Ok as a few of you know I wasnt to thrilled with the way my car set with the pro-kit. So I measured and then removed the rear isolators and measured again. I got a 1/2" from removing these and the stance is much better. I'll repost after I drive on them for a while and remeasure.

Before

FR: 26.5 FL: 26.5
RR: 27.75 RL: 27.75


AFTER

FR: 26.5 FL: 26.5
RR: 27.25 RL: 27.25

 

I didn't even get 1/2" when removing the isolators - more like just about 1/4", I too am waiting to see how my springs settle - even put some dead weight in the car as it sits in the garage.
-Andrew

 

Do you get any clunking or spring movement while driving without the isolators?

 

I would like to know that also.

I want to ditch the rake i have i was considering cutting the insulator in half? But now if your saying it only drops a 1/2 in the back then i might as well just take it out. I would like the rear to be "almost" flush with the front. I just dont want to make the rear lower!

If pulling out the insulator and putting a piece of hose on the top coil works and its not noisy thats what id like to do. So please if anyone else can chime in if you have any experiance with this.

Thanks!

 

I dropped my rear end and put a new one in, i would reccommend leaving the isolators in, for the very little drop you get it's not worth it. You WILL get some noises and the springs may not seat properly.

 

No noticeable noises yet here. But I also have really loud LCA's and no interior so the ride isnt exactly quiet in the first place.

The springs seat no problem and the are actually alot easier to align as you can turn them by hand while you have the axle dropped.

As stated the drop wasnt that small it was a full 1/2" and maybe a hair more. which may not seem like much but considering the pro-kit is supposed to only drop the car 1" an additional 50% is plenty.

I'll remeasure once I have a few more miles on it

 

No I haven't had any clunking noises after removing the isolators. I did however, cut out some thin rubber "pads" from and old rad hose for the tops of the springs (similar to what some have done with garden hose) to help cut down on road noise.
-Andrew

 

hmm, ill have to try that.

 

well i wonder if ill be safe taking out the insulator then...ill wrap some hose around it and then give it a shot. I just hope its not too low, if it is im just gonna start trimming the insulator.

My LCAs are also noisy as HELL...i got poly/poly from Spohn they are lubed completely and yet squeak like hell, its pretty irritating...

 

just to add some insight on the subject, a few weeks ago I took my isolators out (I was planning on cutting half a coil off both springs but dont have anything to hack through them)....I thought about wrapping some heater hose, but figured I'd give nothing a shot.....drove it around a few times and really didnt notice a difference in noise, ride, or anything

 

I ended up removing 1/2 coil off the rear. I know, I know, what a waste of money - especially after buying new springs! But I the rake was so prominent after spring replacement that I had no choice - removing the isolators made a negligable difference in ride "rake". In terms of spring rates changing after cutting; well this too is marginal especially since I only cut 1/2 a coil off the top (there may be a change of about 10-15% in rate) especially in a progressive rate spring. (This is arguable tho...) One important note however, I did heat the top of the coil to make top coils sit at the same angle as I received them. For info on this check out Herb Adam's suspension book - it's very clearly illustrated there.
-Andrew

 

looks like i will be removing the insulator this weekend, ill add the hose just for kicks though, heh. Let ya guys know how it turns out!

stupid rakes...i tell ya

 

I dont consider it wasting money when you spend it on lowering springs and are still given a rake as pronounced as mine (see pic).....can I ask what you cut yours with?

 

Camaroguy, I totally understand where you are comming from...In the auto/appearance forum I had started a thread about lowered vrs raked cars - I too don't like too much rake. From what i was told, some lowering spring kits are designed to lower the car by for example 1.5" at all four corners, and as a result, the car is now lower by that much form what you originally started with. If there is a major difference than there may be a problem with the manufacture.... (Do a seach "can you cut rear coils")
To cut the spring I used a circular cutting wheel. Then I heated the coil below the cut coil and bent the top coil so that it would sit perpendicuar to the car's upper spring pocket. Let the spring air cool - do not quench it in water...
-Andrew