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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oakland County, MI
Posts: 138
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Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
So I re-installed my control arms after painting them and went to put in some new springs I bought... DJM 2" drop coils. If I line up the top of the spring to the "D" shape in the front cross-member, the bottom does not fit into the pocket for the original spring on the LCA. I think I read on here awhile ago that it only matters if the top of the spring is lined up with the "D" and the bottom of the spring can rest wherever. Can anyone confirm this? I can't seem to find the thread. Thanks!
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#2 |
67-72 parts collector,…
![]() Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mid-MO
Posts: 22,698
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
Line up the top of the spring. It has to fit the "D" in the upper spring pocket.
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Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823 |
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#3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oakland County, MI
Posts: 138
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
Quote:
I will let the bottom of the spring rest wherever it is on the LCA. Thank you lolife
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#4 |
67-72 parts collector,…
![]() Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mid-MO
Posts: 22,698
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
Let the bottom "pigtail" of the spring, go where ever it goes.
I've cut 1/2 coils, 1/4 coils, or whatever it takes off the bottom of the front springs to get the front end setting correctly on each side of these old trucks. You have nothing to worry about.
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Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823 |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oakland County, MI
Posts: 138
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
(I'll post pics when I leave the garage). I have 2.5" drop McGaughy spindles, 2" DJM drop springs, Moog ball joints. There is not brakes etc, just what is listed above and the control arms on the truck.
(On driver's side) #1: after installing the spring, jacking up the LCA and putting on the top and bottom castle nuts by hand, I let the jack down. When tightening the castle nuts on the spindle with a torque wrench, it was so easy and I didn't even come close to reaching the required torque spec. Is this OK? Is this because the set up is shorter than stock? I put the pins in the earliest location I could. #2: I can grab the spring and twist it back and forth slightly as there is only 1 small point of contact between the spring and LCA, near the rear of the LCA pocket. Is this OK? The top of the spring follows the "D" contour.
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![]() Last edited by 84GMC15tepside; 04-11-2015 at 11:40 AM. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oakland County, MI
Posts: 138
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
(Suspension is drooped down all the way... Upper control arm's bump stop is on cross member)
Thinking now too that the wheels aren't on, meaning the suspension would rise after putting them on/letting the truck on the ground. This would compress the spring more and I would probably not be able to move the spring by hand (answering #2). And that would make it harder to turn the castle nuts
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![]() Last edited by 84GMC15tepside; 04-11-2015 at 11:51 AM. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?!
Posts: 2,227
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
I usually tighten the castle nuts with the truck still up in the air.
I put a jack under the ball joint, and jack it up until I see the control arm move, compressing the spring. This means the ball joint taper is firmly seated in the spindle. By doing this, the taper is wedged into the spindle, and the castle nut secures it.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oakland County, MI
Posts: 138
|
Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
Quote:
So I was weireded out that the tips of the castle nut went beyond the hole for the cotter pin... I tightened the castle nuts and got them down to the torque specs, following Moog's directions. This is what the top and bottom castle nuts and cotter pins look like: Top: Bottom: I can just bend the pins down. I hope this will be ok. Here is the spring on the LCA: Things are looking pretty good:
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?!
Posts: 2,227
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
Tip: Turn the ball joints so the cotter pin hole points front-back. They guy who has to drill them out when they rust solid will thank you.
Question: is the spindle fully located in the knuckle? Looks like quite a cavity on the back side. I'm not used to seeing that. Peace: The cotter pin distance from the castelated nut isn't a problem. Fuhgeddaboudit. Video: Quick and dirty spring swap
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oakland County, MI
Posts: 138
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
Quote:
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oakland County, MI
Posts: 138
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Re: Drop Springs, how they sit on the LCA
Finally got the pic, here is the setup with the nuts tightened down.
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