heating up my springs..

[BrianPlaster]

I gotta 72' that I wanna lower / should I heat the springs up or cut them ?

Can I heat them up while leaving them on ? or should I take them off and cut them ?

Help me out / I wanna get some lowered springs but I just putt around town and don't really want to buy anything but gas on this truck.

[TheSeeker]

The safest, easiest way is to buy drop springs. However, I am in the crowd that has not been in the money, and cut springs properly. I know plenty will scoff at the idea, but if done correctly cut springs are perfectly safe. Measure three times, cut once haha.

I would advise agaisnt heating them at all, seen way to many botched jobs, hell ive seen some practically FALL out when jacked up because of poorly heated spring lowering jobs. Just my two cents. Good luck and BE SAFE.

[ole dollor]

i did that on my daughters truck several years ago....she loved it ...i thought it road like you know what....i heated them on the truck.....make sure you do it real slow and measure a lot.....if you don't like it...just buy 4 new springs...

[50bomb]

Neither. Save up and do it right the first time. Safety comes first.

[lowrollin70gmc]

Take them off and cut them half a coil at a time with a cut off wheel so you don't change the spring's temper and check your alignment after you find a height you're happy with. I would even drive it for a few days between each cut to see how it rides and settles.

[LockDoc]

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Nobody has mentioned it yet but you can't cut the rear coil springs. They are tapered on both ends. You can do lowering blocks on the back, up to a 2" drop. Don't heat them. One coil cut off the fronts = 2 1/2" drop.

Just my 2¢ worth.

LockDoc

[OutlawRider]

I've not looked to far into it, so sadly this statement doesn't hold much research behind it like I would prefer to post. But could you not safely cut a spring and wled on a spring retainer and a plate that would secure the spring to the axle? I mean worse comes to worse, have some good bump stops and if one falls out, you hit a bumpstop and not the ground.

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by OutlawRider

I've not looked to far into it, so sadly this statement doesn't hold much research behind it like I would prefer to post. But could you not safely cut a spring and wled on a spring retainer and a plate that would secure the spring to the axle? I mean worse comes to worse, have some good bump stops and if one falls out, you hit a bumpstop and not the ground.

actually the wose comes to worse scenerio ends up with the truck wrapped around a pole and the steering shaft thru your chest lots o blood everywhere too

HALF A$$ ENGINEERING KILLSS

[BrianPlaster]

thanks for all the advise on heating versus cutting versus buying them.

Brother's is having a sale on the springs and shocks so I;m going to go that direction. The Brother's sale is on until the end of October and they are really nice on the phone . I'll be sure to post pics.of the before and after.

Also looking for an extra set of wheels (5 lug's) in the NC area

[mr mike]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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Nobody has mentioned it yet but you can't cut the rear coil springs. They are tapered on both ends. You can do lowering blocks on the back, up to a 2" drop. Don't heat them. One coil cut off the fronts = 2 1/2" drop.

Just my 2¢ worth.

LockDoc

You can put 1997 and up Jeep Wrangler spring in your rear of the c10
That's what I did and it dropped it about 4" but the spring I put it was
Used and had a little sag going on.
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[GRX]

Originally Posted by lowrollin70gmc

Take them off and cut them half a coil at a time with a cut off wheel so you don't change the spring's temper .....

x2 ... heating springs is a big NO NO

[54belair]

My 68 was lowered by cutting the front springs and heating the rear. Now that Ive got the truck apart completely Im going with drop spindles and stock springs on the front and shorter springs on the rear.
The truck rode hard when I got it---the rear was bouncy and dropped to the stops with any weight on it. I liked the height--but not the way they did it.

[weever82]

You can buy the cheap "universal" blocks for the back and are only like $50 for the set.

However if you are set on doing it for free... never heat, at least cut them. Be safe!

Weev-

[shawno72]

Get ahold of Boris (way2lo2) he has drop blocks with u bolts and hardware for like $65 shipped.
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[jrdv]

I'm not saying it is ok, but I cut the front coils and heated the back coils on my swb71 chev and drove it for over 20 years. I had no problems. This year, I did the ECE 4/6 drop. The ride was much improved and it looks better. The biggest improvement is that I don't have the side to side movement when I go over bumps.

Do what you want. I know lots of people who have done this. Most likely you will uprgrade to the correct springs eventually.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Cut the front sprigs 1 coil

Rear, contact borris way2low for a 2" drop block/ u bolts

hubscrubs wifes truck had/has cut rear springs I tell him hes tryin to get rid of her when she drove it to the cruise in a year ago

[50bomb]

BrianPlaster Good to hear your gonna buy them at brothers instead of the heating/cutting technique. You will be SUPER Happy with the brothers lowering kit.

[CC69Rat]

Brian, remember your factory springs have likely sagged a little over the years. With a 2" drop spring (new) keep in mind you will only likely net about 1.25 or so drop. The truck will settle a little as you drive it .. maybe 1.65 or so drop from start to finish.

Cutting the factory spring one full turn will give you 2.5" full net drop. IF you cut them, I wouldn't go over one full turn and cut it with a cutoff wheel. (as stated)

Drop spindles are very easy to install while you have it apart. Just a thought. .. That's the best way to do it and you don't have to worry about alignment and that extra $75 or so to get it done correctly. There were some 71-72 spindles in the parts section the other day.. not sure if they are still available.

[BrianPlaster]

do you have to have disc on the front to use dropped spindles ?

[oldblue1968chevy]

yes

[lowrollin70gmc]

You have to have disc, but being a 72 you should already have front discs.

[oldblue1968chevy]

My advise (dont listen I usually dont either) I bought some TJ springs, they dropped it 4" If you put ANYTHING in the bed you were on bumpstops. Wayyyy to lightweight for a truck dont bother.

If you really want some I have my old set I'll sell you lol

[Xeen]

I dont know if you are aware of this so I thought I would mention it just incase.
You cant lower the front end more than 2" with factory spindles because the geometry will be unreconcilable, so 2" drop springs are the best you can do without buying drop spindles.
That means you can drop the rear up to 4" if you want to level out the truck or 3" if you want a slight rake.
happy trucking!

[travisfraughton]

a previous owner heated the springs on my truck before I bought it, and I drove it that way for years. I never liked the way it drove, and eventually bought some stock springs and brought it back up. I do like the look dropped down, but would not advise heating them. buy the right drop springs, maybe cut em, I've not driven on cut springs personally so I can't say how they drive but I've heard good things.