Advice on lowering my Monte

[Coltrane]

Well here’s an update…I actually got a set of UMI springs, 1” in the rear and 2” in the front. The rear dropped almost exactly an inch and looks great! Bad news - the front stayed basically exactly the same. I know people have said if your spring are sagging the drop springs won’t have the desired effect, but the springs weren’t very old and weren’t sagging, especially in the front.

Any ideas how to proceed? See if it settles? Go to a different spring? The rear is perfect now right away - just the front is the issue.

 

[565bbchevy]

Any ideas how to proceed? See if it settles? Go to a different spring?

Did you have the weight of the car on the front springs when you tightened everything back up?

 

[403Olds]

Assuming that the springs are indexed properly in the lower A-Arms and you torqued the lower arms with weight on them, give them a week or so to see if they come down a little, otherwise you will need to cut them.

 

[Coltrane]

Did you have the weight of the car on the front springs when you tightened everything back up?

I actually had a local shop do this job…I’ll give him a call Friday to confirm.

 

[Supercharged111]

Wouldn't it have been easier to slap some Z71 stickers on and just own the look?

 

[Coltrane]

Wouldn't it have been easier to slap some Z71 stickers on and just own the look?

😂 you got me there!

 

[melloelky]

that's strange the rears showed drop but the front didn't.even With the existing front ones you took out in good shape something should've changed being a 2" version exchange like that

 

[Coltrane]

that's strange the rears showed drop but the front didn't.even With the existing front ones you took out in good shape something should've changed being a 2" version exchange like that

That's why I'm scratching my head...if both fronts and rears stayed the same that's one thing, but the fact the rear dropped the 1" instantly and front didn't change is weird (to me...suspension isn't my thing, hah).

 

[Coltrane]

Talked to Duane (Dwayne?) from UMI today - seems like a great guy! Had me check a few things, and something is definitely up. He said from stock these springs should have the measurement from the center of the wheel to the fender lip at 14"...mine is 16 1/4" 😳

The part number is correct, but I'm going to talk to the shop tomorrow about if they used spring isolators or not (UMI says not to) and just ask if they can check if it's 100% seated correctly.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Talked to Duane (Dwayne?) from UMI today - seems like a great guy! Had me check a few things, and something is definitely up. He said from stock these springs should have the measurement from the center of the wheel to the fender lip at 14"...mine is 16 1/4" 😳

The part number is correct, but I'm going to talk to the shop tomorrow about if they used spring isolators or not (UMI says not to) and just ask if they can check if it's 100% seated correctly.

It would be a really bad idea to leave out the spring isolators. Besides reducing NVH, the isolators also provide more uniform spring pressure against the pocket in the frame and prevent metal on metal wear occurring between the spring and frame! There is a lot of bad advice floating around concerning lowering ride heights.