need front spring advice

[1fast71]

ive been tryin to find the cheapest but not too dangerous way to lower my truck in the front and i was talkin to a guy that had the perfect stance on his truck and he said that for the front her got some springs outta a 3/4 ton truck and cut them he said it worked fine. ive never done any suspention like work so i was wondering if sombody could give me a link on how to remove the front springs and advice would be cool to

[Luvlegs]

Make sure to chain em in so they don't fly out and kill you! I know there are alot of guys that say you don't need to but who wants to be the one who got nailed? Make sure you read up on it if for no other reason than the safety aspect. With a little searching in this section, I'm sure you'll find several threads discussing it and the process - maybe in the FAQ section too - look for the link to the organized threads (it's called something like that) - not hard to do, just be safe. Good luck!

[nightmare]

the cheapest and safest way is to purchase drop springs. board vendors have them. i wouldn't cut springs, as this compromises the integrity of what the spring was designed to do.

[c10crazy]

Originally Posted by nightmare

the cheapest and safest way is to purchase drop springs. board vendors have them. i wouldn't cut springs, as this compromises the integrity of what the spring was designed to do.

Can you please explain your last sentence?

[ChevLoRay]

Springs are designed to do a specific job for the vehicle into which they are to be installed. If you get a 3/4-ton spring, cut it down to the height you want and install it, you may find that the ride sucks, and that the lowering effect didn't happen. Coil springs, like leaf springs, have a designated spring "rate", or weight capacity. Shorter, heavier springs will take just as much work as correct lowered springs, to install. By the time you buy the used springs, have them altered, then install them, you may find you could have bought 1/2-ton springs designed for your installation for the same money, or even less.

Heating springs changes their capacity. If you start with heavier-duty springs, heat them and cut them, you may end up with a spring that has less capacity than your original spring. It's iffy, at best.

[cdowns]

the thing about takin a front suspension apart is once you alter what you have you need an alignment//me if i go thru the effort it makes no sence to me not to replace balljoints and tyrod ends and other moving suspension parts with 40years of hard use// i havent seen a cheap front spring replacement in many years
if you're lookin for cheap let it be till you can do it right

[nightmare]

thanks ChevLoRay, i couldn't have said it better myself.

[Longhorn Man]

people have been cutting coils on these trucks since 67. It isn't hard, it isn't unsafe, and it isn't expensive. Junk yard coils shouldn't cost more than 20 bucks.
Popping a ball joint with a jack under the lower arm and slowly releasing the jack will let the spring fall out. It won't be compressed, and the furthest it'll fly, is the 6 inches to the ground.

[centsless]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

people have been cutting coils on these trucks since 67. It isn't hard, it isn't unsafe, and it isn't expensive. Junk yard coils shouldn't cost more than 20 bucks.
Popping a ball joint with a jack under the lower arm and slowly releasing the jack will let the spring fall out. It won't be compressed, and the furthest it'll fly, is the 6 inches to the ground.

I agree 100%

[jorgensensc]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

people have been cutting coils on these trucks since 67. It isn't hard, it isn't unsafe, and it isn't expensive. Junk yard coils shouldn't cost more than 20 bucks.
Popping a ball joint with a jack under the lower arm and slowly releasing the jack will let the spring fall out. It won't be compressed, and the furthest it'll fly, is the 6 inches to the ground.

Just for the sake of the oddball fact that maybe the jack lets loose, could we agree to at least put a chain on the spring to the Control arm... For safety sakes... please?
Shawn

[Boog]

Justin as you can see there are lots of varying opinions as to the "best and cheapest" methods to drop a vehicle. There are lots of threads pertaining to lowering these trucks. It's one of the more popular mods. If you care anything about maintaining the stock ride then a set of dropped spindles are the way to go. If you just want a couple inches of drop you could cut 3/4 to 1 full round off the coils with a cutting wheel but the ride will be different. You may not like it.
Support the truck with jack stands and only do one side at a time. Be sure to place the floor jack under the control arm before removing the nut on the ball joint. Be safe!

[BP68]

I had a buddy with a 71 that didn't sit quite level all around. We slowly and carefully heated the springs until we got the desired height. DISCLAIMER I do not prefer this method and it is not the best way to do it. But it is prob the cheapest. Ride was decent afterward. There is much truth and good advice in the posts above.
However, on my 68 project I purchased the ECE 4/6 drop kit with parts designed to work together and give you a good ride. I got spindles, springs, shocks, adj. pan hard bar, etc.

[lts70]

Like boog said drop one side down at a time and cut an equal loop off of your existing springs. If you like it great. If you don't like it buy some drop springs from a vendor and swap them out.

I have a buddy with a 72 that has cut springs all the way around with drop spindles. It seems to handle the same as my truck which has drop springs and the same drop spindles. I wish I would have tried cutting my stock spring first and possibly saved some cash.

Good luck figuring out what to do.

[see ten]

Yep, If I was going to cut some springs I would cut the ones that are already in the truck (they're already paid for). If you aren't happy with how it rides or the stance, then look at buying some drop coils.

[Boog]

Somewhere in these many thousands of posts there are some general guidelines as to how much to cut and how much drop to expect. Like in cutting off 1/2 coil, 3/4 coil, 1 full coil and so forth and an approximate amount of drop from each one. It will vary from truck to truck some.

[LONGHAIR]

I would cut the original coils, like see ten said. If you like it, you are out nothing but some time. If not, it gains you some time to look into dropped coils. Like Andy said, people have been doing this for years, 'cause it works. Just don't cut more than one coil the first time. If you want to go lower you can try removing 1/4 more, but go slowly.

If you are starting with a 1/2 ton truck, why would your friend suggest lowering by cutting 3/4 ton springs?

[retodd7711]

Look in the suspension section of this board.
There are 2-3 different ways to remove springs and all are explained in those threads. The ball joint job, the u-bolt job. Just be careful and know what you're doing before you start unbolting stuff.

[JCA1972]

Take the springs out and cut a 4x4 to the height you desire, put them in place of the springs. might be a little bouncy thou.

just kidding, back in the day I had a truck that I wanted to lower, my buddys dad got under the truck and heated the springs with a torch and the truck droped at least 2 inches. this would be the quickest and cheapest way if you ask me.

[Longhorn Man]

that is generally considered unsafe.
While it's been done millions of time with good results, they are more likely to fail if heated than if cut.
I've personally lowered many cars and S-10s like that and never had one shatter, but I did see one that did shatter once.

[corn]

I have cut, heated & replaced springs with no problems, but not saying it cant happen. If you cut, cut a full coil so they still fit in the pocket. If you heat, heat them at one end. Im pretty sure that when people have problems heating them its because they heat them in the middle of the spring. Replacing springs is the best, but remember sometimes when you take out old worn springs & install drop springs you might not be happy with the amount of drop...

[bad6772]

i agree with others......i have heard all the stories about not heating or cutting....but never seen it....my personal method would be to cut them....but as Corn said if you take out a worn spring, that are sagging anyways..? when you install a drop spring.....it may raise it or lower it a minimal amount from which you started with......




tony

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Cut the spring "NEVER" heat it. I do 1 coil at a time, 2 coils max if coils are old as you probably lost 1/2 at least over the years.

esll.

[70short]

I just finished cutting 1 coil from mine. The realignment shop said I was border line on the alignment. I figure the truck already had close to an inch of sag up front. With the sag and 1 coil removed I am 3" lower up front. The job was a piece of cake. For all you guy's that say cutting your springs will compromise the integrity, I watched a overhaulin were Chip didn't like the way the car sat when they were finished (including new suspension) he had the crew remove the forward springs and remove a coil. My ride isn't any different then before I cut the coil out.

[c10addict]

Wow did this thread spark alot of opinions.... I too have cut many... I have friends who have heated them with success but I would not do it on my own vehicles... Most important to me in this whole thread find a friend who has removed coil springs and have him come over and help the first time you attempt this... Its not rocket science but can be dangerous and there are a few little tricks to making it easy... Be Safe...

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by 70short

I just finished cutting 1 coil from mine. The realignment shop said I was border line on the alignment. I figure the truck already had close to an inch of sag up front. With the sag and 1 coil removed I am 3" lower up front. The job was a piece of cake. For all you guy's that say cutting your springs will compromise the integrity, I watched a overhaulin were Chip didn't like the way the car sat when they were finished (including new suspension) he had the crew remove the forward springs and remove a coil. My ride isn't any different then before I cut the coil out.

**********************************************************

When I did mine I cut two coils to get the drop I wanted. I got a computerized alignment, my alignment was perfect. The camber was 1 degree from a stock measurement and this does not hurt handling but actualy improves it. (So the alignment guy say's.) You can hardly notice this when looking at the truck. So considering all things it handles very good and looks great and will cost you zero!

esll.