[Mustang68]

Hey guys... being that a springs a spring regardless of what kinda vehicle its on im hoping that maybe someone here can answer this for me...

when i was working on my truck a few weeks ago i was looking at my springs next to each other and looked like they were 2 different heights... when i measured them i found out they not only looked different heights they actually were 2 different lengths... (passenger side one was an inch shorter than the driver side)... figuring they were old and worn out i ordered some new ones... along with a new set of spring isolators from energy suspension since i figure the ones on there were probably a good 25 years old...

Well here comes my dilemma... when they got here the isolators didnt have any instructions with them and cant seem to find any explanation on how to put them on... now I do get the disc shaped one goes on top like the original ones were... (or least i think thats where it goes) but the isolator kit came with a Tube looking thing and have no clue where on the spring its supposed to sit or if its even supposed to go on... been looking online most the night for any how to's on it but didnt find any.... including mfg websites.. can someone tell me if i really do need the tube thing or where it actually is supposed to go on it??

[tobynt]

The tubed isolator gets slipped on the coil that is "open"....the end of the spring that the coil starts and is not touching the other. The "round Pad" is placed like a top hat on the other end that has the coil touching the next wound coil.

Make sense?

[Mustang68]

Originally Posted by tobynt The tubed isolator gets slipped on the coil that is "open"....the end of the spring that the coil starts and is not touching the other. The "round Pad" is placed like a top hat on the other end that has the coil touching the next wound coil. Make sense?

it does... but what if both ends are touching like these ones are?

[tobynt]

Really need to know the make and model of your truck. Also front or rear.

On a mustang, the front springs get the "top hat" and the "coil tube". The rear gets a "top hat" and a "spring perch "cup".

It really would be more helpful to know what springs you got and what manufacturer and part number the isolators are.

It almost sounds like you have a front isolator kit and putting them on rear springs. But, this is for an entirely different application to what I'm talking about...so the other information will be useful to help you out.

[Mustang68]

Originally Posted by tobynt Really need to know the make and model of your truck. Also front or rear. On a mustang, the front springs get the "top hat" and the "coil tube". The rear gets a "top hat" and a "spring perch "cup". It really would be more helpful to know what springs you got and what manufacturer and part number the isolators are. It almost sounds like you have a front isolator kit and putting them on rear springs. But, this is for an entirely different application to what I'm talking about...so the other information will be useful to help you out.

its an 87 s10 yeah i know bad me for owning a chebby.. but i use what i got until i can afford the F350 i want.. ntm its the last thing i have that my grandfather owned.. so it holds quite a bit of sentimental value as well...

these are for the front since the rears all leaf springs... The springs are summit racing stock height springs since they were the cheapest compared to even the local parts places and offered free shipping.. The isolator kit i also bought from summit but its Energy Suspension brand isolator kit...

Isolators
Energy Suspension 9-6102G - Energy Suspension Coil Spring Isolators and Isolator Sets - Overview - SummitRacing.com

springs
Summit Racing SUM-CS5660 - Summit Racing® Cargo Control Springs - Overview - SummitRacing.com

[tobynt]

lol....its cool that its a chevy. I have two other vehicles that are chevy. 06 silverado and a 2010 Camaro SS.

I'll do some searching around and see what I can dig up. For sure something strange is going on.

[tobynt]

4 wheel drive or 2 wheel drive?

[Mustang68]

Originally Posted by tobynt lol....its cool that its a chevy. I have two other vehicles that are chevy. 06 silverado and a 2010 Camaro SS. I'll do some searching around and see what I can dig up. For sure something strange is going on.

thanks man... ive been looking most the night and asked on a couple other forums this is the only one ive gotten an answer on so far... i actually was feeling a lil bad for asking about a chevy on a mustang site but wasnt getting answers anywhere else... and knew people here might have an answer...

for the last year on this truck ive been trying to get rid of a "shimmy" its had for as long as i can remember.. use to think it was the cheapo tires i was always putting on it.. but last time i put on some better ones and it smoothed out a little.. but got worse soon after cuz of a bad tie rod.. replaced all 4 of those along with all 4 ball joints since i had no clue when they were last done.. (turned out the answer to that was NEVER).. but vibration was still there and between certain speeds...

when i looked up the problem with speed relations involved alot of people suggested the U-joints so i replaced them as well and in the process i noticed the transmission mount was split halfway through.. swapped that with energy suspension poly since they hold up better against oils, grime and road contaminates... shortly after that i had mom shake my truck like it does going down the road and discovered my passenger side rear leaf spring was "twisting" on the bushing.. so did a poly swap there.. the one that twisted came out pretty easy.. i almost used no effort to put it out.. the one directly behind it was actually split in 2 pieces inside the spring...

in the process of changing those out i also found out that all 4 of my shocks were shot... after replacing them i figured since i did everything else i might as well finish the suspension and went to do the front control arm bushings... thats when i discovered the different height springs.. and brings me up to todays problem lol... Im glad my stangs problem free

[Mustang68]

Originally Posted by tobynt 4 wheel drive or 2 wheel drive?

2wd..

[Mustang68]

just looked again to make sure... and theyre practically closed on both ends... neither ends opened enough for me to slip the tube part on without using something to pry it open a little.. the isolators thicker than the opening is...

[tobynt]

something just doesn't jive...

For one reason or another....Energy suspension calls the bushing set to only fit 2wd S-10's but the summit springs say they will fit 2wd and 4wd. Obviously their is a difference between the applications or Energy suspension would list both 2wd and 4wd for the bushings.

I also noticed on Summit Racing they have two different sets listed for the same S-10 Application but nothing that shows why. It just might turn out that the ones you purchased to save a dollar just will not work on your truck but the other ones would have...but for sure something is up with the springs. I would trust that Energy suspension gave you the correct bushing set and you should be able to "slip" the tube isolator onto one of the coils.

The coils you have might be fine. But, right now my7 gut tells me that Summit may have those springs listed under the wrong application. Just my thoughts.

[tobynt]

2wd and 4wd may even use the same springs...but, Like I said. Summit brand offers two different sets and two different part numbers for the same application and nothing to say whats different about them.

[Mustang68]

Originally Posted by tobynt something just doesn't jive... For one reason or another....Energy suspension calls the bushing set to only fit 2wd S-10's but the summit springs say they will fit 2wd and 4wd. Obviously their is a difference between the applications or Energy suspension would list both 2wd and 4wd for the bushings. I also noticed on Summit Racing they have two different sets listed for the same S-10 Application but nothing that shows why. It just might turn out that the ones you purchased to save a dollar just will not work on your truck but the other ones would have...but for sure something is up with the springs. I would trust that Energy suspension gave you the correct bushing set and you should be able to "slip" the tube isolator onto one of the coils. The coils you have might be fine. But, right now my7 gut tells me that Summit may have those springs listed under the wrong application. Just my thoughts.

always a possibility.. i know when i looked up ones for the mustangs they didnt list a 2nd set of springs for the rear when everyone else seems to list...

same time ive been wondering if ill even need one on the bottom... because when i pulled the old ones out there was nothing underneath the bottom of the spring... they only had a really flattened out one sitting on top..

[Mustang68]

Originally Posted by tobynt 2wd and 4wd may even use the same springs...but, Like I said. Summit brand offers two different sets and two different part numbers for the same application and nothing to say whats different about them.

dunno.. when i look at 4wd diagrams they dont even list a spring in front on them... all they show is something called a torsion bar coming into the bottom of the lower control arms... and a cv axle running through between the upper and lower where the spring sits on mine...

[Mustang68]

its odd thats for sure...

[tobynt]

Does it look like the "Tube" would slip on one of the old springs you pulled out?

Just curious if it would have. That might be a sign if you got springs that are correct for your truck.

[Mustang68]

Originally Posted by tobynt Does it look like the "Tube" would slip on one of the old springs you pulled out? Just curious if it would have. That might be a sign if you got springs that are correct for your truck.

doesnt look like it... the end of the coils look just as close as the new ones.....

i could probably slip them on if i used a pry bar or something to open them a little.. that is if itd spread at all...

[Mustang68]

well with the aid of a crowbar i was able to slip the tubular isolator on the bottom of the spring.... so least its on there... well one of them... still gotta work on the other... maybe tomorrow ill get the control arm bushing back in so i can re-assemble the front end again... Thanks for the help tobynt... none of the posts on my other forums have even got a reply...