[Guest]

Hey guys, I finally decided that my front end was too "unsupported" by the never ending scraping on almost every little bumb. My prior setup was stock springs w/80K on them and the 94-96 Bilstiens. I got my wife a 96 Caprice with trailer tow pkg and I LOVE the way that car handles "obstacles". Well, I wanted that for my SS. Obtained two "FTN" springs from Chevy and last Sat threw them on. The car certainly sits higher in the front but I am still deciding if it is too high. The taller springs were a bit of a bear to get in but did so without too much profanity. I think I got one in with the tag up, and am not sure about being properly "seated" on top. I have put the new springs through their paces and they are GREAT compared to the low riders that came with the car. Now I fear no curbs, driveways, railroad tracks or small animals . Anyone out there please advise on the seating on the top of the spring and spring orientation. I did tape the insulator to the top of the spring so I know it is there. Gonna go 4 wheelin now. Thanks.

Dean Felton
Houston, TX

 

[Guest]

Dean,
From your description, you may have one of the springs upside down. Per the Factory Service Manual, the front spring is installed with the tape (the ID tag) at lowest position.

Considering that you may have one spring upside down and have put the full weight of the car on the spring, I recommend that you get another spring, and put that one in the junk pile. It may already be damaged from the stress of trying to seat the upper (ground) end into the pocket in the lower control arm.

The seating issue is at the bottom of the spring. The upper end of the spring is essentially flat, while the lower end is meant to index into the pocket in the lower control arm. You will see 2 holes in the bottom of the arm where the spring sits, and the first one is supposed to be covered by the spring, while the second is supposed to be clear.

Quoting the FSM:

(bottom) "End of spring must cover all or part or one inspection drain hole. The other hole must be partly exposed or uncovered."

 

[Guest]

Bill, thanks. Whipped the springs back out and they were both in correctly. I had "banged" off the tape on the outside of the spring. What I did do was bend one of the prongs up top. Vise grips are a miracle. Also aligning the spring to the proper position at the bottom was a biotch. Cleaned and greased the pockets, Extra tape on insulator, visual verification that the prongs were all INSDE the springs. Now the lower coil covers the front hole on the LCA. Ball joints back to 83, pins in, good to go. Thanks for the input.

Dean Felton
Riding in the clouds.