Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bearcamp · 11-22-2012, 11:52 AM

Was planning on installing CPP 2 1/2 inch drop spindles with disc brakes from a 73-87 donor. Was looking at the front and previour owner cut 1 1/2 coild from front springs. So now I see it is just touching the bump stops. So do I run it with just the coils cut and parts from donor for disc brakes or do I still go with the CPP drop spindles and install stock front springs? It seems to me that drop spindles and cut springs might be too much. Help please cause I'm getting ready to order parts and only want to do it once.

likaroc13 · 11-22-2012, 02:18 PM

well how low do you wanna go? I would thoroughly check the condition of the cut coils...if they're okay, you could keep them, install the donor parts, & trim the bump stops...but if it were me, while you're in there I'd just do it "right" and go with the drop spindles & new springs (either lowered or stock)...again, just depends how low you wanna be

**Captainfab** · 11-23-2012, 01:31 AM

Personally I would start with dropped spindles and stock springs and see how you like the height. Or if you thing you might want to start a little lower, start with a 1" dropped spring.

ol_skool_chevy · 11-23-2012, 02:00 AM

Personally I would start with 3/4 ton springs...give yourself a firm ride, add drop spindles and disk and cut your coils to adjust how high you want to be..
do your ball joints while your in there...any lowering adds a small amount of stress in a ball joint depending on how low.
thats my .02 worth...
trust the Captain

MOTOIMPAIRED · 11-23-2012, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likaroc13

well how low do you wanna go? I would thoroughly check the condition of the cut coils...if they're okay, you could keep them, install the donor parts, & trim the bump stops...but if it were me, while you're in there I'd just do it "right" and go with the drop spindles & new springs (either lowered or stock)...again, just depends how low you wanna be

This sounds good.. I was in Charleston a week ago and I love that place. I would almost consider moving there...

forestb · 11-23-2012, 05:54 PM

One coil is about 2 inches of drop. If you add 2.5 inch drop spindles you will have around 5.5 inches of drop and that is low. I would buy the drop spindles and see how you like it and get new coils if you want something not quite so low.

Slow Build · 11-23-2012, 06:10 PM

If you want to run disk brakes you'll need to change the spindles either way. I'd get the drop spindles and maybe a 1" drop spring like captainfab mentioned. Using drop spindles will also give you more clearance on the bump stops though you may need install smaller stops anyway.

gixxer711 · 11-24-2012, 02:41 PM

seems to me that if you planned on running the drop spindles before you knew your coils were cut, that you wanted to go 2.5" lower than your truck currently sat with the cut springs. if the truck handled okay to begin with, trim the bump stops or remove them and install the drop spindles and brakes, then enjoy. whether you have cut springs or drop springs, you are going to be close to, if not on the bump stop, like my truck is with drop springs.
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joeydirt · 11-24-2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol_skool_chevy

Personally I would start with 3/4 ton springs...give yourself a firm ride, add drop spindles and disk and cut your coils to adjust how high you want to be..
do your ball joints while your in there...any lowering adds a small amount of stress in a ball joint depending on how low.
thats my .02 worth...
trust the Captain

Who makes 3/4 ton lowering springs?

ol_skool_chevy · 11-24-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeydirt

Who makes 3/4 ton lowering springs?

just buy a set or stock 3/4 ton springs and cut them to how low you want to go..
you will have a better ride with 3/4 springs and a firm low ride...

**pdxhall** · 11-24-2012, 10:08 PM

Just keep in mind that the lower you go with a static drop the closer the front crossmember is to the ground all the time. Watch out for those speed bumps and pot holes. If you don't want to sacrifice ride quality go with the drop spindles and a max of 2" lower springs. You'll always lose some spring action when they are heated/cut.

kieth · 11-25-2012, 09:24 AM

I think you should go to 2600 air bags up front, that will solve the problem, you can alter the height to where you like it. Kieth

joeydirt · 11-25-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol_skool_chevy

just buy a set or stock 3/4 ton springs and cut them to how low you want to go..
you will have a better ride with 3/4 springs and a firm low ride...

would cut 3/4 ton springs have a spring rate similar to stock c10?

Slow Build · 11-26-2012, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeydirt

would cut 3/4 ton springs have a spring rate similar to stock c10?

I think that would give a pretty harsh ride.

ol_skool_chevy · 11-26-2012, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow Build

I think that would give a pretty harsh ride.

Not true..............i have run cut 3/4 spring for over 30 years in all my trucks.
its not Harsh at all but more a firm cornering ride..........

ol_skool_chevy · 11-26-2012, 12:36 AM

just go to the junk yard pull a set of 3/4 spring and cut them...cheap nice ride..not Everything needs to be bought from a store or mail order .....

11-22-2012, 11:52 AM	#1
Bearcamp Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Catawissa ,PA Posts: 103	Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. Was planning on installing CPP 2 1/2 inch drop spindles with disc brakes from a 73-87 donor. Was looking at the front and previour owner cut 1 1/2 coild from front springs. So now I see it is just touching the bump stops. So do I run it with just the coils cut and parts from donor for disc brakes or do I still go with the CPP drop spindles and install stock front springs? It seems to me that drop spindles and cut springs might be too much. Help please cause I'm getting ready to order parts and only want to do it once.

11-22-2012, 02:18 PM	#2
likaroc13 Rollin' Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 5,371	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. well how low do you wanna go? I would thoroughly check the condition of the cut coils...if they're okay, you could keep them, install the donor parts, & trim the bump stops...but if it were me, while you're in there I'd just do it "right" and go with the drop spindles & new springs (either lowered or stock)...again, just depends how low you wanna be __________________ _____________________________________________ Phillip My Build threads: 1966 Chevy C-10 "Black Betty" shortbed, fleetside, BBW, 327 V8/ Powerglide (under construction) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ighlight=betty 1997 Chevy Tahoe, 2dr/2wd, mild custom (Daily driver) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=601142 Pics: '66 C-10 https://flic.kr/s/aHsjHWD4h9 '97 Tahoe https://flic.kr/s/aHsjGZ7wKP '93 C-1500 https://flic.kr/s/aHskxdpdnQ '88 S-10 Blazer https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYGx4Md Previous Rides: 1993 Chevy S-10 ext. cab, 4.3L, 4/5 drop (Sold) 1993 Chevy C-1500 short/step Retro-Rod (Sold) 1988 S-10 Blazer 2dr/2wd mild custom (Sold)

11-23-2012, 01:31 AM	#3
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,252	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. Personally I would start with dropped spindles and stock springs and see how you like the height. Or if you thing you might want to start a little lower, start with a 1" dropped spring. __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

11-23-2012, 02:00 AM	#4
ol_skool_chevy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 Posts: 1,300	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. Personally I would start with 3/4 ton springs...give yourself a firm ride, add drop spindles and disk and cut your coils to adjust how high you want to be.. do your ball joints while your in there...any lowering adds a small amount of stress in a ball joint depending on how low. thats my .02 worth... trust the Captain __________________ Measure with a yard stick Mark with Chalk Cut with a torch Built it yourself, don't count on others to to do it for you or with you. It will never get done

11-23-2012, 05:54 PM	#6
forestb Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 3,619	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. One coil is about 2 inches of drop. If you add 2.5 inch drop spindles you will have around 5.5 inches of drop and that is low. I would buy the drop spindles and see how you like it and get new coils if you want something not quite so low.

11-23-2012, 06:10 PM	#7
Slow Build Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California Delta Posts: 2,163	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. If you want to run disk brakes you'll need to change the spindles either way. I'd get the drop spindles and maybe a 1" drop spring like captainfab mentioned. Using drop spindles will also give you more clearance on the bump stops though you may need install smaller stops anyway. __________________ Name: Rich Current Ride: 1964 C-10 Short Fleetside Daily Driver: 2005 GMC crew cab short fleetside /2001 Chevy Tahoe Past GM Trucks: 1959 GMC short stepside 1968 GMC short stepside-4x4 1973 Chevy short stepside 1989 Chevy short fleetside-reg cab 1993 Chevy short fleetside-Xcab 2002 Chevy short fleetside-Xcab Save the dinosaurs, use synthetic oil.

11-24-2012, 02:41 PM	#8
gixxer711 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 163	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. seems to me that if you planned on running the drop spindles before you knew your coils were cut, that you wanted to go 2.5" lower than your truck currently sat with the cut springs. if the truck handled okay to begin with, trim the bump stops or remove them and install the drop spindles and brakes, then enjoy. whether you have cut springs or drop springs, you are going to be close to, if not on the bump stop, like my truck is with drop springs. Posted via Mobile Device

11-24-2012, 10:08 PM	#11
pdxhall Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 2,085	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. Just keep in mind that the lower you go with a static drop the closer the front crossmember is to the ground all the time. Watch out for those speed bumps and pot holes. If you don't want to sacrifice ride quality go with the drop spindles and a max of 2" lower springs. You'll always lose some spring action when they are heated/cut.

11-25-2012, 09:24 AM	#12
kieth Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,925	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. I think you should go to 2600 air bags up front, that will solve the problem, you can alter the height to where you like it. Kieth

11-26-2012, 12:36 AM	#16
ol_skool_chevy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 Posts: 1,300	Re: Little confused on what to do with front suspension now. just go to the junk yard pull a set of 3/4 spring and cut them...cheap nice ride..not Everything needs to be bought from a store or mail order ..... __________________ Measure with a yard stick Mark with Chalk Cut with a torch Built it yourself, don't count on others to to do it for you or with you. It will never get done



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