Front coil spring removal from a 68 3/4 ton gmc

[Jacfourteen]

I pulled some leaves from the rear of my truck and got about a 3.5" drop, so now I need to get the front down. I read the FAQ about spring removal but I still can't get the ball joints to let go. I backed the nuts off about 4-5 turns on the lower ball joints then I gave the spindles good whacks and nothing happens. First I used a 24 ounce framing hammer, then I used a 3 lb sledge and still nothing. Is there something I'm missing here? Are the 3/4 ton different than the 1/2 ton? I would rather not use a pickle fork as the ball joints are nice and tight and I don't want to change them. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

PS: I'm on a tight schedule since it is entered in a carshow on saturday.

[leddzepp]

Keep hitting them, eventually they will "pop"

[Piece of Work]

forget the ball joint method. remove the u-bolts from the a-arm. your springs will come out easily.

[Leviticus]

I pulled the top ball joint instead of the lower on mine when I did my coils. Just backed the nut off and one good bump with a big rubber mallet and whamo, it popped loose.

The pressure of the spring and the weight of the spindle may have helped with it.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by Piece of Work

forget the ball joint method. remove the u-bolts from the a-arm. your springs will come out easily.

I considered this, but when I removed the nuts from the 1st U-bolt it wouldn't come out of the frame, but I guess that when I pulled the other nuts and lowered the jack they would probably come out right? Guess I will beat on them some more and if that doesn't work I'll pull some U-bolts. Thanks for the quick responses.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by Leviticus

I pulled the top ball joint instead of the lower on mine when I did my coils. Just backed the nut off and one good bump with a big rubber mallet and whamo, it popped loose.

The pressure of the spring and the weight of the spindle may have helped with it.

Good Idea, I'll give it a try.

[Tkmadone]

If you have it jacked up under the lower arm then whacking the ball joint won't work. The spring needs to be pushing the lower A arm down and it has to have room to move when you whack it. Jack it up and use jack stands under the crossmember or on the frame behind the front wheel well.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by Tkmadone

If you have it jacked up under the lower arm then whacking the ball joint won't work. The spring needs to be pushing the lower A arm down and it has to have room to move when you whack it. Jack it up and use jack stands under the crossmember or on the frame behind the front wheel well.

Yeah I had the stands on the crossmember, but they wouldn't budge.

Thanks for all the ideas, I ended up loosening up the uppers and they popped right off. They were a little more of a pain because then I had to fight with the brake lines but I got them out and chopped 1.5 coils off. That got me down about 2.5" in the front and the leaves I pulled got me about 3.5" in the rear. I may go a little lower, but I think for now I will drive it and see how I like it. Now I just need to bolt it all back together. Once again thanks for the help, once again the board saved my butt .

[harry]

Originally Posted by Jacfourteen

Yeah I had the stands on the crossmember, but they wouldn't budge.

Thanks for all the ideas, I ended up loosening up the uppers and they popped right off. They were a little more of a pain because then I had to fight with the brake lines but I got them out and chopped 1.5 coils off. That got me down about 2.5" in the front and the leaves I pulled got me about 3.5" in the rear. I may go a little lower, but I think for now I will drive it and see how I like it. Now I just need to bolt it all back together. Once again thanks for the help, once again the board saved my butt .

can you post some before and after pics of your lowering,sounds like an inexpensive way of doin it,might do my 3/4 that way as well

[Sublvr72]

use a pickle fork and they will come off.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by harry

can you post some before and after pics of your lowering,sounds like an inexpensive way of doin it,might do my 3/4 that way as well

I'll get some pics up later today. Do you have coils or leaves in the rear?

[harry]

Originally Posted by Jacfourteen

I'll get some pics up later today. Do you have coils or leaves in the rear?

leaf springs in the rear of my c20

[Jacfourteen]

I got it all buttoned up this afternoon. I got a few crappy phone pics as it was getting dark outside. The 1st one is what it looks like now, the 2nd one is jacked up to the original height (I didn't take a before but I did measure it)





Sorry about the bad quality of the 2nd pic, it looked good on my phone then when I downloaded it it was all blurry. I'll get some better pics soon.