Hey guys, haven't posted in a while. I got some new parts for the camaro, my rear end specifically. It is a Currie built 9 inch Ford rear, with a detroit locker, 3.90 gears, 35 spline axels, race case, the works. Anyway, I ran into an issue. I currently have Eibach Pro Kit springs that dropped the car by about 1 inch. Now, because the new rear end has larger diameter axle tubes, the springs fit tighter between the spring perch and the upper isolator area. Sitting on the ground at ride height, the back end seems to be much higher than it was before, and I don't really like it. I was wondering if I could take the rear coil spring isolators all the way out, and just put some heater hose over the top coil of each spring so that it wouldn't be metal to metal contact. Has anyone done this? Anybody forsee any issues? Will the springs be able to be located correctly? If anyone else had any ideas, I'd like to hear 'em. Thanks!

 

This has been done plenty of times. I think its commonly called the "heater hose mod". The springs will seat just like they do on the bottom of the isolator. You definetly want to put the hose on it though. You dont watn metal to metal like you said.

You'll get a decent amount of drop from it. So if you only need like a 1/2" or something, you might want to consider cutting the isolator down first.

Might just have to trial/error it until she sets how you want her.

J.

 

Thanks for the info. I figured that it would be ok to do it, but I just wanted to confirm that someone else has done it and had no problems with it. But yeah, the rear end is definitely jacked up way too high for my taste. With the Pro Kit springs, I only have about 1.5 inches between the front fenders and the top of the tire, which is fine. The back used to have about 2.25 inches, which I felt was a little off but I could live with it. I was planning on actually trimming the isolator like you had mentioned, but didn't get around to it cause I had some other higher priority stuff going on. But now, with the new rear end, I have about 3.5 inches on the left rear and 3.75 on the right rear from the fender to the top of the tire and it looks plain stupid. To me it is just unacceptable. I am just gonna yank those things out, wrap the upper coil with some heater hose, and see how she sits. Redoing my pinion angle will also be a must at that point.

 

I've done the heater hose mod . You'll be lucky to see a 1/2 difference.

JamesC

 

Really? You get less than 1/2" from pulling that isolator out?

J.

 

That was my experience.

JamesC

 

Huh... I would think atleast 1"...I cant recall how thick they are. Only thing I can think of is maybe the gas shocks are helping to keep the body up? Since they are now trying to operate at a lower static height than before...

Weird.

Its worth a try though I guess...

J.

 

I saw about a half as well......... Time to break out the cut off wheel.

 

i agree, it wont be much. although something in many cases some is better than nothing.

whatever you do, dont cut the eibach pro kit, they are progressive rate springs and you will hate them. i had a buddy who did that, and he went back to stockers and threw away basically $100.