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04-06-2019, 11:31 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Oberlin
Posts: 92
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Quick question about changing front coils
I’ve watched a couple of videos, as I’ve never done this before, and they always pop the upper ball joint loose, after tying up the calipers. I have drum brakes, why not just pop the bottom ball joint and drop the lower arm? That way I don’t have to remove the brake hose from the wheel cylinder, leading to rebleeding the brakes...I haven’t even removed a wheel yet to start this project, still waiting on my rear spring retainers in the mail...so let me know if there’s a reason not too...
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04-07-2019, 02:32 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: metropolis il
Posts: 91
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
I've always done it by popping the lower balljoint and tie rod loose, bottom shock bolt, sway bar if has one, push the control arm down and pop the spring out. I don't think I've ever done a drum tuck, but several disc trucks and not taken the caliper off. I just had my front springs in and out about 5 times a week ago cutting them to get the right height.
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04-07-2019, 08:19 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: St. Croix River Valley, WI
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
I just replaced the springs on the front of my drum brake truck and did it by popping the upper ball joint and was able to leave the brakes connected. It was a tight fit, but the brake lines were just long enough to sneak the new (standard height) spring back in and get everything put back together.
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04-07-2019, 02:52 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: TX Hill Country
Posts: 150
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
I have done it that way too but the last couple of times I did it by lifting the front end with a jack a few inches and put stands under the frame. Then I used a floor jack under the lower control arm shaft and removed the two u-bolts then carefully lowered the floor jack till the spring was loose. Replace the spring and jack up the lower control arm shaft into position and reinstall bolts. I liked it better than separating ball joints.
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04-07-2019, 10:16 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Oberlin
Posts: 92
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
I didn’t have a lot of time this evening, so I thought I’d at least drop by my little workshop and get the truck up on jack stands, and the wheels off...and then I saw that the previous owner not only dropped the lower arm, he didn’t replace the cotter pins in the ball joints...well, this shouldn’t come apart to hard, let’s just see. I told my wife I’d be home in plenty of time for supper, so I only did one...
Here’s the coil I removed next to a 3” drop coil... It’s definitely going to sit higher, but that’s okay, as long as it rides better, and drives okay...Wait until you guys see the rear springs...the previous owner actually cut them off at the bottom and used a piece of metal strap to hold them down to the arm...even though people recommend against 3/5 drops using springs only, I’ll bet this truck rides like a Cadillac compared to how it was. It is also getting new KYB shocks while I’m doing this... Last edited by Abomb; 04-07-2019 at 10:42 PM. |
04-08-2019, 12:19 PM | #6 | |
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
Quote:
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04-09-2019, 10:27 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Oberlin
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
I got the 3 / 5” coils installed...I’m sure it’ll settle a bit, but it doesn’t look too bad...it was definitely time to do it, one rear spring came out in two pieces, and both rear upper spring retainers were just about rusted through,, and had to be cut out.
Last edited by Abomb; 04-09-2019 at 10:36 PM. |
04-12-2019, 02:20 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whitehorse YK Canada
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
So did you remove the lower balljoint in the front?
I tried that on my 68 C20 with drum brakes and the it would not clear the brake drum backing plate.
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Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is! |
04-12-2019, 02:29 PM | #9 |
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Location: Oberlin
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
Yes, I removed the lower ball joint nut, and dropped the arm. I'm not sure what you are saying wouldn't clear the backing plate, once the ball joint is popped loose, you can swing the entire hub / drum / backing plate assembly up and out of the way a bit.
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04-12-2019, 02:40 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whitehorse YK Canada
Posts: 2,651
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
On my C20 the backing plate for the drum brake is dished out where the ball joint sits. When I removed the nut from the ball joint and managed to get the ball joint to split the end of the control arm hit on the drum brake backing plate. I could not pull the hub any further out.
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Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is! |
04-12-2019, 02:46 PM | #11 | |
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Location: Oberlin
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Re: Quick question about changing front coils
Quote:
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