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Heater Hose Mod Writeup

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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 12:41 AM
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Default Heater Hose Mod Writeup

A lot of people have been asking about what this mod is. There is no writeup, so id like to explain it step by step. Mods feel free to sticky this if you feel it is explained well enough.

Step 1: Buy heater hose. You will need 3 feet of hose. I used 1/2 inch. You can use 3/4 inch or 5/8 inch, but the 1/2 inch was snug enough for me.

Step 2: Raise the rear of the car. Support the rear with 2 jackstands, letting the rear hang freely.

Step 3: Remove the spring. Compress the spring until you can take it off of it's perch. I was able to do this with my hands. Some people need to unbolt the shocks to take the springs. If this is necessary, a 13/16" socket is needed.

Step 4: Remove rear isolator. The rear isolator is the rubber disc that sits on top of the spring. Set it aside after removing the spring.

Step 5: Cut hose in half. Cut your 3 foot section in half. Use one section for each spring.

Step 6: Place hose on spring. Lubricate the hose/spring lightly with some WD 40 or Fluid film in my case. Coil the hose onto the spring as far as you can. You should have no more than 2 inches of excess hose extending from the edge of the spring. This will insure that there will be no metal to metal contact between the car and spring. Trim off the excess.

Step 7: Reinsert spring. Slide the spring into place until it rests on its perch. Make sure the top is flush with the body. Rebolt the shock if you unbolted it

Repeat for the other side. Then stand back and admire your lower stance! Install time is 30-45 minutes. Average drop is 1/2-3/4 inch. Some people have reported a 1 inch difference. A great mod for a few bucks.

Before Heater Hose:
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After:
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Last edited by hitmanws6; Jun 10, 2009 at 12:47 AM.
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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 12:47 AM
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I have lowering springs but can you do us a favor and measure from the ground, across the center cap, to the bottom of the fender and tell us the height? Maybe helpful for people who are curious.
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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 12:48 AM
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Originally Posted by porksoda
I have lowering springs but can you do us a favor and measure from the ground, across the center cap, to the bottom of the fender and tell us the height? Maybe helpful for people who are curious.
from the ground to the top of the wheelwell: 27"

from the centercap to the wheelwell, 15"

from the ground to the bottom of the body, 6"

from the ground to the bottom of the wheelwell, 10.5"

Last edited by hitmanws6; Jun 10, 2009 at 01:14 AM.
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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 02:19 AM
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measurements are posted
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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 05:39 AM
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nice wite up
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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 05:53 AM
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anybody have the same measurements for a stock SS?
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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 03:09 PM
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is this mod for stock suspension, or does it work well with aftermarket springs, for instance, i want strano springs but dont know if they compromise for that stock and if i do the mod and strano springs if my back end will be to low?
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Old Jun 10, 2009 | 03:14 PM
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Ive got stranos with the heater hose mod and my car sits dead level.
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Old Jun 11, 2009 | 02:33 AM
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Originally Posted by mastercoryd
is this mod for stock suspension, or does it work well with aftermarket springs, for instance, i want strano springs but dont know if they compromise for that stock and if i do the mod and strano springs if my back end will be to low?
im sure people have done it with aftermarket, but it is intended for stock springs. i wanted my car lower, but i didnt want to buy new springs. plus with my backseats out, a rake was created from removing the weight. this mod fixed the rake, now it is level
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Old Jun 11, 2009 | 10:48 PM
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i dont get what u do with the heater hose!!! like how do u wrap it? like around the spring and coil threw the whole thing so its like a sheating over the regular shape of it? i dont know if that made any sense but i'm trying to visualize it any pictures? and whats the point of the heater hose and hows it replace what the isolator does?
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by mastercoryd
i dont get what u do with the heater hose!!! like how do u wrap it? like around the spring and coil threw the whole thing so its like a sheating over the regular shape of it? i dont know if that made any sense but i'm trying to visualize it any pictures? and whats the point of the heater hose and hows it replace what the isolator does?
take the top of the spring, and put it through the hose. you are just sliding it over the spring. the hose acts as the isolator. the isolator is about 3/4 to an inch thick, where as the hose is not. so by taking away that gap, you are lowering the car
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 01:57 PM
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hmm, so the whole spring sits inside of the hose? like it goes around the outside? and whats the point of that whats it do? why not just remove the isolator then put ur spring back in i cant visualize this, i need pics
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by mastercoryd
why not just remove the isolator then put ur spring back in i cant visualize this, i need pics
Because the bare spring on the bare underside of the car would sound very horrible! and a little clunky...
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by mastercoryd
hmm, so the whole spring sits inside of the hose? like it goes around the outside? and whats the point of that whats it do? why not just remove the isolator then put ur spring back in i cant visualize this, i need pics
i didnt think it would be this hard to figure out but this is the best explanation i have. the spring makes a coil. the coil stops at the top. you slide the spring into the hose and make it coil around. if you still cant see that, make a circle with your thumb and index finger. now stick your other index finger through the hole you just made. imagine the hole as the hose and your finger as the spring. the hose covers the outside of the spring and acts as the insulator
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 07:59 PM
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okay i get it, sorry for being dumb its just hard for me to visualize stuff, to remove these springs i need a spring compressor and they'll just slide right out?
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:09 PM
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does this work only for the rear or can you do this to the front?
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by mastercoryd
okay i get it, sorry for being dumb its just hard for me to visualize stuff, to remove these springs i need a spring compressor and they'll just slide right out?
personally i didnt need to use one, i could get them out with my hands. most people have done the same. at worst you will have to take the bottom bolt off of the shock so the rear can hang more and the springs should pop right out
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by wtomlinson
does this work only for the rear or can you do this to the front?
this is for the rear only. to lower the front you will need lowering springs
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 11:41 PM
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the rear usually (99.999% of the time) do not need any compression. If you jack up the car, they will 50% of the time fall right out. The other 50% of the time, disconnect the shocks from the rear axle and then they fall out. . . .
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Old Jun 13, 2009 | 01:19 AM
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^^^+1
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