Vogtlands were actually taller uncompressed than the stock rear springs. I'm pretty sure I put mine in before I bolted up my shocks. I used the factory spring isolators.

Comparing my two cars, the 87 (Vogtlands) definitely handles better and handles better than before it was lowered. I think the biggest factor in the handling is the much taller sidewalls on the 89 (Moog). I do think body roll in the front may have increased on the 87 when I went to the Vogtlands. I have a set of WS6 sway bars I intend to install to see how they affect things. Bumps (especially train tracks) are more jarring in the 87 but I expect that since everything in its suspension has less give. I hesitate to attribute the ride harshness solely to the springs.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

Gotcha. Yea not a fan of removing the rear shocks. Not very fun with a 8pt roll bar in the way. I understand some tension to keep the spring in the pocket when the suspension is fully unloaded but without the isolators it's still a good bit of tension so with the stock isolators it's even more. I'm pretty low in the back or it appears to be due to the 18" rim and 40 sidewall.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

Just took mine for a 15min drive and tried to get the suspension to settle.

Loving the springs thus far. Handling is def softer than the 800lb fronts and doesn't feel sloppy although u can feel they are softer I think for a DD car they are very nice. The rear of these cars needs more than stock spring rate and thus very happy with ride equality and response. I have my front AGX struts on the 2nd setting (1-4) so soft/med and the rear Vikings are on a soft street setting. Since I run 18" rims and a 275/40/18 tire I'm taller than stock which prob attributes to my 27.5" front fender height and 27 5/8" rear fender height. The rear springs dropped it 1.5" over what I had in it. Front is slightly lower if not the same as the 800lbwhich is fine as I wasn't scrapping on anything.

87v6Bird

iTrader: (1)

Updated heights.