Help! Detroit Speed Upper And Lower Control Arms Make Car Sit On Tires
 

I just completed installing my upper and lower control arms from DSE with my Hotchkis front springs and when I set the car down the inner wheel wells are resting on the tires. Does anybody know what I might have done wrong? DSE is closed on the weekends so I'm kinda stuck. I wanted to get the alignment done today but they close at 5. Am I supposed to use a rubber isolator or something? This doesn't look good.
:mad:

I dont have the dse ones but I have seen thicker isolators to put under the springs to raise them up. but I think they only go about 3/4 of an inch.

Will that change the handleing of the car or anything? I have new tires too but there the same tires I had before.

Did you install the arms without the alignment shims that were in there before?

No I put them back in there exact location.

Are the springs new to the set-up? If so I would say look at that.

No the springs are not new. Here's the deal I spoke with Kyle at DSE and basicly he's telling me I need to replace the springs. I was going to add spacers to make up the difference but Stacy said that was a bad idea. So I am now trying to decide on wheather I should sell the Hotchkis springs and buy the DSE springs or talk to Hotchkis again and see about using the big block springs. Hotchkis said the BB spring was 3/4" taller. I asked Kyle about the spring rates for the DSE's and he says there 470 lbs. The Hotchkis springs are rated at 600 lbs. I'm wondering how much of a difference this is going to make with my set up. I am running the 1 1/8" Hotchkis bar and a set of KYB shocks. I already have a problem with understeer. I'm not sure what to do at this point. Anybody want to buy a set of used Hotchkis SBC springs?:willy:

Listen to what Kyle and Stacy
 

are telling you to do. Too stiff a front spring will cause understeer. By going down in rate it should help your problem along with a good alignment.

From what you describe, 3/4 of an inch is not going to help your ride height problem.

I ordered the DSE springs. I will let you know how it turns out.

Thanks Payton for the input.

I think their (DSE) lower control arm
 

spring pocket is lower than the stock requiring the taller spring.

If you had a understeer problem before you put the uppers on, you are going to be pleasantly surprised how well the car will drive now. The decreased spring rate will help the ride as well.

Can't wait to hear your feedback.

Payton are you running this exact set up? Heres what happen today:

DSE just sent me stock height springs for a 2" drop. I don't really understand why Kyle would tell them to order that. The set I was running before were 2" drop Hotchkis with stock LCA's which put me right at the level I wanted. What I can't understand is why would Stock height DSE springs be the right height with the DSE LCA's. Is anybody running this set up for the 68 camaro? The springs measure 16" 470 lbs. The Hotchkis springs I was running are 12.25" 600 lbs and I have a set of super stock springs that measure 15.5" 250 lbs.

dse, parts are made to work together.
rick k:thumbsup:

I understand that part Rick. But if you were going for a 2" drop wouldn't you use your 2" drop spring? The car was able to move before I removed the Hotchkis springs which means it wasn't right on top of the wheel well. So I figured I would need at least an inch of space. Using DSE's 2" drop I would think that they would have the extra spring matieral for the 1/2" deeper pocket which in the end would be the right height.

It's probably related to the spring rate. I think the Hotchkis springs compress less due to the higher rate therefore needing a shorter uncompressed length.

You may be right I will install these tonight and see what happens. I hope it works out.

I am also talking with Landrum Spring right now too.

This is a guess
 

as I am not running the same set up as you....but I bet there is a 2 inch drop built into the lower control arm (where the spring mounts) as compared to a stock control arm. It it was not the 2 inch drop springs you had would have worked. If the spring pocket in the lower control arm is 2 inches deeper a stock height spring would give you a 2 inch drop. I am guessing you were getting about a 4 inch drop with the others + the DSE lower from what you describe. I am sure it looked cool. LOL

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...e/P1010001.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...P1010004-1.jpg

DSE Success!!!
 

OK OK, I was wrong I owe Kyle, Stacy, and Dan and appolgy for doubting them. The car is now sitting correct. The springs look like their dropping already after a quick ride with my 2 buddies and myself. I will post pics after the washing and the quick drive before I go to alignment shop. Thanks again for everybodys help!

P.S. Payton so far your right too. I've only take a couple of hard turns with it but it seems to be sticking quite well and no bump steer (weird).:thumbsup:
:hail:

DSE Springs Installed
 

OK, I expect it to drop more. I have about 100 miles on them right now.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...e/P1010002.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...e/P1010009.jpg

Before
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...e/P1010042.jpg

After
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...e/P1010010.jpg

Looks NICE!!!!! I now have the "M-A-N" song from Better Off Dead going through my head!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

I love that movie and that song.:D

looks awesome

It's good to know that the DSE stuff is so well though out. Just pick up the phone and order your stuff and you will have no worries.

Thanks for posting up the resolution. This is good information. I am looking at the DSE speed kit #1....

Ron