Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

rubber isolators on springs?

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Old 01-13-2019, 08:07 PM
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Car: 1991 base firebird
Engine: tbi 305
Transmission: 700r4
rubber isolators on springs?

I recently changed the rear coil springs. there were no rubber isolators on the springs I removed. are there supposed to be rubber isolators on top of the rear springs like there are on the front? the manual doesn't mention them like it does for the front.
Old 01-13-2019, 09:47 PM
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Re: rubber isolators on springs?

Yes

Old 01-14-2019, 11:07 AM
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Engine: 406 on N20 w/ EFI
Transmission: P.B. 700R4
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Re: rubber isolators on springs?

if you cant find isolators for sale, you can use a piece of rubber heater/cooling hose that you just slide over the coil. i used about 12" of hose (maybe 5/8" diameter?) and pushed it down so it covered about a full coil. then secured it with a hose clamp.
note- doing this will cause your cars rear ride height to drop about 1/2" ..however in your case, if you had NO isolators, you will probably go up higher in ride height. the isolators will add about 1" of so of ride height
Old 01-14-2019, 12:28 PM
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Re: rubber isolators on springs?

Only the front have 'em...
Old 01-14-2019, 12:34 PM
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: rubber isolators on springs?

Front and rear have them. The rears have a couple different thicknesses IIRC.
Old 01-14-2019, 12:36 PM
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Car: '91 GTA, '92 T/A Convertible
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Axle/Gears: GTA: 3.27, T/A: 2.73
Re: rubber isolators on springs?

Yes the rears have isolators. Looks like item #9 in the diagram you posted. Some people, such as myself, use rear isolators from the 4th gens. They're about 3/4" thicker than those on thirdgens.
Old 01-15-2019, 05:10 AM
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Re: rubber isolators on springs?

Use heater hose and run it through the first coil

Originally Posted by Evilokc
I recently changed the rear coil springs. there were no rubber isolators on the springs I removed. are there supposed to be rubber isolators on top of the rear springs like there are on the front? the manual doesn't mention them like it does for the front.
Old 01-15-2019, 06:19 AM
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: rubber isolators on springs?

Originally Posted by blacksunshine'91
Yes the rears have isolators. Looks like item #9 in the diagram you posted. Some people, such as myself, use rear isolators from the 4th gens. They're about 3/4" thicker than those on thirdgens.
That's how I fixed the rear springs from the lowering kit. Made the car sit lower in the rear and the 4th gen parts put it back up in a perfect spot.
Old 01-15-2019, 03:19 PM
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Re: rubber isolators on springs?

Originally Posted by TTOP350
That's how I fixed the rear springs from the lowering kit. Made the car sit lower in the rear and the 4th gen parts put it back up in a perfect spot.
Same here. After installing the springs, car sat perfectly level with no fore/aft rake at all. With the lines of the car it just did not look right. Put 4th gen isolators on and it sits much nicer.

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