I'm not happy with how high the back of my car sits. Ever since I installed the 4th gen spring isolators with the Pro-kit springs, I have way to much open space between my tire and fender. Now I know I can go back to my stock isolators, but they are kind of trashy looking... and I know no one makes stock 3rd gen isolators because I was looking for weeks before I caved in and got the 4th gen pieces.

Now, I don't like the idea of having no isolator between the spring and the body, so I was wondering... since the 4thgen ones just seem to have more rubber between were the spring sits and where it touches the body, would it be possible to trim them down? By trim I mean like take a knife/saw and actually cut a chunk off them. I realize I will have to keep the same curve on the inside because of how it sits against the spring seat on the body. Would it work better on a lathe, or would the rubber deform and it would be counterproductive? Has anyone tried this?

Input appreciated,
Mike

 

you can do whats called the "hose mod" pull the spring set down remove the isolators then get some heavy duty 5/8 heater hose slide onto the coil about 5" or less then reinstal springs.....my car dropped 3/4"- a full 1" and of course there is no difference in the ride but my fat bootied 4th gen goes around corners waaaay better.

 

No such luck here. Maybe a 1/2" tops.

JamesC

 

x2. I do this when doing any spring swap. Prob. about 1/2 inch more drop.

 

i did say my car dropped 3/4 - 1" just for reference.

 

How would this work though? The spring wouldn't sit even in its seat on the body because the top isn't flat (or is it?.. don't remember). So do I just find a rubber hose that fits snug around the coils of the spring and only do the first coil or coil and a half? Will it make the car react differently to bumps or the turns when I race due to the lack of cushion that the current isolator provides? Will it become more twitchy because of the quicker responses to body roll?

Cool, 1/2"-1" lower is going to look a ton better then where it is currently.

Mike

 

The same for me, the rear was way to high with the pro-kit.
What I did yesterday was cut the spring isolators on a band saw and then reground the shape with a 4 inch body grinder with a 36 grit disk, this will only get you 3/8 and I still need more.

Jerry

 

I just took out my isolators. I'm lazy.

 

I would do that too, but I'm afraid of metal on metal contact.

I'm thinking I'll try the hose idea when I get my car out in the spring. Then again I may end up keeping my wheels when I install a LS1 rear so maybe I will need the extra height so it wont rub as much.

Oh the dilemma,
Mike

 

I run mine when I have the stock 16s, but not when I have on the 17s. I've not noticed any adverse affects. I have been planning to do the heater hose mod at some point, though. My front isolators were so shot from the mechanic installing the springs up-side-down when I first bought them that I just left them out. Probably need to do it up there too.

 

Are the 3rd gens gone from the aftermarket??? Aftermarkets were easy to get a few (or more) years ago.

 

Yeah, I have tried the stock, 4th gen, and the hose method, with a Prokit. I ended up putting the stock isolators back in. Who cares how they look, nobody is gonna see them.