Load question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

J48chevy · 03-25-2014, 03:37 PM

I just put the springs in my mustang 2 front and the upper control arm is hitting the spring. Now I know there is no load on this yet, I did stand on front and know it will move and not hit, but my question is, can I leave it like this for a while without damaging anything or should I pull the springs back out?

Also, I could not get the shock to line up and install as well due to this, is that common without any load on the front?

J48chevy · 03-25-2014, 03:39 PM

Forgot to add the pic...

J48chevy · 03-25-2014, 04:13 PM

One more of the other side.

mr48chev · 03-25-2014, 05:25 PM

If the spring is in the pocket right you don't have a problem. When you put weight on the suspension and it levels out the lower A arms should be pretty close to parallel and level with the floor or ground and the upper A arms will swing out and up quite a bit.

I have a stock MII suspension out here that looks pretty much the same as far as the A arms swinging down.

J48chevy · 03-25-2014, 05:30 PM

Thanks. Just wanted to make sure I was heading in the right direction.

_Ogre · 03-26-2014, 05:29 PM

wait until all of your truck is together before worrying about your ride height.
like mr48 said the lower A arm should be level when the truck is complete.
my truk sat high with the cab on, motor/trans in, fenders on, doors on, ect...
it didn't level out until all the glass and interior was in and even then it sat a little high for the first yr.

i installed my shocks by jacking the spindle with a board against the ceiling of my barn

now it sits low and level

J48chevy · 03-26-2014, 05:39 PM

Thanks Ogre. I was just worried because the upper control arm dropped and was hitting the spring. Just did not know if having the ball joints like that would hurt them over time. Plus, i could not get the shocks installed either at the angle they are sitting with the springs in. Maybe if i go back and compress the springs, install the shocks, the release the springs that will help a little. I have not greased them yet either.

**G&R's57GMC** · 03-27-2014, 02:10 AM

FYI the shocks act as the limiter for the drop of the control arm.

Install them so the ball joints aren't in a bind while the suspension in droop.

03-25-2014, 03:37 PM	#1
J48chevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 304	Load question I just put the springs in my mustang 2 front and the upper control arm is hitting the spring. Now I know there is no load on this yet, I did stand on front and know it will move and not hit, but my question is, can I leave it like this for a while without damaging anything or should I pull the springs back out? Also, I could not get the shock to line up and install as well due to this, is that common without any load on the front? __________________ My Build: 1948 Chevy Thriftmaster. Mustang 2 front end, LS1, 700R trans, Explorer Rear end. http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=606670

03-25-2014, 03:39 PM	#2
J48chevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 304	Re: Load question Forgot to add the pic... Attached Images __________________ My Build: 1948 Chevy Thriftmaster. Mustang 2 front end, LS1, 700R trans, Explorer Rear end. http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=606670

03-25-2014, 04:13 PM	#3
J48chevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 304	Re: Load question One more of the other side. Attached Images __________________ My Build: 1948 Chevy Thriftmaster. Mustang 2 front end, LS1, 700R trans, Explorer Rear end. http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=606670

03-25-2014, 05:25 PM	#4
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,428	Re: Load question If the spring is in the pocket right you don't have a problem. When you put weight on the suspension and it levels out the lower A arms should be pretty close to parallel and level with the floor or ground and the upper A arms will swing out and up quite a bit. I have a stock MII suspension out here that looks pretty much the same as far as the A arms swinging down. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

03-25-2014, 05:30 PM	#5
J48chevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 304	Re: Load question Thanks. Just wanted to make sure I was heading in the right direction. __________________ My Build: 1948 Chevy Thriftmaster. Mustang 2 front end, LS1, 700R trans, Explorer Rear end. http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=606670

03-26-2014, 05:29 PM	#6
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,677	Re: Load question wait until all of your truck is together before worrying about your ride height. like mr48 said the lower A arm should be level when the truck is complete. my truk sat high with the cab on, motor/trans in, fenders on, doors on, ect... it didn't level out until all the glass and interior was in and even then it sat a little high for the first yr. i installed my shocks by jacking the spindle with a board against the ceiling of my barn now it sits low and level __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

03-26-2014, 05:39 PM	#7
J48chevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 304	Re: Load question Thanks Ogre. I was just worried because the upper control arm dropped and was hitting the spring. Just did not know if having the ball joints like that would hurt them over time. Plus, i could not get the shocks installed either at the angle they are sitting with the springs in. Maybe if i go back and compress the springs, install the shocks, the release the springs that will help a little. I have not greased them yet either. __________________ My Build: 1948 Chevy Thriftmaster. Mustang 2 front end, LS1, 700R trans, Explorer Rear end. http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=606670

03-27-2014, 02:10 AM	#8
G&R's57GMC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Shasta Lake, CA. Posts: 1,619	Re: Load question FYI the shocks act as the limiter for the drop of the control arm. Install them so the ball joints aren't in a bind while the suspension in droop. __________________ Glen & Jane's Rides ‘57 GMC NAPCO Long Bed V8 4 speed Bought 2008 7 other cars & trucks , 5 trailers '56 Chevy Long Bed I6, 4 speed Bought 1990 Sold 8.22.2020 ’56 GMC Suburban Pickup V8, 4 speed Hydramatic Bought 1996 Sold 10.11.2020 My Other Tinkerings http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...75#post8967275



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