AAAARRRGGHH !!!! Lowering springs gained me 2.5" WHY????

[Grizz1963]

Started my day by going to mate Martin's home with friend Ian, to help him dismantle the rear suspension, axle etc from his chassis and then to pack everything into his garage, followed by getting the cab back into his carport so he can start his bodywork..

Once done there at about lunchtime, we came over to my place to fit my new 2 inch lowered front and rear springs and shocks.

............. NOT MUCH FUN.

Took a lot of banging and bashing to get the drivers side lower ballpoint to separate out. Upper went quicker.

Now for the ball ache.....

Before the new spring and shock was fitted on the drivers side, the height from top of wheel arch to floor was 29 inches.

AFTER FITTING THE 2" DROPPED SPRING AND SHOCK THE SAME MEASUREMENT WENT UP TO 31.5" SO A GAIN OF 2.5"

WTF?!?!?!?!?!

No idea what happened there.

Any ideas??

[Paul Y]

Thats not good Grizz!

A few obvious ones:-

Did you compare the new to old springs before fitting?

Are the springs fully located in the pocket.

Have you bounced the truck to allow it to settle?

Sometimes it is easy to miss the simple bits, then again you might have been sent to wrong parts!

Let us know the latest.

P.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Paul Y

Thats not good Grizz!

A few obvious ones:-

Did you compare the new to old springs before fitting?

Are the springs fully located in the pocket.

Have you bounced the truck to allow it to settle?

Sometimes it is easy to miss the simple bits, then again you might have been sent to wrong parts!

Let us know the latest.

P.

Hi Paul, thanks for the comments.

New spring is just over an inch shorter than old.
New spring material about 2mm thicker than old.
New spring has one whole loop more than old

I do believe the new spring is located in the pocket at the bottom, as I looked at it specifically.

Rocked and rolled the cab/body after fitting it.

And I do believe, after speaking to Brothers in the USA this afternoon that the parts I have are correct.

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by Paul Y

Thats not good Grizz!

A few obvious ones:-

Did you compare the new to old springs before fitting?

Are the springs fully located in the pocket.

Have you bounced the truck to allow it to settle?

Sometimes it is easy to miss the simple bits, then again you might have been sent to wrong parts!

Let us know the latest.

P.

Several good ideas from Paul!!!

Sometimes new springs may have different "rates"--meaning that the overall length may not indicate what the installed height will be. Selling used cars, I replaced lots of front springs(specifying stock replacements--cost was only $30/pair!) esp. in heavier cars like Caddy's, Electras, Regency's. When I bought the cars, the old springs had sagged & let the fronts drop & caused cars to look 'tired'. Replacements raised front back up & gave them better 'posture'; made the cars really look much less worn.

First car I ever did this to was a Caddy. Removed first front spring, & side-by-side comparison revealed the old one was taller by several inches than new ones. Pondered the issue awhile before proceeding with the install; but sure enough, when installed, front height of the car was several inches higher. I concluded the worn ones, by losing tension, had lengthened themselves when free standing.

Back to OP: I think Grizz was sent the wrong parts. Good luck, Grizz. Try to mentally convince yourself that this will just be a brand new project--not a redo.

Sam

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by luvbowties

Several good ideas from Paul!!!

Sometimes new springs may have different "rates"--meaning that the overall length may not indicate what the installed height will be. Selling used cars, I replaced lots of front springs(specifying stock replacements--cost was only $30/pair!) esp. in heavier cars like Caddy's, Electras, Regency's. When I bought the cars, the old springs had sagged & let the fronts drop & caused cars to look 'tired'. Replacements raised front back up & gave them better 'posture'; made the cars really look much less worn.

First car I ever did this to was a Caddy. Removed first front spring, & side-by-side comparison revealed the old one was taller by several inches than new ones. Pondered the issue awhile before proceeding with the install; but sure enough, when installed, front height of the car was several inches higher. I concluded the worn ones, by losing tension, had lengthened themselves when free standing.

Back to OP: I think Grizz was sent the wrong parts. Good luck, Grizz. Try to mentally convince yourself that this will just be a brand new project--not a redo.

Sam

Hii Sam

Thank you for the reply.

It is all sorted out now.

We spoke to Brothers on Saturday, and definitely have the correct kit.

The markings are all for 2" drops.

When we reassembled the front end, the springs were not seated correctly, so after sorting that out, it is only 10mm taller, which shows just how tired the original cut down springs and shocks were.


Next up will be doing the rear, if we can get it all dismantled.

I was just in the garage to WD40 all the nuts n bolts.

[61_FL_Apache]

Do you have pics of both sets of springs?

Go to #8 of my Tahoe build and you can see my springs. I got exactly 2 inches lower.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=616763

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

Do you have pics of both sets of springs?

Go to #8 of my Tahoe build and you can see my springs. I got exactly 2 inches lower.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=616763

Yup.......

There is a big difference between my old and new. See comment above.

It just seems so weird.

[Grizz1963]

PS. Strongly contemplating cutting a coil from mine, and double checking the seating of the spring base in bottom cup.

[BigDan3131]

I do have one question for you, is your truck completely assembled or is any part of the front end off?
Let it settle for a week then remeasure.

[imjeff]

Stock springs may have been that hammered. I replaced the coils in my 69 Chevelle with stock height and it looked like I lifted it. Any before pics?

Jeff

[jayoldschool]

Old springs were sagging. Truck was already "lowered" from stock height. New springs are lower than stock, but not lower than your saggy stock springs.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by BigDan3131

I do have one question for you, is your truck completely assembled or is any part of the front end off?
Let it settle for a week then remeasure.

Hi Dan, all together. I wiil have to let it settle or take a coil out of a brand new set.

Originally Posted by imjeff

Stock springs may have been that hammered. I replaced the coils in my 69 Chevelle with stock height and it looked like I lifted it. Any before pics?

Jeff

I think it had 2-3 inch lowered springs that are now dead.

Originally Posted by jayoldschool

Old springs were sagging. Truck was already "lowered" from stock height. New springs are lower than stock, but not lower than your saggy stock springs.

Jay, this I believe is 100% correct.

In retrospect, knowing no history of the truck and having nothing to compare to, it is probably exactly the way it all fits together.

[PGSigns]

You said they were seated good in the bottom but what about the top? That can make a big change in the height if not seated correctly.
Jimmy

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

You said they were seated good in the bottom but what about the top? That can make a big change in the height if not seated correctly.
Jimmy

Hey Jimmy, I think the top is quite flat so probably seated good.

However, if we disassemble it again, I will check it again.

I would expect the top to fit properly if the bottom fits into the notched recess.

[Bears63]

Rian, here is my opinion.... Right now you have a worn spring on one side and a new spring on the other. The worn side is probably causing a tilt, which will affect the measurement on the side with the new spring. My opinion is to fit the other side and see how it sits overall, then decide on a course of action. I realize you are trying to avoid doing things twice, but I honestly don't think you are getting a proper reading with the tilt involved. Just my thoughts anyway.

[Irishbleueyes]

For sure the original springs are sagging bad. I got new lowered ones and sure enough my truck came up also..

[DLW]

PGSigns may be onto something. I know my upper spring won't sit in the pocket properly unless I manually guide it into place. I know I struggled a little trying to figure out why one side of my truck sat over an inch higher than the other, and it was that upper spring not seated. Just an idea...

[old cruiser]

Be careful cutting lowered springs as you will lose the performance of the spring.
Also if spring becomes too short , when you jack up vehicle with wheels hanging there's a chance when you let the vehicle down again the spring may not seat correctly.

[Grizz1963]

Thank you for the replies guys.

I think the way forward, depending on the weather today, will be to refit the driver side, in case it did not seat correctly. And then passenger side.

Then to leave it all to settle a it and do a drive up to the farm as well.

We found my front brake hoses to be rotten/US yesterday, so they need replacing first.

[PGSigns]

The upper is not "quite flat" at all. There is an alignment spigot that hangs down about an inch that you have to get the spring slid up and around first before you clock the bottom to match the stamping in the lower control arm. It is very easy to get a spring setting on it rather than around it if you don't know it is there.
Jimmy

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

The upper is not "quite flat" at all. There is an alignment spigot that hangs down about an inch that you have to get the spring slid up and around first before you clock the bottom to match the stamping in the lower control arm. It is very easy to get a spring setting on it rather than around it if you don't know it is there.
Jimmy

Yup !!

Fixed without chops...... Springs were not seated right.

Now both fitted, seated right and only 10mm taller than before.

I suspect originals were cut by at least a coil to give 2" drop, but sagged in the end.....

Happy to leave it to settle now.

Next job will be fresh brake pipes up front.

[61_FL_Apache]

Nice job!! Got some after pics?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

Nice job!! Got some after pics?

Hi there, I did not take any as I was racing to get out the house with my wife to spend dome time with her......

However, if you look at the side on pics very early in the trucks build thread, you will see what it looks like, as it is now only 10mm taller.

I would love my truck 5" lower for the looks but that ain't happening.

[stealth_weapons]

did you put them in upside down??????? hahahahaha.... sorry i couldnt resist...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by stealth_weapons

did you put them in upside down??????? hahahahaha.... sorry i couldnt resist...

Good suggestion..