What Do I Need to Know When Swapping Springs?

[Erik]

Looking to swap out the springs and shocks in my ZR-1, for later generation stock springs and FX3 shocks. Yes, I have the later controller too.

As all these suspension parts will be coming out, is there anything to be careful with? Any other parts worth swapping along with it? Any recommendations?

Thanks1

[32valvesftw]

Use a tie wrap or something to tie the motor leads on the back shocks to a brake line so they don't fall into the frame. Also put the retaining clip for the motor in before you put the motor on the shock, the FSM says this kind of. Otherwise follow the FSM

[secondchance]

Looking to swap out the springs and shocks in my ZR-1, for later generation stock springs and FX3 shocks. Yes, I have the later controller too.

As all these suspension parts will be coming out, is there anything to be careful with? Any other parts worth swapping along with it? Any recommendations?

Thanks1

Later cars tend to sit a little taller. If you want to keep early car height, shave off pucks at the ends of front spring. If you want to lower further, modify the mounting points near the center. From what I have seen, hard urethane pieces advertised typicall gets ground off. Jagdpanzer, I think, found alternate solution. Another concern when lowered, is dealing with periodic grinding of front air dams. Rear can be lowered easily with longer bolts.

[Erik]

Later cars tend to sit a little taller. If you want to keep early car height, shave off pucks at the ends of front spring. If you want to lower further, modify the mounting points near the center. From what I have seen, hard urethane pieces advertised typicall gets ground off. Jagdpanzer, I think, found alternate solution. Another concern when lowered, is dealing with periodic grinding of front air dams. Rear can be lowered easily with longer bolts.

About how much shaving do we need to do?

[secondchance]

About how much shaving do we need to do?

Depends on how low you want it. I just took off raised pucks at both ends.

[BigJohn]

Depends on how low you want it. I just took off raised pucks at both ends.

Are they not to prevent excessive wearing on the ends of the springs?

[secondchance]

Are they not to prevent excessive wearing on the ends of the springs?

Early cars did not have pads. I suspect (no proof), when Chevrolet decided to soften the ride (I believe starting in 93), they raised the ride height to counter front end scraping the air dam when driving over rain gutters. Just my suspicion,

[Erik]

Early cars did not have pads. I suspect (no proof), when Chevrolet decided to soften the ride (I believe starting in 93), they raised the ride height to counter front end scraping the air dam when driving over rain gutters. Just my suspicion,

Does make sense. Thanks!

[Erik]

Depends on how low you want it. I just took off raised pucks at both ends.

So removal of the pucks gets me down to stock 1990 ride height? How easy is this to do after installation?

[secondchance]

So removal of the pucks gets me down to stock 1990 ride height? How easy is this to do after installation?

From what I have seen, there are variation in ride height even among same year cars. Some, height is off as much as 3/8? left to right. Puck removal will get the height similar to early cars.
I removed the pucks with sawzall with the spring mounted on the car very carefully. :cheers:

[Erik]

Thanks!

Anyone know about what the book time should be for swapping the springs?

[secondchance]

I don?t know about book time but rear may be 30 to 45 minutes. Front? Got to remove wheels, compress the spring, remove lower A arms, unbolt spring to K member (I think), wiggle the spring out. Maybe 6 hours? I probably missed a few things...

[Erik]

I don?t know about book time but rear may be 30 to 45 minutes. Front? Got to remove wheels, compress the spring, remove lower A arms, unbolt spring to K member (I think), wiggle the spring out. Maybe 6 hours? I probably missed a few things...

Thanks.
So I should at least get a new set of lower A arm bushings if we have it that far apart.

[Erik]

Any other bushings to do while we are in there? I hate removing and replacing parts that are, or likely will, go bad soon.