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Springs and spring isolators

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Old Jan 24, 2013 | 09:30 AM
  #1  
dynodave's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: L98 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Springs and spring isolators

I'm installing Tokico lowering springs and I'm wondering what to do about isolators. Should I go rubber, urethane or no isolators at all. Springs should lower car about 1 1/2". My concern is noise without isolators. Any advice would be appreciated..
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Old Jan 24, 2013 | 12:08 PM
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From: Danville, IN
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: Strange 12 Bolt, 3.42
Re: Springs and spring isolators

I used heater hose on mine and it worked well with no noise.
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Old Jan 24, 2013 | 10:19 PM
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dynodave's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: L98 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Springs and spring isolators

Do they have top and bottom isolators like my Mustang did?
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Old Jan 25, 2013 | 05:39 AM
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From: Danville, IN
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: Strange 12 Bolt, 3.42
Re: Springs and spring isolators

Originally Posted by dynodave
Do they have top and bottom isolators like my Mustang did?
The fronts have a piece of rubber on the top of the spring and nothing on the bottom. I wrapped some electrical tape around the top coil of the spring and the rubber isolater to keep it from falling off during installation.

The rear springs have an isolator on the top, nothing on the bottom. I removed the isolator and pushed a heater hose onto the first coil to keep it from making noise on the rear.
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Old Jan 25, 2013 | 04:03 PM
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Re: Springs and spring isolators

The heater hose if a very popular mod. Before you install them, take your springs to a parts store and find a small diameter heater hose you can cut down and slide over the spring. Should work just fine and keep things quiet!

- Kevin
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 11:26 AM
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From: GA
Car: 1988 Firebird Formula
Engine: 305 (LO3)
Transmission: 5 spd manual
Re: Springs and spring isolators

Are the rear isolators the same as the front? I only find the front application everywhere I've looked.
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 12:25 PM
  #7  
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From: Desert
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 383 single plane efi
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 with 3.73s
Re: Springs and spring isolators

Originally Posted by charliemccraney
Are the rear isolators the same as the front? I only find the front application everywhere I've looked.
Really, skip the isolators and use heater hose. It seems to work just as well, I can atest.
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 01:13 PM
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From: GA
Car: 1988 Firebird Formula
Engine: 305 (LO3)
Transmission: 5 spd manual
Re: Springs and spring isolators

I might use heater hose. But are the isolators the same?
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Old Mar 30, 2013 | 01:32 PM
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From: Desert
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 383 single plane efi
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 with 3.73s
Re: Springs and spring isolators

Originally Posted by charliemccraney
I might use heater hose. But are the isolators the same?
From my car, the rear isolators were thicker than the fronts. The rears were about an inch and the fronts were 1/4 inch or so.
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