weight jacks or lowering springs ?
#1
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weight jacks or lowering springs ?
weight jacks or lowering springs ? what does everybody prefer ? pros an cons of both ...
#2
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
I have the eibach pro kit been on my car for 8 yrs no complaints.i will be switching over to weight jack system tho for the heavier spring rate an adjustability.
think they will help a lil more when auto crossing an doing track days.
think they will help a lil more when auto crossing an doing track days.
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freaky (01-29-2021)
#3
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
Other than a little added cost, I can't see a drawback to using weight jacks over regular springs. You can adjust the weight jack obviously and with a regular spring you cannot. Whether it be for appearance or to fine tune the suspension for performance,
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Car: 91 z28
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: t5
Axle/Gears: lt1 10 bolt 3.23
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
I recommend not lowering it at all. These cars are long, and scrape enough at factory height going into driveways and parking lots. Just my and I'm admittedly uncool fwiw.
<-- that car isn't lowered.
<-- that car isn't lowered.
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Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
I don't know what it is about conventional springs but I can't keep my car on the road with them. It'll fishtail all over the place under power. It's crazy. Suspension Techniques, Hotchkis, Hypercoil. All out of control.
Set of constant rate weight jacks and the car goes straight as an arrow. Doesn't drag race worth a crap with those springs but it isn't trying to kill me either.
Set of constant rate weight jacks and the car goes straight as an arrow. Doesn't drag race worth a crap with those springs but it isn't trying to kill me either.
Last edited by QwkTrip; 01-31-2021 at 12:41 AM.
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freaky (01-31-2021)
#6
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
Weight jacks have ease of ride height adjustability and also the potential to change spring rates outside even the manufacturers offerings. Most manufacturers tend to use industry standard spring sizes which means the common oval track warehouses have lots of options.
Standard lowering springs (like from UMI) have improved rates as compared to stock and usually lower a moderate, tasteful amount.
We sell around an equal amount of both.
Standard lowering springs (like from UMI) have improved rates as compared to stock and usually lower a moderate, tasteful amount.
We sell around an equal amount of both.
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freaky (02-03-2021)
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Car: '89 Firebird
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
,,,, and you can corner weight the car which is actually the intended purpose of weight jacks.
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#8
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
Weight jacks have ease of ride height adjustability and also the potential to change spring rates outside even the manufacturers offerings. Most manufacturers tend to use industry standard spring sizes which means the common oval track warehouses have lots of options.
Standard lowering springs (like from UMI) have improved rates as compared to stock and usually lower a moderate, tasteful amount.
We sell around an equal amount of both.
Standard lowering springs (like from UMI) have improved rates as compared to stock and usually lower a moderate, tasteful amount.
We sell around an equal amount of both.
#9
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
To add to the Weight Jack option, you can assemble/fabricate weight jacks yourself to keep your costs lower and buy springs from a dirt track racing supply house where coil springs are more affordable than some of the usual suspect aftermarket parts suppiers, IE UMI, Ground Control,ect,ect….
#10
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
To add to the Weight Jack option, you can assemble/fabricate weight jacks yourself to keep your costs lower and buy springs from a dirt track racing supply house where coil springs are more affordable than some of the usual suspect aftermarket parts suppiers, IE UMI, Ground Control,ect,ect….
Being in Canada, we get hosed on exchange rate, shipping and duties... I saved about $100 just by piecing together my own bump steer kit in comparison to buying the cheapest spohn kit... I'll probably save $400 building my own weight jack set up. Plus, I can borrow springs from my circle track friends to figure out a decent set up.
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freaky (02-03-2021)
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
If I want weight jacks this is what I'll be doing... Some fabrication is required though.
Being in Canada, we get hosed on exchange rate, shipping and duties... I saved about $100 just by piecing together my own bump steer kit in comparison to buying the cheapest spohn kit... I'll probably save $400 building my own weight jack set up. Plus, I can borrow springs from my circle track friends to figure out a decent set up.
Being in Canada, we get hosed on exchange rate, shipping and duties... I saved about $100 just by piecing together my own bump steer kit in comparison to buying the cheapest spohn kit... I'll probably save $400 building my own weight jack set up. Plus, I can borrow springs from my circle track friends to figure out a decent set up.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Weigh...late,6509.html
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Repla...91645546-1.000
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freaky (02-09-2021)
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freaky (02-26-2021)
#13
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
i dont have a garage i can fabricate in right now . i just got a corner i can build an engine in at my friends garage .
#14
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
I only used a couple bought items when I made my, rest was fabricated.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Weigh...late,6509.html
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Repla...91645546-1.000
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Weigh...late,6509.html
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Repla...91645546-1.000
i was thinking about doing this exact thing. I'll be pulling the engine in a few months and it would be a perfect time to do it. i know its been done before but i never paid attention.
I can fabricate plenty, but some clarifications:
did you mount the threaded plate in the spring upper location at the k-member?
Is there room for the jack bolt extending into the engine bay?
what part did you use for the spring bucket? Or, is there one that seems like it would be the best choice?
Global West sells a weight jack kit but it seems to mount at the bottom of the spring at the control arm.
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
came here for this.
i was thinking about doing this exact thing. I'll be pulling the engine in a few months and it would be a perfect time to do it. i know its been done before but i never paid attention.
I can fabricate plenty, but some clarifications:
did you mount the threaded plate in the spring upper location at the k-member?
Is there room for the jack bolt extending into the engine bay?
what part did you use for the spring bucket? Or, is there one that seems like it would be the best choice?
Global West sells a weight jack kit but it seems to mount at the bottom of the spring at the control arm.
i was thinking about doing this exact thing. I'll be pulling the engine in a few months and it would be a perfect time to do it. i know its been done before but i never paid attention.
I can fabricate plenty, but some clarifications:
did you mount the threaded plate in the spring upper location at the k-member?
Is there room for the jack bolt extending into the engine bay?
what part did you use for the spring bucket? Or, is there one that seems like it would be the best choice?
Global West sells a weight jack kit but it seems to mount at the bottom of the spring at the control arm.
I made the style like the UMI’s and the Ground Control’s where the weight jack sits in the K member spring pocket. The top larger cup rests in the Factory spring pocket and the lower smaller cup is where the shorter spring seats.
Search for member TEDSgrad he did a really good write on how to install weld in weight jacks
Last edited by 91banditt2; 04-01-2021 at 11:12 AM.
#16
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
thanks. for completeness, here is the thread i found as indicated above
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...g-vetruck.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...g-vetruck.html
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91banditt2 (04-01-2021)
#17
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
Did the same a while ago. Initially installed while everything was in place, then took the k member out for more work
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91banditt2 (04-01-2021)
#18
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
Anyone have weld-in weight jackers for the rear? Looking from below you can obviously see the spring location/pocket. but what is the composition of the structure above the pocket? Is it just a few layers of sheet metal? Easy enough to cut out and weld in like the front?
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Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
Rears are easy. The hump in the spring pocket has a center hole. Pilot up through into the hatch area then open the holes with a hole saw. (Run it in reverse to cut a clean hole in the carpet). You can then just use a weight jack plate and nut with a couple heavy self tapping screws to hold it in place, dont need to weld it really. I ran that setup on my 92. Simple and cheap
#20
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
I don't know what it is about conventional springs but I can't keep my car on the road with them. It'll fishtail all over the place under power. It's crazy. Suspension Techniques, Hotchkis, Hypercoil. All out of control.
Set of constant rate weight jacks and the car goes straight as an arrow. Doesn't drag race worth a crap with those springs but it isn't trying to kill me either.
Set of constant rate weight jacks and the car goes straight as an arrow. Doesn't drag race worth a crap with those springs but it isn't trying to kill me either.
#21
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
ok i dont have room running a 10.5 " rim an 285 tire up front
to use coilovers . so weight jacks it is .
to use coilovers . so weight jacks it is .
#22
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Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
One of my least favorite answers. The way that most air suspensions are setup you have to soften (remove air) to lower the car, so as the car gets lower the spring rate goes down. The opposite of what you need/want in EVERY case except if you're doing it strictly for looks.
Are these mounted screw down so you adjust them from under the car through the control arms?
How did you get such clean cuts, was the tubing and flat pieces turned in a lathe?
i didn’t think GW made weight jacks, didn’t see them on their website. I’m not aware of a style of weight jack that mounts on control arms.
I made the style like the UMI’s and the Ground Control’s where the weight jack sits in the K member spring pocket. The top larger cup rests in the Factory spring pocket and the lower smaller cup is where the shorter spring seats.
Search for member TEDSgrad he did a really good write on how to install weld in weight jacks
I made the style like the UMI’s and the Ground Control’s where the weight jack sits in the K member spring pocket. The top larger cup rests in the Factory spring pocket and the lower smaller cup is where the shorter spring seats.
Search for member TEDSgrad he did a really good write on how to install weld in weight jacks
How did you get such clean cuts, was the tubing and flat pieces turned in a lathe?
#23
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: weight jacks or lowering springs ?
One of my least favorite answers. The way that most air suspensions are setup you have to soften (remove air) to lower the car, so as the car gets lower the spring rate goes down. The opposite of what you need/want in EVERY case except if you're doing it strictly for looks.
Are these mounted screw down so you adjust them from under the car through the control arms?
How did you get such clean cuts, was the tubing and flat pieces turned in a lathe?
Are these mounted screw down so you adjust them from under the car through the control arms?
How did you get such clean cuts, was the tubing and flat pieces turned in a lathe?
Last edited by 91banditt2; 05-24-2021 at 07:21 AM.
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freaky (05-27-2021)
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