Coil Springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bigd65 · 12-01-2002, 08:58 PM

ok this aint a timing question, i know what i need to do in that area.

this is a coil spring question. i only want a 2in drop in the front, so what i need to know is how they ride and how much much of a real drop difference will be there. my truck has the original coils and one is worn more than the other causing it to lean a little and i can also tell the difference on a righ curve. i know if the original coils are not right then new coils are gonna sit different anyways (lowering one side where it might remain the same on the other) i am thinking i want 2 in , i already have the 2 drop shakles in the rear and am told it only actually drops it 1 1/2 in. will the 2 in drop coils drop it 2 in or what. i really dont want an extreme rake but i do like the rake. second what brand and what do yall think of the SUMMIT BRAND COILS.

**swervin ervin** · 12-01-2002, 10:14 PM

It's hard to say how it will end up Jeff. I very seriously doubt your stock coils are sagged 2". I imagine it will end up lower than what you have now.

So to put this in real world numbers, our trucks come stock with 2" or rake, and you have removed 1-1/4" or so with the shackles. This leaves you with 3/4" rake, as long as the front coils are not sagged any. If you use 2" drop coils, you will have 2-3/4" rake, which is more than stock. If you figure in 3/4" sag of the old coils, you'll be at 2". If they are sagged 3/4", you proabably have around an inch of rake now.

If all else fails, you can put a hanger kit in the rear and drop it 4".

I would go with name brand coils if it were me. After all as my user text says, you get what you pay for.

Tom · 12-02-2002, 12:56 AM

Summit coils= suspension techniques coils. I have a pair of 2" coils on my 78. The 78 came with the HD suspension, so when I swaped em out the ride actually improved

I have a pair of Eibach 2" progressive rates on the 79 [wink

] and they ride quite well.

bigd65 · 12-02-2002, 05:21 AM

well sense LWB trucks lowered too much look like sleds, i thik i will just get 1 in drop springs.. i like the way it sits now but i think it would look a little better a little loer in the front. i am just worried the NEW 1 in springs will have the same height as the OLD original springs.

bigd65 · 12-02-2002, 05:26 AM

well i tried to edei my last post but it wouldnt let.

anyway just to finish what i was saying is the old springs, on now, are so much that the driver-side saggs (sits) lower that the passenger-side and can also feel it is weeker because it leans alot on right turns.

79BIG10 · 12-02-2002, 07:54 AM

Jeff do you have a sway bar installed on the front? If not that may help as well on the leaning.

Slonaker · 12-02-2002, 12:28 PM

When I installed new standard springs to replace my old sagging ones, it raised the front end by at least one inch. It may even have raised it a little more.

I did not measure it before and after, but it started out with a nice rake, and ended up sitting level. I feel like I'm drivng a 4wd now.

This is a pic of mine with the new stock height springs next to Gerardo's truck (gchemist):

Slonaker

chauffeur · 12-02-2002, 07:19 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bigd65
[B]ok this aint a timing question, i know what i need to do in that area.

this is a coil spring question. i only want a 2in drop in the front, so what i need to know is how they ride and how much much drop difference will be there.

If you really want to know how much drop you will have, go to a good alignment shop ( not Midas or some other chain). A good shop will have a MOOG book which will tell you what the factory ride height of your particular vehicle should be, and where they measure from (usually the door sill or rocker). This will take into account OE tire size and OE springs. From there you should be able to figure out how much spring sag you have, and difference in tire size (if any). From there you should be able to come up with what you'll need as far as the corrrect spring. This is the way the motor vehicle department in my state bags us for "altered ride height" vehicles. Good luck, Ken

gchemist · 12-02-2002, 08:42 PM

I like this one.

Go here for a full comparison.

ElGracho · 12-02-2002, 08:48 PM

All I see is that one truck has paint and one doesn't....

Slonaker · 12-03-2002, 01:13 AM

Wow! I really like the one with paint!

Who owns that? They sure take good pictures...

Slonaker

BigRed · 12-03-2002, 10:02 AM

That picture brings up a good point. My front bumper is angled down like G's. Is that normal for our trucks?

ElGracho · 12-03-2002, 10:50 AM

There is a lot of adjustment in the front bumper brackets, you could loosen the bolts on the frame and move that bumper closer to vertical if you want.

Low83 · 12-03-2002, 04:26 PM

Mine doesn't look like that it's level, you gotta remember G-man hits every pot hole he can find so he can replace parts, I think he trashed a couple of A-arms and his air dam already

gchemist · 12-03-2002, 10:24 PM

The bump was damaged and angled by the previous owner. I have just not take the time to adust it properly. It does have one minor ding in it.

Guess eventually I'll replace the bumper too. The sway bar and the airdam have plenty of road scars. I'm on my third set of fog lights too.

Currently I do have a damaged A-arm. I hope to replace it soon and rebuild the front. The rubber on the damage arm is not looking very good.

12-01-2002, 08:58 PM	#1
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	Coil Springs ok this aint a timing question, i know what i need to do in that area. this is a coil spring question. i only want a 2in drop in the front, so what i need to know is how they ride and how much much of a real drop difference will be there. my truck has the original coils and one is worn more than the other causing it to lean a little and i can also tell the difference on a righ curve. i know if the original coils are not right then new coils are gonna sit different anyways (lowering one side where it might remain the same on the other) i am thinking i want 2 in , i already have the 2 drop shakles in the rear and am told it only actually drops it 1 1/2 in. will the 2 in drop coils drop it 2 in or what. i really dont want an extreme rake but i do like the rake. second what brand and what do yall think of the SUMMIT BRAND COILS. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

12-01-2002, 10:14 PM	#2
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	It's hard to say how it will end up Jeff. I very seriously doubt your stock coils are sagged 2". I imagine it will end up lower than what you have now. So to put this in real world numbers, our trucks come stock with 2" or rake, and you have removed 1-1/4" or so with the shackles. This leaves you with 3/4" rake, as long as the front coils are not sagged any. If you use 2" drop coils, you will have 2-3/4" rake, which is more than stock. If you figure in 3/4" sag of the old coils, you'll be at 2". If they are sagged 3/4", you proabably have around an inch of rake now. If all else fails, you can put a hanger kit in the rear and drop it 4". I would go with name brand coils if it were me. After all as my user text says, you get what you pay for. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

12-02-2002, 12:56 AM	#3
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,720	Summit coils= suspension techniques coils. I have a pair of 2" coils on my 78. The 78 came with the HD suspension, so when I swaped em out the ride actually improved I have a pair of Eibach 2" progressive rates on the 79 [wink ] and they ride quite well. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

12-02-2002, 05:21 AM	#4
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	well sense LWB trucks lowered too much look like sleds, i thik i will just get 1 in drop springs.. i like the way it sits now but i think it would look a little better a little loer in the front. i am just worried the NEW 1 in springs will have the same height as the OLD original springs. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

12-02-2002, 05:26 AM	#5
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	well i tried to edei my last post but it wouldnt let. anyway just to finish what i was saying is the old springs, on now, are so much that the driver-side saggs (sits) lower that the passenger-side and can also feel it is weeker because it leans alot on right turns. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

12-02-2002, 07:54 AM	#6
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,775	Jeff do you have a sway bar installed on the front? If not that may help as well on the leaning. __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

12-02-2002, 12:28 PM	#7
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	When I installed new standard springs to replace my old sagging ones, it raised the front end by at least one inch. It may even have raised it a little more. I did not measure it before and after, but it started out with a nice rake, and ended up sitting level. I feel like I'm drivng a 4wd now. This is a pic of mine with the new stock height springs next to Gerardo's truck (gchemist): Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado

12-02-2002, 07:19 PM	#8
chauffeur Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New Bedford, MA Posts: 43	Re: Coil Springs [QUOTE]Originally posted by bigd65 [B]ok this aint a timing question, i know what i need to do in that area. this is a coil spring question. i only want a 2in drop in the front, so what i need to know is how they ride and how much much drop difference will be there. If you really want to know how much drop you will have, go to a good alignment shop ( not Midas or some other chain). A good shop will have a MOOG book which will tell you what the factory ride height of your particular vehicle should be, and where they measure from (usually the door sill or rocker). This will take into account OE tire size and OE springs. From there you should be able to figure out how much spring sag you have, and difference in tire size (if any). From there you should be able to come up with what you'll need as far as the corrrect spring. This is the way the motor vehicle department in my state bags us for "altered ride height" vehicles. Good luck, Ken

12-02-2002, 08:42 PM	#9
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	I like this one. Go here for a full comparison. __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

12-02-2002, 08:48 PM	#10
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	All I see is that one truck has paint and one doesn't.... __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

12-03-2002, 01:13 AM	#11
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	Wow! I really like the one with paint! Who owns that? They sure take good pictures... Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado

12-03-2002, 10:02 AM	#12
BigRed Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,680	That picture brings up a good point. My front bumper is angled down like G's. Is that normal for our trucks? __________________ Scott Shelbourne

12-03-2002, 10:50 AM	#13
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	There is a lot of adjustment in the front bumper brackets, you could loosen the bolts on the frame and move that bumper closer to vertical if you want. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

12-03-2002, 04:26 PM	#14
Low83 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Porterville,Ca. Posts: 118	Mine doesn't look like that it's level, you gotta remember G-man hits every pot hole he can find so he can replace parts, I think he trashed a couple of A-arms and his air dam already

12-03-2002, 10:24 PM	#15
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	The bump was damaged and angled by the previous owner. I have just not take the time to adust it properly. It does have one minor ding in it. Guess eventually I'll replace the bumper too. The sway bar and the airdam have plenty of road scars. I'm on my third set of fog lights too. Currently I do have a damaged A-arm. I hope to replace it soon and rebuild the front. The rubber on the damage arm is not looking very good.



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