Do drop springs settle down after a while or number of miles?
 

Hi guys,

We installed 2 1/2" western drop spindles with 1" bell tech drop springs on my '86 c10 today.
Unfortunately it sits higher than it sat before with severely torched original springs!

The ride is a million times better, but I'd like the nose to be a bit lower than where it's at right now.

I was afraid to cut half a ring off the drop springs in fear of lowering it too much. My truck has headers which hand quite a bit below the frame and I don't want to be riding on my headers every time I hit a speedbump (and we have a gazillion of those here in The Netherlands!) Some of those are just HUGE!
Sold a '79 Firebird recently running stock springs and a stock exhaust system and the guy couldn't even get over a speedbump in his street without scraping his exhaust badly!!!

Bottom line; will my 1" Bell Tech drop springs settle down a bit after driving it a while or is this it?!?!?

erik

Re: Do drop springs settle down after a while or number of miles?
 

no they dont settle down that much. if you want to go lower start with a 1/4 coil each time till you get your ride height just where you want! :)

Re: Do drop springs settle down after a while or number of miles?
 

I know this is a no no. But here's what I did. I took the springs out and put them in a press (my log splitter). Compressed them 5/8" and heated the next to the top coil, then drown them in a bucket of waste oil to cool them down slow to retain the tensil of the spring. Mine came down 1/2". But if I were you I'd see if you can exchange for some 2" springs.

Your on the right target for 2.5 spindle and a 1" spring. Much more and the lower control arms will be too low for a daily driver IMO. Here's mine with 3.0 spindles and 1/2 spring torch job.

Re: Do drop springs settle down after a while or number of miles?
 

After 6 mos, my truck with summit racing springs is pretty much the same as the day I installed 'em

Re: Do drop springs settle down after a while or number of miles?
 

Yea, it takes a long time to settle. I've had mine 9 years and they are the same height.
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Re: Do drop springs settle down after a while or number of miles?
 

And you feel that oil quenching them " to retain the tensil of the spring" made a difference? If I remember the basics from shop class, we used an oil bath to "harden" the center punch project.

If you find your method of lowering acceptable, thats your business. PLEASE don't offer it as a suggestion on how to properly lower a truck.

Re: Do drop springs settle down after a while or number of miles?
 

Too bad, I was hoping they might drop a bit over the next miles.

I'm not sure I want to drop it much further right now.
Just paid for a new alignment and I'm not in the mood to spend a lot of time and money just to get an inch lower. Maybe in a while though.....