Spring question...

[garion]

Since it seems like I need to replace a ball joint or two, I might as well go all out, and rebuild the front suspension..

The springs on my car are already 'yellow', but for all I know, they were spray painted, a few of the calipers were painted yellow also... Is there any way to tell if the springs are lowering/performance springs?? Even better if I don't have to remove them first...

[vandor]

What is the height of the wheel opening from the ground? I can tell you if it's lower than stock or not.
Would also need to know your tire size.

[garion]

Well this might be a problem....

Tires: 195/60R13's, 30psi

Driver's side ground to top of wheel arch: 23 1/8"
Passenger side: 23 1/2"

So I have 3/8" of a difference between the two sides... That might be causing my pull to the left when I brake...

[Exit98]

I don''t think your height difference would be the cause of the car pulling. That's usually front end or brakes. Doing my front end solved my pulling problem 100%.

I switched to IAP red springs. I measured each wheel height before and after. Before each wheel was a different height. With the new springs the car went down about 1 in. all around and evened things out nicely.

I've got the numbers here somewhere and I'll see if I can find them and post later.

[joelittel]

I put Vicks lowering springs on my '80, and they alone didn't fix my uneven ride height or the pulling when I braked. They also didn't lower my car by much because I have retrofitted the blade bumpers and they are considerably lighter than my stock tube bumpers were.

Konis leveled out my ride height and lowered the car a little bit more. I posted before and after measurements under a topic called "ride height" or something similar. Keep in mind I measured the ride height after removing the stock tube bumpers, so mine sat higher than stock.

Refurbishing the front end, ball joints - bushings - brakes etc, fixed the pulling while braking issue and really made the car feel/handle fantastic.

It was all well worth the effort it took, and I only wish I had done it sooner.

[garion]

I'm guessing that from my searches that I do have lowered springs... 23.5" actually seems lower than a lot that I saw, but I still have my tube bumpers on..

Looks like no matter what, I'll be doing the front suspension... How soon, and if I get Koni's or not will depend on how quickly I can sell my 78, and how soon I get the first paycheck from the new job..

[vandor]

Because of the tires your car sits o.6" lower than one with stock size tires would, so the 'corrected' wheel arch height is ~24", which is maybe half and inch lower than stock (average of many that I have measured). You may have tired stock springs or some aftermarket ones that only lower that car a little.

[garion]

Well, looks like I'll be adding springs to my list. So much for saving a buck