Camber adjustment, strut cartridge

[tanny]

My 240 has lowered springs and I either want to be able to correct the camber or if I can't, replace the springs with ones closer to stock height. I have no idea how much these springs lowered the car(were installed 25 years ago), but the car is quite low and the tires look knock kneed, noticeably in at top and out at bottom. Obviously they are going to wear very quickly. So, what would be the best and/or least expensive camber solution? Also, the MSA catalog says that their standard KYB strut cartridge will not work with lowered springs. Why not? Does this mean that you must buy the performance type shocks even with minimal lowering(1" or less)? On an unrelated issue, is it necessary to remove the gas tank to remove the sending unit or can it be removed in place? I think the tank mounting strap is close and may interfere with removal. Thanks, Victor.

[ZCCOR#109]

You can change the camber with lowered car but will need to replace some of the bushings with adjustable ones that have cam type action. If you WANT to keep the lowered look, change the bushings.

The shocks that won't work with a lowered car must "bottom out" due to the reduced stroke length of the piston. IF the bump stop is maintained and is servicable, then I don't see how the shock will bottom out though??

You could find original springs from someone who wanted to lower their car. Advertise.

Hope this helps.

[kmack]

Victor,

As for the gas tank sending unit, it can be removed while the tank is in the car. Just use a screwdriver to remove the holding ring, and it'll all pop right out.

As for the camber issue, there are a few ways to correct this. The cheapest is to replace the control arm bushings with an adjustable cam-type bushing. They usualy run about $80-$100 for the set (front) and about the same for the rear. The next way would be to buy camber plates for the top of the strut towers. MSA has some now that are $100 for a front set and $100 for a rear set. These 2 ways will give you up to 1-1/2 * of adjustment.

You'll also hear about people that have slotted out the mounting holes where the strut mounts into the tower. I don't like this option personally.

Or you can hunt down some stock springs and replace the whole thing.

[tanny]

I would like to use the stock springs, but using springs off someones 30 year old car would probably end up giving me a similar problem due to old age sag(unfortunately I am familiar with that), although it probably wouldn't be as severe. Arizona Z Car supposedly has stock height springs, but the spring rates seem pretty high and I don't want the rough ride. As my dad used to say, I'm caught between the $^!# and the fart. Maybe I will advertisefor the used springs in the Wanted area and give them a try. Kind of a lot of work if they don't work out, but I need to figure something out. Thanks you guys for the advice.

[ZCCOR#109]

You have to determine what you want.

A "sag" spring is the best of both worlds in some ways. A lowered look with little wheel well space, along with a moderate ride. Use good shocks, and you should have a really nice ride. Not the thing for the track or Solo, but if that is what you want then get the performance stuff, and bounce along the road. Get a good kidney belt.

[tanny]

You could be right about the sag springs. If I could find some oldies cheap enough(don't really want to pay much for worn out springs. The old springs might make the car list to one side or the other if they didn't all sag at the same rate), I might test that theory.

[tanny]

mperdue,

I will need all four springs. How much do you want for them? Thanks, Victor.

tanny@frontier.net