So I installed my set of Jamex lowering coils and now my car sits lower in the back than in the front. I have a big stereo in back. Could worn (leaking) rear shocks cause this? Do my front springs just need to settle more (I installed them a few days ago). I only lightened the front end by installing headers and an aluminum water pump. PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I GO INSANE!

Thanks
Kyle

------------------
1990 Firebird Formula 350 speed density TPI; K&N, air foil, throttlebody coolant bypass, underdrive pullies, MSD 6AL, MSD HEI coil, 8.8mm wires, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Hypertech Thermomaster chip, 160* thermostat, fan switch, B&M stage 2 shift kit, Edelbrock 1&5/8 headers, gutted dual cats, Flowmaster 80 series muffler, 3.73 posi rear end

 

They will settle but the big stereo may be causing a problem. I had them on my RS and it sat level with a lot of aluminum motor parts and fiberglass hood.

Give it some time. I think Jim85IROC has the same springs and he also has a large stereo as I recall and his sets fine.

Are you sure the spring is all the way in the pocket at the top? I had this problem on one side when I installed mine the first time. This will cause the car to sit high in the front.

 

Give it a little time. When I put my new rear end on my car, the rear sat low for a couple days. After driving it around it raised right back up.

If after a week you still have a bad rake, something's up.

 

Is there a way to install the fronts "upside down"? If so, I might have done just that. I have the flat edge side against the A-arm and the angled edge side facing up. If not that, then I dont know what the H*LL is up. Thanks

Kyle

 

I honestly can’t remember what end goes where. I “think” the flatter end went up because I remember taping the isolating rubber to the spring. Please take this with a grain of salt it has been 2 or 3 years since I did this.

Can you post a picture?

Here is what my RS looked like with Jamex springs. Not the best picture but it should give you an idea. Remember I had a lot of aluminum in that motor and a fiberglass hood. There was nothing in the rear hatch area and the interior was stock right down to the radio.

 

I took measurements on the distance from the ground to my fender lip...here are the results:

Driver's side front: 26.75"
Passenger side front: 27.125"
Driver's side rear: 26"
Passenger side rear: 26.5"

As you can see, the front is about .75" higher than the rear. In addition, the passenger side is .5" higher than the driver's side! WTF?! I am even more concerned than before. It has been 5 days since they have been installed and I am starting to worry. Please, someone help me!

 

Love those ROH ZS's. Are they 16" or 17"?

 

Mellow Yellow, I really don’t have an answer. If they are installed correctly then maybe the weight in the back is too much. As I recall mine measured 26-3/8” on all four corners. I could be wrong but I do not think shocks/struts could make that much difference.

Did your springs have part numbers on them? If so and you know what they are post them. I have a set of Jamex springs in the garage that I can compare numbers with. Maybe you got the wrong springs. I doubt that is the case but it does not hurt to check.

87kevroc, Those were 16”.


------------------
88 IROC convertible
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

Thanx for your help, guys...I left this topic alone until I could better asses the situation. A few nights ago, I took a speed bump too fast and slammed the front end on the bumpstops...I took measurements of the ride height again and recorded a much even 26.75" front and 26.25" rear...can i install spacers in my rear springs to raise the rear about an inch...if so, then who makes them and how well do they work? If I dont find that to be a suitable souloution, I might cut 1/4 to 1/2 coils off my front springs
(as brought up earlier by Tom Kelhier [spelling?]) Thanks for your help, guys...u are great.

 

Anybody?...Spacers?...Cutting coils?

Thanx

 

what'd you end up doing? does the problem still persist? I too wonder if there isn't something i can put under the rear springs to raise the rear end. I'm using eibach sportline 1.6 front, 1.3 rear drop and have the very same problem. i called eibach and they recommended loosening the control arms and retightening once the car was down.

 

My front end was sitting on the bumpstops, so I cut an inch off the tips, reattached them and went for a drive....

I put my gear selector in "1" and bounced the front end up and down with a few blips of the throttle...

the front end is now only about .25-.3" higher than the rear....I plan on cutting 1/2 coil off the front springs for that extra bit of scrapage...

------------------
1990 Firebird Formula 350 speed density TPI; Edelbrock HI-FLO base and Runners w/portmached plenum; air foil; Comp Cams 1.6rr; Edelbrock 1&5/8" headers; MSD 6AL, HEI coil & plug wires; underdrive pullies; Hypertech stage II chip; AFPR; B&M stage II shift kit; 3.73:1 rear; Jamex 1.5" lowering coils; Spohn subframe connectors, LCA's, and LCA relocation brackets; free mods; !cats; !Smog Pump; PLUS...1300w stereo weighing 200 lbs.

 

yes, its possible to put the springs in upside down. the flat end goes on top and the
other end (the end you would cut to remove a coil) goes in the matching slot on top of the
A arm on the bottom. The A arm slot is molded to accept the uneven side of the spring as it spirals downward -which is why the flat side goes on top and reverse installation would result in the spring not sitting all the way down in the A arm (because the flat side would sit on TOP of the molded slot not in it) and a dramatically increased ride height.

------------------
Drew