The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1988 - 1998 GMT400 Chevy & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-13-2011, 11:18 AM   #1
k5hart
Registered User
 
k5hart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Posts: 1,370
Installing coil springs

I'm trying to get my 2" drop coil spring back in and am not having any luck. My problem is keeping the center of the sping in the top, cut metal tabs and getting the bottom into the pocket. It's almost like the spring needs to compress on one side a little. I've tried inner and outer compressors but they both get in the way of things like the spring pockets or control arms. Right now I have the lower arm bolted in and hanging with no spindle.

What's the trick!! I'm reading how easy it is just on other boards but I'm not seeing it? So sick of this truck right now.
__________________
2006 Silverado CCSB, 1939 Ford Sedan, 1962 BelAir Wagon, 1976 Vega Panel
Charleston, South Carolina
k5hart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 01:02 PM   #2
the_duke
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posts: 90
Re: Installing coil springs

If you need it to compress, you put a jack under the lca, and position the spring it properly and then jack the lca up to compress the spring so you can re-attach the spindle. It's pretty easy i think.
the_duke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 01:20 PM   #3
k5hart
Registered User
 
k5hart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Posts: 1,370
Re: Installing coil springs

Not that easy. That's what I'm trying to do but to position the spring correctly in the lca and keeping it in the weird centering crap in the upper pocket isn't happening. It either pops off the lca when centered up top or hung up in the upper pocket teeth when seated in the lca. I've never had this much trouble with springs!
__________________
2006 Silverado CCSB, 1939 Ford Sedan, 1962 BelAir Wagon, 1976 Vega Panel
Charleston, South Carolina
k5hart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 01:37 PM   #4
the_duke
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posts: 90
Re: Installing coil springs

Put the spring in and then bolt the shock up so it doesn't pop out of the lca?
the_duke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 02:23 PM   #5
k5hart
Registered User
 
k5hart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Posts: 1,370
Re: Installing coil springs

It's angle that's the problem. The shock would get in the way.
__________________
2006 Silverado CCSB, 1939 Ford Sedan, 1962 BelAir Wagon, 1976 Vega Panel
Charleston, South Carolina
k5hart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 04:09 PM   #6
k5hart
Registered User
 
k5hart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Posts: 1,370
Re: Installing coil springs

Figured it out. Had to put the spindle on and remove the lca arm bolts, put it all together and jack the back of the lca up. It's still a pain in the you no what doing it yourself. I had to get my wife to run the jack while I man handle it all in place.
__________________
2006 Silverado CCSB, 1939 Ford Sedan, 1962 BelAir Wagon, 1976 Vega Panel
Charleston, South Carolina
k5hart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 05:50 PM   #7
1badgmc
Registered User
 
1badgmc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 3,153
Re: Installing coil springs

That's an odd issue you had there. I've never run into anything like that, especially with drop springs. I've usually done it with no extra help. I get the top of the spring in the upper mount, and start jacking up the control arm. Turn the spring until it lines up on the bottom and finish it up.

What brand of springs did you use? 2"?
1badgmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 10:19 PM   #8
k5hart
Registered User
 
k5hart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Posts: 1,370
Re: Installing coil springs

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1badgmc View Post
That's an odd issue you had there. I've never run into anything like that, especially with drop springs. I've usually done it with no extra help. I get the top of the spring in the upper mount, and start jacking up the control arm. Turn the spring until it lines up on the bottom and finish it up.

What brand of springs did you use? 2"?
That's what I read everywhere but it sure wasn't working for me. The springs where in the truck when I bought it. The previous owner thought they were belltech but couldn't remember since they were put in in 1995. They seem tall for being dropped springs to me.

I'll take a pic of the situation if I pull apart the other side. I'm looking at an '03 Silverado SS tomorrow so I may get rid the OBS and may let someone else worry about the balljoints.
__________________
2006 Silverado CCSB, 1939 Ford Sedan, 1962 BelAir Wagon, 1976 Vega Panel
Charleston, South Carolina
k5hart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2011, 06:35 AM   #9
1badgmc
Registered User
 
1badgmc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 3,153
Re: Installing coil springs

So odd. Maybe the other side will be less trouble.
1badgmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2011, 03:23 PM   #10
the_duke
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posts: 90
Re: Installing coil springs

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1badgmc View Post
So odd.
:word:

Good thing he got it done though!
the_duke is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:54 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2025 67-72chevytrucks.com