H-D front coils - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

corn · 11-20-2004, 07:48 AM

with the heavy duty springs, are the front coils heavier than the standard springs & will they make a stock truck sit higher than standard springs? The reason I ask is on my truck I installed 3" spindles & cut a coil from my HD front springs. With my big block in the truck, there is still 3-4" between the tire & fender lip. Ive seen other trucks with 5" drops that look a lot lower. Maybe it will settle some after I drive it? I guess Ill have to find a cheap set of 3" front springs somewhere...corn

MylilBowTie · 11-20-2004, 09:05 AM

The HD coils are for Big block trucks. The coils are stronger (higher spring rating) to hold up the weight of a BBC vs the lighter SBC. In a truck with non heavy duty coil springs, installing HD coil springs it should level the front with the rear. Provided that the rear springs aren't worn out and sagging.

I could only imagine how stiff the ride is with HD coils that have been cut. Are the springs new? Maybe try a stander duty spring to get it lower? Im sure someone else will have a better answer about lowering it. Im not really up on all that.

corn · 11-20-2004, 09:46 AM

Thanks, but my truck had HD suspension & a 305? I have a set of standard coils that I may cut a coil from & install them instead. I should just spend the $$ and get a new set of 3" springs & have 6" front drop...corn

MylilBowTie · 11-20-2004, 10:08 AM

I have seen some trucks with coil over shocks, maybe that's what is called for on 1/2 tons with HD suspension in the front? Im not saying to dont have HD coils but I would think that it wouldn't. Im sure you know about anything can walk out of a factory on these. They do interchange though. I couldn't tell a visual difference in the springs myself other than when installed.

corn · 11-20-2004, 10:22 AM

There is a big difference as I see it. Heres the deal... I have an 84 gmc that was a long fleet truck, sticker says HD suspension. I swapped out the frame for a short bed chassis. It had lighter duty brakes & springs on both ends. There is a very noticable difference in the coils & I figured the heavier ones would be better to cut for the big block. Maybe I was wrong, I feeling lost with it all...corn

MylilBowTie · 11-20-2004, 10:31 AM

Do they look like this? These are HD moog coil springs. I would say there is about 1.0-2.5 difference between the stock verse hd springs roughly.

8t5Silverado · 11-20-2004, 11:18 AM

Corn,

My truck's build sheet said HD suspension, which only meant front and rear brakes and rear springs. It came with standard front springs. But then again, my truck is a small block.

I just installed heavy duty front springs and it did level out my truck (which is what I wanted). The ride isn't all that rough (I put new shocks on too, so compared to before, it is better...) The HD springs looked to be a thicker gauge as well as a little longer. Remember, due to the geometry, a 1/2 inch longer spring can raise our trucks 1 1/2 inches...

I can't imagine having HD springs that are cut...I think that would pound the crap out of you on bumps.

I would try some standard small block springs if I were you.

corn · 11-20-2004, 11:43 AM

Thats what Im going to do then. I dont need it to ride rough. Thanks guys...corn

corn · 11-20-2004, 11:54 AM

Just a note...
In the bottom pic theres my truck when it had the stock suspension & stock 305. The top pic is with 3" spindles & cut(one coil) HD springs & no motor. The big block only lowered it another inch...corn

11-20-2004, 07:48 AM	#1
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	H-D front coils with the heavy duty springs, are the front coils heavier than the standard springs & will they make a stock truck sit higher than standard springs? The reason I ask is on my truck I installed 3" spindles & cut a coil from my HD front springs. With my big block in the truck, there is still 3-4" between the tire & fender lip. Ive seen other trucks with 5" drops that look a lot lower. Maybe it will settle some after I drive it? I guess Ill have to find a cheap set of 3" front springs somewhere...corn

11-20-2004, 09:05 AM	#2
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	The HD coils are for Big block trucks. The coils are stronger (higher spring rating) to hold up the weight of a BBC vs the lighter SBC. In a truck with non heavy duty coil springs, installing HD coil springs it should level the front with the rear. Provided that the rear springs aren't worn out and sagging. I could only imagine how stiff the ride is with HD coils that have been cut. Are the springs new? Maybe try a stander duty spring to get it lower? Im sure someone else will have a better answer about lowering it. Im not really up on all that. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

11-20-2004, 10:08 AM	#4
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	I have seen some trucks with coil over shocks, maybe that's what is called for on 1/2 tons with HD suspension in the front? Im not saying to dont have HD coils but I would think that it wouldn't. Im sure you know about anything can walk out of a factory on these. They do interchange though. I couldn't tell a visual difference in the springs myself other than when installed. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

11-20-2004, 10:31 AM	#6
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Do they look like this? These are HD moog coil springs. I would say there is about 1.0-2.5 difference between the stock verse hd springs roughly. Attached Images Last edited by MylilBowTie; 11-20-2004 at 10:37 AM.

11-20-2004, 11:18 AM	#7
8t5Silverado Mudslides 'r my specialty Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: STL Posts: 1,106	Corn, My truck's build sheet said HD suspension, which only meant front and rear brakes and rear springs. It came with standard front springs. But then again, my truck is a small block. I just installed heavy duty front springs and it did level out my truck (which is what I wanted). The ride isn't all that rough (I put new shocks on too, so compared to before, it is better...) The HD springs looked to be a thicker gauge as well as a little longer. Remember, due to the geometry, a 1/2 inch longer spring can raise our trucks 1 1/2 inches... I can't imagine having HD springs that are cut...I think that would pound the crap out of you on bumps. I would try some standard small block springs if I were you. __________________ Always on the lookout for old cars and parts...(20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.) http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/500339

11-20-2004, 09:46 AM	#3
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Thanks, but my truck had HD suspension & a 305? I have a set of standard coils that I may cut a coil from & install them instead. I should just spend the $$ and get a new set of 3" springs & have 6" front drop...corn

11-20-2004, 10:22 AM	#5
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	There is a big difference as I see it. Heres the deal... I have an 84 gmc that was a long fleet truck, sticker says HD suspension. I swapped out the frame for a short bed chassis. It had lighter duty brakes & springs on both ends. There is a very noticable difference in the coils & I figured the heavier ones would be better to cut for the big block. Maybe I was wrong, I feeling lost with it all...corn

11-20-2004, 11:43 AM	#8
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Thats what Im going to do then. I dont need it to ride rough. Thanks guys...corn

11-20-2004, 11:54 AM	#9
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Just a note... In the bottom pic theres my truck when it had the stock suspension & stock 305. The top pic is with 3" spindles & cut(one coil) HD springs & no motor. The big block only lowered it another inch...corn Last edited by corn; 09-16-2007 at 06:30 PM.



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