King Nothing

iTrader: (9)

I love those wheels!!!! Car looks great.

smitty2919

Got new mounts put in and I went from 25 1/2" up front to 25 7/8". Still wanted more height so I added 9/32" worth of washers under the shock t-bar and I'm now level front to back with 26 3/8".

Curious to know the nominal Load of the Strano front springs and the +- tolerance on them.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

The nominal rate? 550 front, working of 150 rear, just like we said. And years ago I changed to Hypercoil to make them, who's variance 2%, to put that in perspective, Eibach RACE springs are 5% variance from nominal.

smitty2919

Nominal check load and tolerance (which is major player in ride heights). I see them advertised as 550 and 150 lb/in rates.

Yes, obviously there are different combos of vehicle setups/trims. Would be curious to know if LT1 cars sit lower than LS car due to heavier block.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I'd be lying if I told you I remembered, though I could go check some if you wanted. But given they are all CNC wound and cut they are all pretty much identical. Variance you see on cars comes down the differing weights, differing corner weights, differing sway bar pre-loads, even camber. See also how new front mounts raise the car 1/4".


More negative camber lowers the car. Happens all the time when I align Corvettes for folks. They leave with the airdams dragging more and more often, with zero ride height change.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Ahh, see that I can help with. A few years back... actually now it was probably 15 years ago as it was when my white car was running F-Stock class I weighed it and a friend's 1995 Z28 back to back on the same scale. 20 second apart.

Both cars were on the exact same wheels, tires, front sway bar (and stock rear), GM springs, same Koni shocks. Both 6 speeds both Power driver's seat. I had a Monsoon it had a Bose. Both full of fuel.

They were 6 pounds different.

And the LS1 was heavier.

smitty2919

I would say 80% of your spring customers are only DDing their cars with not much of an alignment. That said, I can see how it's possible to ship out springs on the low side of the load tolerance due to manufacturing process PLUS my autocross (-2.5* camber) PLUS a full weight LT1 block PLUS add any other customer induced variations to the car.

smitty2919

That is interesting. Tried digging up LS1 vs LT1 block weights and I found
LS1 106
LT1 160

I have 2 bare LT1 blocks in my garage, but not tooooo interested to break my back weighing them LOL.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Most all I talk do go with more negative camber than stock because they are seeking to add grip. I'm sure not everyone does.

The one change I made back when I switched from Vogtland to Hypercoil made springs was I shortened the front springs up a little because most folks wanted them a little lower. That was the only change, ever and the current spring has not changed in a good 10 years.

BTW, that 1995 I weighed. It was a loaded car. Leather too. A/C working and all. Just so many variables with other parts and what the cars actually weigh. And remember how different these cars were from GM over the years, some sat a lot higher than others stock. After lowering most of much more alike than not.

smitty2919

Yep, I deal with that issue a decent amount...even better when OEM's get their own vehicle weights wrong, when they get springs it's a low rider or 4x4 lol.

I added shims to my car more for functionality than looks. The raked look I had was neat-o and aggressive but scraping everything was annoying after a while. It's nice and level now.

n2oblkz

iTrader: (1)

I put Strano springs on my 1996 Z28 with STR.T's and I haven't been happy with the stance, it sits front end high like a fox body mustang.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Yeah there you go. That's the variance I'm talking about. It is simply not possible to have every car sit at exactly the same height. Cars can sit higher in front because they drop weight, or can sit lower in the back because they carry more weight. The front mounts can be new, but the rear isolators old, and on and on it goes.

Now in this case it wouldn't be hard to shim the rear up a little if that's the way you want to go. Do you run isolators in the rear? Some folks pull them and do the "mod" with rubber hose, but the springs were not designed with that in mind, they are meant to run the OEM isolator.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

For those seeking an exact height, they are best served by looking into coil-overs. That is the only way you can get the height to an exact spot.

n2oblkz

iTrader: (1)

I have the rear isolators in place and had replaced DMS springs with these, which I regret except for the ride. Sorry, but I definitely wouldn't recommend Strano's to anyone after the end result of my ride height.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

While I am sorry to hear that, I also notice you have not changed them back to the DMS and they ride better.

I cannot make sure every car sits EXACTLY the same, and even when they do personal choice and opinion always matters. I am not trying to persuade you to change your mind, you feel how you feel. And if you want to put them up for sale I suspect you will have no issue selling them and moving to something else.

n2oblkz

iTrader: (1)

My second mistake, after the Strano's, was selling the DMS springs right after having the Strano's installed, before they had completely settled into fox body mode or I would have gone back to them.

30thanniv

iTrader: (2)

Not a fan boy, but my Stranos sat right the first time and took time to drop completely. I dropped 2 inches in the rear, dropped 1 inch in front.

My car now sits 26.5 flat.

smitty2919

I didn't have any issues either except my front sitting a tad low for my liking. 3 years after installing them I went with new mounts and shock shims to level my ride height. Gained needed ground clearance and hopefully eliminated fender rub under hard braking on course. If it still rubs then more rate is the solution.


Yes, people modifying isolators etc can alter spring height assuming the spring load and tolerance is so tight that the owner induced adjustments ARE the determining factor in ride height.

Not uncommon to see a nominal load tolerance of +- 3 or 4 times the nominal rate with rate tolerance being 3 or 4% of nominal rate. Higher end springs can reduce the load and rate tolerances.

Boxxx

I'll trade my o.e. springs and some cash for the Strano springs since you're so unhappy with them.

n2oblkz

iTrader: (1)

LOL...unfortunately they're going to have to stay for
now.