1986 Front Spring

[Ron Earl]

While installing a polyurethane suspension bushing kit on my 1986 vette I discovered that the front spring is aparently not original I say this because it is too wide for the retainers. Consequentally the retainers were installed with only one bolt each. I suspect the spring on the car came from an 88-91 model. I'm sure I can get a new 1986 spring and be done with it $$$$. But I was wondering if I could install 1988-91 spring retainers and get good results. I see they are available from gmpartsdirect.com for $11.40 each much less than a new spring. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ron

[Dave P.]

Re: 1986 Front Spring

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[Ron Earl]

Re: 1986 Front Spring

I suspect the way they were able to keep the bolt centers the same is by changing the archeticture from stamped steel to cast aluminum. If I am correct the later retainers are taller and their design is similar to that of a Main Bearring Cap which means they only require clearance for the shank of the bolt not the entire flange nut. Which beggs the questions. What is the P/N of the later bolts? Are they longer than the early ones? How about the nuts?

Thanks,
Ron

[Joe L.]

Re: 1986 Front Spring

Ron-----

First of all, let me say that I don't know if the conversion that you propose is possible. To be honest, that sort of conversion would kind of worry me, but it might be alright. Keep in mind that the front spring and attaching parts have SERIOUS safety implications.

However, one thing that I do know, FOR CERTAIN, is that if you only have one bolt securing each front end spring retainer, you need to get this situation PROPERLY corrected, one way or another, before you drive the car. Anyone that would have installed this spring and, due to its misapplication, used only 1 spring retainer bolt on each retainer ought to be barred from EVER working on a car again. That sort of thing is UTTERLY inexcusable and extremely unsafe.

The part number for the 85-87 bolts is currently GM #11516695. I don't have specs on them, though.

The part number for the 88-90 bolts is GM #11508142. This bolt is a FLANGED HEAD M10X1.5 X 105 mm and of material grade metric 9.8.

The part number for the 91-96 bolt is GM #10157953. I don't have specs on this bolt, but I believe it to be M10x1.5 thread size.

The nut for use on either the 11508142 or the 10157953 is GM #11506101. This is a FLANGED HEAD nut of M10X1.5 thread size and material grade 10. It is GM discontinued, but nut GM #10255857 ought to fill the bill.

Also, the spring end retainer for all 1988-96 is GM #10052283.