70 front spring help
 

i'm wanting to get the front coils out and cut them, i'v got the shocks unbolted , is there any reason i have to take the drum brakes off?, or can i just pop the lower ball joint lose and lower it to the ground? or should i go with the upper ball joint which is easier? i haven't removed the brakes, it doesn't look like you need to, but you guys are the experts so i'm asking you?
thanks for the help!!
andy

When I cut my front spring's I removed the outter tie rod and the upper ball joint and slowly let the assembly down with a floor jack..

man this sucks, i can't get either ball joint to let go!
i guess after 34 years thing start to stick a bit!!!!!!!

Are you using a pickle fork??? Should seperatre

heres frenchblue's original post from january, might help. jeff http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=cut+springs

yeah i'm using a pickle fork, but it seems like im gunna tear the ball joint boot, i can't get it in there without sandwiching the boot, it just looks like it's going to tear!

Instead of busting a ball joint and breaking the boot why dont you unpolt the 2 U-Bolts on the lower controll arm and then get the spring out.

thanks for all the help guys!! guess i'll try the u bolt thing and see how it goes.

The way we do it is unbolt the upper a arm at the cross shaft bolts while we have 2 jackstands under the lower cross shafts and a floor jack under the end of the a arm at ball joint, do your cut on the top of the spring, set the bottom in the groove and jack it up lineing the bolts back up and adding the correct shims for alignment.

ruined an upper ball joint but passenger side spring is out, no missing fingers , head is still on, as straight as it ever was, no injuries!

hey mothertrucker, are you saying to cut the spring at the top? the tapered end?? i would have thaught you cut it at the bottom, one spring round or loop off, sorry i'm not trying to second guess you, just trying to be clear, i'm new at this and just want to be sure.
thanks again everyone!
andy

I always cut the bottom (big end).

am i correct that 1 whole loop or round off of the bottom is approx. 2 inch's?

For me, it's usually between 2 and 3 inches for 1 coil.

cool thanks for the help!!, where the best place to buy upper ball joints and how do you replace them, they look to be riveted on?

Sorry i meant the bottom end. Grind the factory rivets off the ball joint, the new ones come with bolts. MOOG is the best quality.