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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Issue with front coil spring install
Anybody have an idea how to get these 1 inch drop springs in? Spring compressors don't work because they're too long and hit either the top of the cross member or the bottom control arm. I even tried the jack method but I can't get the top to come close to seating then it just binds. Something just isn't adding up, doesn't seem like it should be this hard. Lastly, is there supposed to be anything between the spring and the top mount on the cross member?
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: St. Croix River Valley, WI
Posts: 795
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Have you tried tucking the top of the spring up into the crossmember first? Seems that's how I remember reinstalling my (old sagged) standard height springs.
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Meet "Old Roy": http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=707801 |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Gods country East,Tn
Posts: 8,545
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
try seating the top of the spring first , . Use a safety chain something doesn't look right to me .
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![]() 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
I tried that. I can't even get close to dropping the knuckle on /compressing the spring far enough before the entire truck starts to move up off my jack stands.
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Gods country East,Tn
Posts: 8,545
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Find a couple of fat friends .
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__________________
![]() 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Haha I'm gonna have to figure something out. Maybe I can stack some block on top. I assumed that the lq4 engine would be enough weight!
Do you think everything else looks ok? Just need to add some weight and try to compress more? |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: brownsville, tn
Posts: 84
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
check to make sure the spring isn't hitting one side of the crossmember, I had that problem. Bolt you spindle up to the top balljoint then jack the lower arm into place and line up the lower balljoint. The spings can be kinda tricky getting them to line up with the top hate. hope this helps
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Quote:
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: brownsville, tn
Posts: 84
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: St. Croix River Valley, WI
Posts: 795
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
You could aways get the spring in there, then put the spindle on the lower ball joint and use a ratchet strap to pull things together.
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Meet "Old Roy": http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=707801 |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
Posts: 8,543
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
For a drop spring it sure does look awfully long to me. Coils should not bind when installing
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
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#13 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,427
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Not sure I understand the problem. I have a 3/4T truck and the springs just fell out when I lowered the LCA. I had no problem with inserting the new springs, and raised the LCA with a floor jack. Not like with many cars I have had, where I needed a monster screwdriver to put the spring in the socket in the LCA and then maybe have it pop out when jacking it up. Of course, the new springs weren't being used to change the ride height, which I wasn't expecting to change. I replaced them only because I was putting in a disc brake conversion and was in there, anyway.
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~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
My 1" drop springs measure 13" ...from what I've found that seems too long. Anyone else?
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Gods country East,Tn
Posts: 8,545
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Looking at the pictures I don't see any jackstands ? Tell me your not using those 2x4's to hold up your truck while your under it ???
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__________________
![]() 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
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#17 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
Posts: 8,543
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: brownsville, tn
Posts: 84
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 7,242
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Ha ha, just did this and off the jack stands is exactly what happened, at the rear of the side we were working on. I had 400 lbs. of sons perched on my big block too. I blocked off the other side just in case and went through with it, and that was with stock coils and drop spindles.
13" drop coils? Hmmm. The factory coils I pulled off my C-10 are 13.7/8", and if I remember right the new ones were real close. So yeah, probably....... For what it's worth, the more jack stands etc. the better, you just have to keep track of all of them. I had two under the rear frame rails, one under each leaf spring, two under the rails near the transmission, the engine cross-member on blocks, and the front of the frame rails supported by a floor jack and 4x4 ![]() You need more weight, have a beer party or rent some grunts............With another glance, seems your frame is awfully high to begin with. A better floor jack might help too.
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Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 Last edited by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402; 03-02-2019 at 03:06 AM. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Columbus
Posts: 95
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Got it done today with the help of a friend. Only had to put 145lbs on the frame. The key was jacking the rear end up to transfer the weight to the front then jacking the opposite side up. I also bought 4 more jack stands and a nice low profile Daytona jack from HF. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help.
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#21 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 7,242
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Re: Issue with front coil spring install
Quote:
I have that floor jack as well, pretty dang nice. In hindsight, I should have made use of the transmission jack when we installed the coils. Good info.
__________________
Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 |
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