Advice on lowering my Monte

[Coltrane]

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.

That’s pretty wild then that the company themselves (UMI) said to not use them - strange!

 

[scoti]

That’s pretty wild then that the company themselves (UMI) said to not use them - strange!

You'll be fine w/o them. If there's concern, a simple 'rounding' @ the end of the spring tail w/a flap disc to remove any hard edge will suffice.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

That’s pretty wild then that the company themselves (UMI) said to not use them - strange!

It is possible the aftermarket springs may have a different and flater upper tail end than the stock style springs. I do know stock design springs like MOOG won't rest flat against the frame correctly without an isolator.

 

[Coltrane]

Little update...I talked to the guy who installed them, and he assured me they are installed 100% correctly, and said he did use the stock isolators but they're 1/4" or less, so that wouldn't be the cause of it being 2.25" too tall. I check the part numbers on the springs again, and they are correct for what they should be. Really bummed about this...the only thing I can think of is that maybe the springs themselves are labeled incorrectly. Going to have a friend of a friend look at it who is pretty knowledgeable with this stuff, so we'll see! It's not life or death or anything serious, but I just want to get it right.

 

[SS_Malibu]

If you are pulling your new spring back out, compare them with the old springs to see if they are higher, lower or the same. Is it possible the old springs were worn or a weaker spring rate than the new ones?

 

[Coltrane]

If you are pulling your new spring back out, compare them with the old springs to see if they are higher, lower or the same. Is it possible the old springs were worn or a weaker spring rate than the new ones?

The spring rate thing could be something. When talking to the company, he said no matter how worn the old ones were, based on the measurements with the springs in there they are sitting 2.25" higher than they should be (not compared to the old springs - compared to their own measurements for the fitment on this car).

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Brand new springs tend to sit a little higher but sag down some in time.

 

[scoti]

Did you like the ride w/the old springs up front? If so, I'd change back if it raised things w/the 'new' units.

 

[Coltrane]

Did you like the ride w/the old springs up front? If so, I'd change back if it raised things w/the 'new' units.

No I didn't, it way also way too high 😂

 

[Coltrane]

Brand new springs tend to sit a little higher but sag down some in time.

When talking with the company they said the springs should sit at a specific distance (middle of wheel to fender) when first installed, and they are 2.25" higher than that. I sent him pictures and he himself said it's way too high. This is not in comparison to my old springs - this is where it should be based on the suspension geometry of this particular car...it just sucks that it's probably going to be more $ to deal with it.