The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-10-2012, 05:28 PM   #1
powerT
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 68
Front coil springs heating or cutting

Cant afford the drop spindles and having a hard time getting some of the bolts lose to get the springs out to cut them im thinking real hard about just heating them , i only looking for 2.5 inch drop what do you think?
1983 c-10
Posted via Mobile Device
powerT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 05:33 PM   #2
old Rusty C10
Robert Olson Transport
 
old Rusty C10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: recent transplant to NC USA
Posts: 20,310
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

well if you do that make sure you have a will made out and sign your organ donor card.. Heating metal like that will reduce its strength. It can and will snap at a moments notice.. it is far from a good idea. This has been discussed at length here.. later i will try to dig up the old threads
__________________
Bob



1951 International running on a squarebody chassis


"If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board"
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!)


PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport

Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you...
I hate cancer!!
old Rusty C10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 05:39 PM   #3
ghettoluxury
Registered User
 
ghettoluxury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Waynesfield Ohio
Posts: 1,991
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Cut them, heating the steel makes it brittle.
__________________

1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71
ghettoluxury is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 05:49 PM   #4
Telecasterjoey
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ottawa ON
Posts: 514
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Cut em! heard horror stories bout heating them, shouldn't be too hard to get out. I cut mine just took the wheel off, sway bar off and lower ball joint nut, used a pickle fork and a big ass hammer with a floor jack holding the pressure on the spring then let the jack down and the spring fell out!
Posted via Mobile Device
Telecasterjoey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 05:50 PM   #5
Square_78
Registered User
 
Square_78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
Posts: 1,237
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

I dont recommend anyone doing it because cutting the springs is a much better option but, heating them is fine IF you do it correctly. Some springs are tapered at the top or bottom and heating them is the only choice. Thats how we did it for years and years before the invention of lowered coil springs or drop spindles. Most people have no clue how to do it properly. If you just randomly heat the spring, it will cause warpage and spring failure, breakage etc.
Square_78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 06:03 PM   #6
74 stepside
Registered User
 
74 stepside's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 815
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

I agree with square 78. Most people dont know how to heat springs. The old timers that customized cars back in the day did. My step has heated coils in the front. They been in the truck since 1974. Over 150k miles without a problem. However its not recommended and I wont encourage that route. I will replace my springs soon and I would recommend 1 coil cut or save up and buy drop springs.
74 stepside is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 06:26 PM   #7
powerT
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 68
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

What spring compressor to use the outside or the inside ones
What is a pickle fork
Posted via Mobile Device
powerT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 06:35 PM   #8
bigblock73
yeller
 
bigblock73's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 13,824
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

If you can't remove a spring, you shouldn't be trying to heat one either then.

Cutting is the way to go if you cant afford new drop springs...do it once, do it right.
bigblock73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 07:17 PM   #9
bmfpeterson
Registered User
 
bmfpeterson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 538
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Quote:
Originally Posted by bigblock73 View Post
If you can't remove a spring, you shouldn't be trying to heat one either then.

Cutting is the way to go if you cant afford new drop springs...do it once, do it right.
Man not to be a dick but I kinda agree with bigblock on this one! on the other side you have to learn sometime, but the correct way would be to spend some money on either drop spindles or drop springs...... drop springs are not that expensive at all. look on this site and see if someone is selling a set

pickle fork is just what it sounds like a giant fork that will wedge in between the upper a-arm and the spindle to separate the ball joint.
bmfpeterson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 07:26 PM   #10
cory d
Registered User
 
cory d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Arlington WA
Posts: 1,728
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

i had to clean the u-bolts that hold the lower control arm on with a wire brush and soak them in penetrating oil. i would recomend cutting over heating. i did it one a buddies truck the other night and it took no more then 2 hours to cut both springs adn get it al back together again
cory d is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2012, 12:10 PM   #11
notyo_cheez
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: corpus christi, tx - america's fattest city
Posts: 253
Cool Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

A coil spring compressor can be had from Sears or Harbor Freight for around $50. Cheaper than a trip to the ER and an indispensable tool to have if you wrench on your rides yourself.

My $0.02 don't cut or heat old springs, just get some new 2" drop coils. Save up for it or hock something if you're desperate, LMC has 'em for $140 less shipping. Seen many a hack job on coils and inevitably other problems follow with it.

If you want a 4/6 slam they have the complete kit for $700, which is what I'd do. Thinking about this for mine...
notyo_cheez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2012, 12:58 PM   #12
motornut
78K & 79C Jimmys
 
motornut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA
Posts: 7,901
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Seen springs break,and they were just old
Scarey
I wana lower (just) the front too...
cutting maybe, not heat,or replaceing with shorter ones
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
John
1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203
1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350
motornut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2012, 01:12 PM   #13
Hotrob72
Registered User
 
Hotrob72's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bend Oregon
Posts: 188
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

If your on a budget or lack the knowledge to do it right, spend your spare time reading how to do it right the first time. Safe over sorry wins every time.
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
1971 chevy c10 ECE 4.5/6 dropped
1970 suburban ECE 4/6 Dropped 45K original miles so far
1948 Ford Sedan
1941 Dodge COE
1932 ford roadster
the rest are normal drivers
Hotrob72 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2012, 01:43 PM   #14
cory d
Registered User
 
cory d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Arlington WA
Posts: 1,728
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

i block the crossmember then i place a jack under the LCA to hold it from flying out then just lower it to get it off. you may need o tap on the u-bolt to get them off, it seams like they get spread out and got want to come out of the holes. you could even place the wheel/tire back on
cory d is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2012, 02:21 PM   #15
INSIDIOUS '86
Registered User
 
INSIDIOUS '86's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: washington
Posts: 4,178
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

You can buy a ball joint press and replace the ball joints at the same time if you use a pickle fork and jack method
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac
3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers
build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217
Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511
INSIDIOUS '86 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 02:53 PM   #16
grs
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Roanoke, Tx.
Posts: 1,561
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Don't do anything until you can afford to do it right.
grs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 08:43 PM   #17
powerT
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 68
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

i had to clean the u-bolts that hold the lower control arm on with a wire brush and soak them in penetrating oil. i would recomend cutting over heating. i did it one a buddies truck the other night and it took no more then 2 hours to cut both springs adn get it al back together again

is there a trick to getting the u-bolts back in ,i have them all back in but one (i swear it looks bent)
powerT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 09:44 PM   #18
powerT
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 68
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Does it matter if you cut the top or bottom of the coil spring
The top is a lot smaller around
Posted via Mobile Device
powerT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 10:37 PM   #19
poloaa009
Account Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Excelsior Spring, MO
Posts: 2
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Great thread,Thank you to all those who posted...., keep them coming : )

poloaa009 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 11:17 PM   #20
J Knight
Registered User
 
J Knight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Quote:
Originally Posted by powerT View Post
Does it matter if you cut the top or bottom of the coil spring
The top is a lot smaller around
Posted via Mobile Device
Cut the bottom.
__________________
John
82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350
J Knight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2012, 12:08 AM   #21
cory d
Registered User
 
cory d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Arlington WA
Posts: 1,728
Re: Front coil springs heating or cutting

Quote:
Originally Posted by powerT View Post

is there a trick to getting the u-bolts back in ,i have them all back in but one (i swear it looks bent)
a couple of them on both trucks i have done had to be squished in a vise because they were to wide ot go back in the holes. just put nuts on it to protect the threads
cory d is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com