Your timing is good.
I just purchased their stock springs (no shocks) for my 87 Quad.
Despite the new ones measuring the same 18.5" as the old ones, they did raise the rear about 3/4", which isn't too surprising given they are new and not subjected to 34 years of use.
I will be putting in the fronts in the next week or so, and will update you.

 

the best improvement you can buy for your spider is a frame stiffener. It changes the character of the car in a very good way. Once you have a frame stiffener and drive it for a while, then see if you want to dial in the suspension any more. I run Koni reds and Centerline springs and am very satisfied with the result -

 

I will second Goats' motion for a frame stiffener for your Spider. I have had one on my '91 for quite a few years now, and it improves the ride, handling response, and overall feel of the car. Cowl shake is reduced, although not entirely eliminated, but the improvement is noticeable and worth the effort and $$$.

 

I too have a stiffener on my car, but I don't think I really got to feel the full benefits of it when I put it on, because I installed it soon after getting my car before rebuilding any of the suspension. Based on what I knew at the time, everything seemed tight and the drive was still a little sloppy, so I installed the stiffener and it made things a bit better. As I got to know more about the car, especially the hard to diagnose and probably most neglected parts, the lower a-arm bushings, and finally rebuilt front and rear, it made more of difference than the stiffener. Last weekend I put on the rear springs, and next week the fronts.

So I agree the stiffener is good, but my recommendation is make sure your suspension is solid to begin with because it won't compensate for other worn parts. In retrospect, I also wish I changed all the springs at the time of front and rear rebuilds.

 

Thanks all for the chassis stiffener information- sounds like something worth considering for sure. Are they still being sold?

Anyone else tried the stock spring/shock package from Centerline? It's out of stock currently, but assume they will have it available again.
No matter what , I need to replace the shocks since one is currently leaking and basically inop and a couple boots are torn. If I don't go with the stock Centerline option, I will defiantly go with Koni reds.

 

As to your question on availability of the chassis stiffener, yes they are still being sold by Centerline. Delivery may be extended due to the supply not quite keeping up with the demand, however. Centerline is working with the fabricator to try to improve that situation.

 

I'd say just get the Koni reds. I dunno who makes the Centerline shocks but I can guarantee the Konis are quite good. Classic Alfa also carries a stock-equivalent shock.

I haven't tried Centerline's stock springs but I got a set of standard springs from Classic Alfa and they worked fine. Whoever you go with, be prepared to do a bit of work with shims to get the ride height where you want it: Alfa had "stock" springs in quite a few lengths and specifications over the years, so in my experience the one-size-fits-all springs need a little tweaking sometimes.

 

Centerline still catalogs the chassis stiffener, but shows it out of stock (and has been for a while).
Maybe Joe C can chime in here if he spots this topic, let us know if they CAN obtain any more stiffeners, or not.

 

I installed the front springs this weekend. The new springs were 1/2" shorter than the originals.
I reinstalled the 7mm aluminum ring, and put in new upper and lower rubber seats.
The car sits about the same as it did, maybe a bit higher, but pretty level.
I will try and post a pic later or tomorrow when the weather is better.
Because of the weather I haven't had much of a chance to drive it beyond a few blocks in an attempt to get them to seat. I hope to put them to the test later in the week, after an alignment, because I also installed new upper adjustable arms that I should've done years back when I rebuilt the front end.

 

my measurements, on level ground, no driver in and about 1/2 tank of gas, from floor thru wheel centerline to lower lip of fender
Front Left 25"
Rear Left 24 1/4
Front right 24 5/8
Rear right 24 3/8

185/14 tires at 32 psi all around

 

Here is the pic. Gas tank half full.

 

what are the measurements?

 

That looks about right.

On Classic Alfa "stock" springs with some shim adjustment my S4 is at 24.5" both sides in the front and 23.75" both sides in the rear, which is theoretically pretty close to stock if I did my calcs right back when I installed them.

 

Driver front 24-7/8"
Passenger front 24-1/2"
Driver rear 24-3/8"
Passenger rear 24-1/2"

Weather is still crap and alignment is off having also put in adjustable arms. Here's hoping a bit of driving and it'll level off a little better or its back to farting around with shims. Hate dropping the front springs!!!!

 

Mike that looks just fine! Great job!

 

Thanks. I'm puzzled how the front is so different left and right and the rear is near identical side to side and passenger front and rear are the same. Normally if the front passenger is lower the driver rear should be higher.

 

So you're asking that an Alfa be logical and consistent??

 

Yeah, it's like, welcome to the wonderful world of Alfa suspension adjustment!

To get mine level and near stock height I had to add a deep spring pan on the front right (the S4 came with two shallow ones for some goofy reason, which caused significant back left sag) and used 1x 7mm spacer on the right and 2x 7mm on the left.

 

My 87 assumed to have been original also had two shallow pans. So I put in the deeper passenger one and that was all I recall doing to get it pretty equal. Not sure why not now. Unless the springs need to seat after install. Or unequal spring rate on the new springs??

 

Your side-side difference is max 3/8”. Honestly I’d just call that good enough.

 

The driver front is designed to be a little higher than the rest, when unloaded, to compensate for driver weight . If you measure the pans right to left you will find the left pan higher for this reason.
I think you are right where you want to be, perfect.

 

Thanks. I understand that, but would think the rear would drop more/easier than the front under the weight of the driver. I plan on having somebody measure with me sitting in it. I just don't want to be one of the Spiders that from behind looks like the driver must be 500 lbs, being it worn suspension or improperly setup. I hated the way my car looked from behind before the deeper passenger pan went in.

Thanks,

 

Thanks all- great info on the ride heights with Centerline springs. Once mine is back on all 4 wheels, I'll measure as well.

 

Never answered the "customer satisfaction" question on the CL Stock Spring set up..For a long time they offered only the yellows which were really not an upgrade for the street IMO ( I threw them away ..they had NO resale value and were so rock hard I lost my dental fillings).. I suspect they had customers clamoring for stock options and they listened.

 

The rationale behind manufacturing the stock springs (and shocks) is a little more nuanced than that. Basically, it's a natural evolution of what the market wants as the cars get older. In the '80s and '90s there was a lot of demand for "sport" suspension components. While that is still strong, it's really only in the last 5 years or so that people have begun to request components that allow them to put their cars back to a stock configuration. Some are refurbishing an original car, others are reverting a car back to stock after enjoying it with a different suspension for years.

There really isn't a right or wrong here, or a perfect suspension set-up that fits every customer.

 

I think you confirmed my point of offering a 'stock" set-up.. re-manufactured

 

Hi JoeCab-
Any estimate on when your stock shock/spring package might be available again? Looking at a winter project, so no real hurry. Thanks!