Front suspension upgrade, now too low.....

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by Skylark-72, May 16, 2022.

  1. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    Finally go the chance to get the new upper and lower control arms, springs, shocks and power disk breaks. Car is riding really great now and sticks to the road. However the front end is wayyyy to low. I measured fender to the floor is at 23 inches. All new BMR tubular upper and lower control arms, moog 5536 front Coil Springs, KYB Gas Adjust shocks and proforged Tall .5 lower ball joints along with the Tall .9 uppers. I attached a few images, thinking about going back to factory spindle to get those 2 inches back, and just do a 1" drop spring front and back since i like the lower look just not that low. I have about 4 fingers or a credit car long ways of clearance.
    Any idea why i might be sitting so low with just drop spindles??
    Wheel Combo - Front 225/45/18, Rear 255/45/18


    IMG_6702.JPG frame is like 3 inches off the ground and the wheel rub happens, really dont want to have to worry about that.



    55176CDC-F491-405C-9183-690FDE67DBA9.JPG 55176CDC-F491-405C-9183-690FDE67DBA9.JPG 8640366B-C104-4A0E-9837-FD02657CF0C9.JPG 8640366B-C104-4A0E-9837-FD02657CF0C9.JPG 67398647954__DCE48E8A-C33E-4278-B70A-CEBE3C8292AB.JPG IMG_6700.PNG
     
  2. Electra Bob

    Electra Bob Well-Known Member

    Not much but a 225/45/18 tire is 26 inch diameter and the stock G78 - 14 would have been 27 inch diameter.

    So the change in tire size adds a 1/2 inch drop

    Bob
     
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  3. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    Yeah the larger tire was hitting lower front corner of passenger side fender, so I went with smaller diameter. Still can’t figure out why front fender height is at 23 inches when factory height is 26.875
     
  4. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    The tall lower ball joint will contribute to going low. Looks good! But not really practical...
     
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  5. ap1672

    ap1672 Silver Level contributor

    Going back to factory spindles and see if the front end is too high.
     
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  6. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    agreed! love the look very unpractical, i know the tall lower ball joint adds, so ill be doing the spindles and see where it gets me. mostly worried about my ground clearance wheels are good.
     
  7. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    yeah im gonna put those on and see where it sits.
     
  8. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    I thought the aftermarket upper and lower control arms corrected the alignment problem without the taller ball joints.
     
  9. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    Im pretty sure they do, I had a set of the tall upper so just used them.
     
  10. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    You might want to discuss it with BMR. I'm no expert, but I believe you still need the tall spindle /ball joints to correct for positive camber in the corners. The arms correct for negative caster.

    From the Toolbox: "Lengthening the distance between the ball joints effectively changes the camber curve as the wheel travels upward towards the fender. The end result is a tire that stays flat to the road with the full tread width as it moves through the compression. Factory suspensions gain too much camber and plant the whole car on increasingly less of the outer edge of tread of the tire as it travels."
    "The new tubular control arms are just as much of an improvement ... They are stronger than factory arms and they also move the upper ball joint to the rear slightly, increasing the caster."
    Moving the ball joint to the rear increases positive caster.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2022
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  11. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    i appreciate that Bill!! Gonna keep the taller ball joints for that reason never hurts to have more room to adjust then less. Ill be putting the stock spindles on tomorrow to gain that clearance with the front cross member.
     
  12. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    New spindles, all the difference. Got that extra space under the front cross member too, will most likely do 1” drop springs all around after summer.
    44B90AC5-3F28-40E4-AFBB-9D39A7135D64.jpeg
     
  13. john.schaefer77

    john.schaefer77 Well-Known Member

    Has a nice stance.
     
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  14. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Great! I would be concerned the drop springs will put you back to having insufficient ground clearance. Looks good as is!
     
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  15. stagedgs

    stagedgs 1967 GS400

    Eric-
    If you're planning on new springs, Eaton through the GSCA is offering custom springs wound per your application through the end of May. That is, they are wound to whether or not you have AC, aluminum intake manifold or not, headers or not, etc. Contact Richard Lassetter at (229) 244-4073.

    I ordered a set of springs for my 1967 GS400 last week, my cost was $295.


    Thanks,
     
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  16. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    Def don’t want to lose clearance and love the look too. I have a lot of ground clearance now, the springs will just bring the body down VS the front cross member so I should still have the clearance underneath. Lots of time and no rush as i fully agree I love the look too.
     
  17. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    I’ll have to look into that! Thank you so much.
     
  18. stagedgs

    stagedgs 1967 GS400

    Not to hijack this thread, but.....

    So I spoke with Billy at the GSCA "offices" in Valdosta about ordering a set of springs on 17-May. I sent them a check for the springs with a letter listing the specifics of my car shortly thereafter. Yesterday whilst I was at Home Depot with my wife looking at gas grills, I get a call from "No Caller ID". Because of all of the spam I get I don't answer phone numbers that I don't recognize. Next thing I know I have a voicemail. It's a guy from Eaton (BTW - Eaton has formed a conglomerate with Moog and someone else that I don't remember at the moment); telling me that my springs should be ready shortly and shipping soon. That I should have them by the end of the week. Eaton has an arrangement where they ship the springs to someone like Jegs or Summit who in turn ship the springs to the customer. They do that to save shipping costs vs shipping direct to the customer. With that being said, FedEx knocked on my door about an hour ago with my springs in hand.
    :eek:
     
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  19. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Was that for 4 all four springs?
     
  20. stagedgs

    stagedgs 1967 GS400

    I just needed the front springs, the price included shipping.

    Thanks,
     

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