Suspension query

[f1fascination]

Guys, I have a query re the suspension height of my GTV 2000. It has has the rear springs replaced with standard height King's due to a broken coil, and at the same time the rear shocks were replaced with Koni classics. But the front is all original and the difference between the height at the front and rear looks to be about 30mm, with the front noticeably higher than the rear.
I want to even the height out, but don't want to go for a lowered set of coils or even replace the rears as they are not that old. I have heard of coils sagging over time but not increasing, so I don't know what's going on with the front end.
I could just replace the springs at the front with some new standards, and shocks, but don't want to be stuck with the same silly ride height at the front.
Any thoughts?

[LaStregaNera]

There's usually a pair of 10mm thick spacers under the front springs, removing these will drop the front by about 25-30mm.

[f1fascination]

Thanks! I'll check there first.

[f1fascination]

LaStregaNera, I found a couple of very corroded but sure enough aluminium spacers below the spring
rubbers, and the corrosion has unfortunately spread to the spring pan, which has rotted out.
That one will be getting replaced too, the last thing we want is a spring falling out while I'm tearing down the road!
I'm going to go for a new set of standard front coils, new shocks and associated rubbers, as the handling is one of the nicest features of the 105, not to mention the engine, styling, sound, etc etc..

[AikenDrum105]

Hi F1,  you can lower the front further by introducing spacer/washers between the spring pan and the lower A-arms with the bolts passing through them. 10mm is the biggest you can fit with the standard bolts ( but any fastener place can sell you longer bolts at same tensile strength and pitch).   Hope that helps !

[f1fascination]

Cheers! I need to source a couple of bolts anyway as a couple have stripped out, they are an unusual combination of size and thread, 10x1, but probably not uncommon for Italian stuff.
I'm busy compiling a list of bits as we speak...

[colcol]

The usual fine thread for 10mm is 1,25 pitch, but 1,0 pitch is also around, but less common, i know cause i needed a 1,0mm pitch bolt, and it was a bit hard to find.....at least it isn't Whitworth!, Colin.

[f1fascination]

Yup, I'm hoping my local bolt joint will have some!

[colcol]

I found that most of the local 'bolt joints' didn't have them, in Melbourne we use a place called Keables, and if they don't have it, you are out of luck, very hard to find these fine pitch threads, even ebay doesn't have much to choose from, Colin.

[AikenDrum105]

I'm actually running the coarser standard pitch M10 bolts in that area with no problems on the Super,  so no stress if you can't find the M10x1.0s   

Grab some nylok nuts while you're at it

Cheers,

Scott.

[colcol]

The fine pitch M10 - 1,0 pitch are good for not loosening off, but are not as strong as a coarse pitch M10 - 1,5, sometimes the fine pitch screws are impossible to purchase, but i would prefer what Alfa Romeo put there in the first place as they would have done a bit of testing, [hopefully!], Colin.

[f1fascination]

Thanks guys, I too would prefer to keep it original if I can, but if I have to use 10x1.25's or something that's not the end of the world.
It was running 8mm bolts in the drive-line coupling for a bit until I got new 9mm ones!
I thought Coventry Fasteners would be the best place to start for 10x1's.

[f1fascination]

I'm actually running the coarser standard pitch M10 bolts in that area with no problems on the Super,  so no stress if you can't find the M10x1.0s   

Grab some nylok nuts while you're at it

Cheers,

Scott.

Yep, too hard trying to chase up 1mm pitch, I'm going to run 10x1.5's instead.