GB: DRM Coilovers

[mgg]

Pantera and Daniel, you guys are just great! I really appreciate all of the input. I know I am a little anal about this stuff but I figure there is no point in reiventing the wheel when guys as nice as you have been willing to answer my questions. I started on the rear and now with this info I can probably get the rear done monday with my schedule. Thanks again guys I really really appreciate your help. I am sure I will have more questions and it is great to know I can count on the help. I hope I can repay one day. Have a Merry Christmas!!

[carter200]

Originally Posted by HAWAIIZR-1

Daniel,

Thanks for the offer and I'll probably take you up on it. As long as it is easier than rebuilding an LT5 I should be able to handle it...lol. I ordered the brackets from Carter and just making a list of all the other things that will be needed. Have not thought about what tool to use to enlarge the hole for the bracket. I do need to order the sway bar bushing/bracket and my understanding is not all of our cars have the same diameter from the factory? Just looking at all the related posts in this and other forums to make sense of it all right now. Need to send or find someone to mod the shocks; I have two new rears in the box and the two front are new but mounted on the car.

Craig,
I'll email you a pic of the cutter you'll need to make a clean hole in minutes Won't be till Monday or so.....as I'm at Linda's now.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by carter200

Craig,
I'll email you a pic of the cutter you'll need to make a clean hole in minutes Won't be till Monday or so.....as I'm at Linda's now.

Carter,
Okay, thanks. It's not like I'm in a rush or anything and appreciate it.

[mgg]

HawaiiZR-1, Saw your post. I used a bi-metal hole saw that fit perfectly just inside Carters bracket. I remember last time doing this I used a dremel tool and it took forever. With the bi-metal hole saw and an 18 volt drill it took about a minute. I could not believe it. Sure made the job easier and a nice cut as well. Good luck.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by mgg

HawaiiZR-1, Saw your post. I used a bi-metal hole saw that fit perfectly just inside Carters bracket. I remember last time doing this I used a dremel tool and it took forever. With the bi-metal hole saw and an 18 volt drill it took about a minute. I could not believe it. Sure made the job easier and a nice cut as well. Good luck.

Thanks for the info and I appreciate it. I guess it will all make more sense once I get the parts and start taking things off, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf95A-OuzAs So something like this, correct?

Craig

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by pantera1683

You're in luck, I know exactly what issues you are having.

1. Of the top shock mount rubber bushings, you have to trim the lower ones width wise ~ in half and cut the diameter down so that it is even with the metal washer.

2. You'll save a lot of time by adjusting your ride height before installing the assembly on the car. I have ~ 2" between the lower shock collar and the bottom of the threaded sleeve. This gives me tire to fenderwell clearance of about 1 1/2".

You can adjust the height with the supplied spanner wrench to turn the collar and a strap wrench on the coil sleeve but it is a pain in the but so I would only do that for minor adjustments.

So, using this sort of crude picture (blue is the rubber, the dotted rectangle is the Carter bracket):



We'd have to cut dimension C in half, and reduce dimension A a bit? B and D would remain unchanged?

[pantera1683]

/\ /\ yes

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by pantera1683

/\ /\ yes

Awesome, thanks!

One last thing, the rear shocks had two metal washers if I recall. One is gold-colored and slightly concave. The other is black and flat. The gold one goes on top of assembly I just pictured, between the rubber and the FX3 "crown". But does the black one go on the very bottom of the lower rubber? Or somewhere else?

[mgg]

I knew I could count on Bob. That drawing is perfect. It is amazing what can be done to solve a problem. Thanks everybody! I am really looking forward to getting these coilovers on. Hopefully with Bobs help we can finish up the rears today. Not exactly looking forward to the fronts but with all of the help and resources available I am feeling pretty good. Thanks again.

[mgg]

Well, Merry Christmas!! Bob and I worked on the rear today hoping to finish it up but we didn't quite get there. Holes drilled per Carters bracket, trailing arm bolts reversed, bushing cut and shocks/coils assembled. Trying to mount the shock/coilover we cannot seem to get the carter plate to line up with the holes. It is about a 1/4" short of lining up to the hole towards the front of the car. I drilled out the area revealed when I bolted up the carter bracket but we cannot seem to get it forward enough with the assembled shock, bushing, carter bracket etc. It is as if the bushing will not allow us to get unit moved toward the front of the car so that the bolt holes will line up. Is the area revealed by carters bracket the ONLY metal that needs to be removed. The frame that was visible through the hole in carters bracket is removed. Again, any help would be appreciated. It is puzzling. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to all.