REAR ride height (remove spring spacers!) on '84 Spider Veloce?

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

       I use the spring spacers, both front and rear to balance the car 
corner to corner.  I start by taking the spacers clear out if I want the car 
lowered.  Or by leaving the rear ones in place to get a bit of a downhill 
raked stance.  The rubber depends on what the car is to be used for.  If it 
is a driver, the rubber stays.  If a race car, it goes.
       I normally cut half a coil off the front spring and a full coil off 
the rear.  Shorter springs will also be slightly stiffer.  If nothing else, 
cutting the front springs makes them easier to install.
       I have not discovered any real differences in setting up the 
suspension on any of the 105 / 115 Alfas.  Make a change and if you do not 
like it, make another.
       I did find that my 82 spider with yellow Centerline springs and yellow 
Koni shocks road like a British sports car - or a truck.  Too stiff, but it 
handled well.

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City


In a message dated 02/16/2003 5:18:13 PM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:



> Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2003 19:46:13 +0000
> From: JeffreyOlson@domain.elided
> Subject: REAR ride height (remove spring spacers!) on '84 Spider Veloce?
> 
> Most people seem to have problems keeping their rear end up!  I'm actually 
> trying to lower mine...
> 
> I've removed front spring spacers before to lower the ride height and am 
> about 
> to do this to a '84 Spider.  Car has  stock springs f/r and Spica shocks 
> with a 
> high rear end stance even with a passenger in the car.  This will be even 
> more 
> pronounced if I remove the front spring spacers.
> 
> Anyone remove the rear spacers before to lower the car?  The possible 
> spacers 
> sizes installed are 6.6, 11.5, 16.5, and 21.5mm.  At most I'll get 0.85 in. 
> but 
> that will probably be all I'll need.  
> 
> The workshop manual shows this as pretty straight forward but I'm unable to 
> determine if the spacer acts as a spring perch or has any function in the 
> rear 
> suspension other than ride height trim.
> 
> Most likely, I'll also replace the trailing arm bushings as part of this 
> procedure.
> 
> One thing I dislike about the later model Spiders is they seem to be drive 
> like 
> they are on their tippy toes!  Wonder if the spring rates are the same as 
> the 
> pre-Bosch F.I. cars?  Car seems to sit high and stiff and drives as such.
> 
> Anyway, I would like to lower the overall ride height slightly and removing 
> the 
> front and rear spacers seems a logical way to do this.
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