Installing springs tonight...Advice? Suggestions?

[ShortysTRM]

While I have everything apart, should I replace anything for good measure? My car has 110,000 miles on it, so I don't know if I should replace the control arm bushings or anything like that. I will have the front suspension apart to try to fix a problem with the sway-bar.

I have about 3 degrees of negative camber in the front right now with 2 camber bolts on each side. With lowering springs, will I be able to get approximately the same camber with only one bolt on each side? I have always heard that lowering adds camber up front, but I didn't know how much.

Lastly, does the thickness (or diameter) of the coil effect the spring rate? The number? The material? It appears that there may be more coils on the new springs but they may be made from thinner material than my OE springs.

[Jason 220]

On a car with that many miles on it, I'd change every bushing I crossed (use better bushing material, like Polyurethane).

[Jason V]

here is a link for coil spring rates...

http://www.ajdesigner.com/phpspringrate/spring_rate_equation.php

:whip:

[ShortysTRM]

Well, I got the rears done, but didn't feel like messing with the fronts last night. The rear springs seem to be softer than the higher-rate "towing/heavy load" springs I had on it before. There are more coils, but they're somewhat thinnner, and I could definitely compress the new spring further than I could the ones I took off. If I can figure out how to safely reduce the height of the "towing" springs, I may just do that and put them back in.

I'm a little timid to start the fronts, because I know a long and expensive alignment job will follow. I'd like to do it myself, but I don't think I trust myself. My alignment made a world of difference last time, so I want to get it right.

[Jason V]

I know everyone states this is a no no but.... take to old springs and cut them down.... be very carefull to have them both cut the same amount!! this will do 2 things.. one is lower the car (again be carefull a small cut can lower alot depending on the suspension motion ratio) and 2 is raise the spring rate. How do the old vs new front springs look?? also are the new springs progressive... as in coils spaced close together at one end of the spring... if so the end result may still be a stiffer setup once the progressive springs take a set...(and coil bind the soft portion of the springs).

Fun stuff eh!!

[Hillbilly]

Gimme a call when you get the springs in and you and I can align it.