Front suspension questions

[C-cab23]

What is the difference between a 67-70 front suspension and a 71-72 front suspension ? Can they be interchanged ?
Thanks

[Jason Banks]

Different ball joints and tie rod ends. The hard parts are mostly the same. Crossmember, control arms. I think the center links are different.

[53burb]

one of big differences is 71 and 72 have disc brakes. Yes, they can be interchanged. complete cradles can be swapped.

[HO455]

67-70's are more manly! 6 lug nuts and drum brakes.

The spindles are different too.

This thread should help answer your questions.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

[kwmech]

Instead of jumping around in the different forums, post up what you want to accomplish with this truck. Give us a bigger picture of the truck also. We all like to see pics

[C-cab23]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Instead of jumping around in the different forums, post up what you want to accomplish with this truck. Give us a bigger picture of the truck also. We all like to see pics

What I want to do is lighten up the suspension to the half ton to give it a much better ride. Also I want to put disc brakes in the front. I plan on keeping the 9 foot bed cuz you don't see them very often. It has the 305 V6 with a 4 speed and I am planning on putting a 350 with a 5 speed. So basically I want to make it a much better driver. And I am open to lowering it a little too.

[kwmech]

So going from 8 lug to 5 lug? or just want the softer ride? The V6 is comparable to the weight of a big block. Small block takes a lighter front spring. The springs are the same length, but the coil diameter is different for added weight. Right now what your are feeling when driving around is the stiff rear springs. give us a pic of the rear spring pack and where the leafs attach to the frame via the hanger. AND what does the weight tag say on the door pillar. 7500 or 10k

[C-cab23]

Originally Posted by kwmech

So going from 8 lug to 5 lug? or just want the softer ride? The V6 is comparable to the weight of a big block. Small block takes a lighter front spring. The springs are the same length, but the coil diameter is different for added weight. Right now what your are feeling when driving around is the stiff rear springs. give us a pic of the rear spring pack and where the leafs attach to the frame via the hanger. AND what does the weight tag say on the door pillar. 7500 or 10k

I will get pictures next week. The truck is at my shop and I am on vacation till Monday

[Palf70Step]

Easiest way is to get the whole from cross member (include steering box) from a 71 thru 78 1/2 ton. Unbolt ur 1-ton unit and put the new one in place. That way your front end parts fall under 1 year category for getting parts. Update any worn parts and you're good to goo there. Get a rear from same year trucks and bolt it to your current leafs. Maybe remove a leaf or to to soften the ride.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Easiest way is to get the whole from cross member (include steering box) from a 71 thru 78 1/2 ton...........


.................Maybe remove a leaf or 5 to soften the ride.

There fixed for ya

we haven't seen a pic of the rear springs yet, but if it's anything like my 1 ton, it has a lot of extras

[HO455]

A good spring shop will be able to build a set of custom springs to give you a softer ride.

Those High Clearance wheels aren't helping the ride either. They're either 17.5 or 19.5 (Hard to tell from the picture so, I could be a wrong. ) and those size tires generally are 10 plus ply tires which ride like Flintstone wheels.

If those truly are High Clearance wheels don't scrap them there are folks looking for them.

[72SB]

I would add a front sway bar to whatever conversion you do if you don't aready have one

[C-cab23]

Originally Posted by HO455

A good spring shop will be able to build a set of custom springs to give you a softer ride.

Those High Clearance wheels aren't helping the ride either. They're either 17.5 or 19.5 (Hard to tell from the picture so, I could be a wrong. ) and those size tires generally are 10 plus ply tires which ride like Flintstone wheels.

If those truly are High Clearance wheels don't scrap them there are folks looking for them.

I don't plan on using those tires and wheels...I want to switch to either 5 or 6 lug wheels