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

backinblack · 06-03-2005, 05:24 PM

I just went and got some new tires today. I went from running 235/60/15 on an 8 inch rim in front, and 275/60/15 on 10 inch in the rear to 275/60/15s all the way around.

My problem: Truck was nice and level before, but now because of tire change, the front is approx. 1 inch higher than rear. I love how the bigger tires fill out the huge wheel/fender well in front, but I need to bring the front down 1-1 1/2 inches to make me happy. What's the easiest way to do this besides torching....... I don't have the means for drop spindles, and don't need a full 2 inches.......Any advice appreciated.

TIA

farside847 · 06-03-2005, 07:21 PM

1" drop springs?

5150 · 06-03-2005, 07:25 PM

You can try cutting a half of a coil off the bottom of the front springs. I think that would be 1 inch drop and it's the cheapest.

Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but that should do it.

matthufham · 06-03-2005, 07:57 PM

a big block might lower it. i took the sb engine out of my truck and the front lifted 3 inches. it looks like a pre-runner now with the high front end.

shortbed70 · 06-03-2005, 09:48 PM

Its alot of work but start with a quarter coil cut and set down on ground and remember it will settle in some. Don't go to far.

pissonNOS · 06-03-2005, 09:59 PM

i cut 2 coils out of my truck and it dropped it 3 inches if that helps any I would cut a ful coil out of yours
P.S. I used 3/4 ton springs if that matters

71HUGGER396 · 06-03-2005, 10:03 PM

I would go the 1" drop springs also.

camaro__thunder · 06-03-2005, 10:24 PM

I would cut first because your not considering the age factor. What if the 1" drop springs make it higher ?? Springs sag over time, Cutting is cheaper.

djracer · 06-03-2005, 10:33 PM

if you do decide to cut I'd only go in half a coil increments I'd also put the coil in a bucket and fill with water up to were I was going to cut it! That keeps the coil from getting hot and losing temper!

**Green Machine** · 06-04-2005, 12:00 AM

I'm not a spring expert by any means, but don't the top and bottom ends register in a slot/groove on each end ? Wouldn't cutting 1/2 coil instead of 1 coil cause the spring to be mis-indexed in it's fitting ? I may want to do this someday myself.

lngbed71 · 06-04-2005, 05:22 AM

Naw...no worries about slot/grooving alignment. Zap off half a coil, that will give you about an inch drop. Don't go too much or you may wind up with wheel alignment/toe/camber problems.

Low69CST · 06-04-2005, 11:13 PM

I would start with cutting 1/4 of a coil. I did that to mine and it made a big difference.

backinblack · 06-05-2005, 06:47 PM

I think I'm going to cut the coil then........Can anyone tell me the easiest way to remove the coil spring without killing myself..........

Thank you!!

70short/step · 06-05-2005, 08:11 PM

If you did go with the 1" lowered springs just remember that your original springs are old and have sagged some. So a 1" dropped spring may not make a difference.

06-03-2005, 05:24 PM	#1
backinblack Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Utah Posts: 142	Lowering question I just went and got some new tires today. I went from running 235/60/15 on an 8 inch rim in front, and 275/60/15 on 10 inch in the rear to 275/60/15s all the way around. My problem: Truck was nice and level before, but now because of tire change, the front is approx. 1 inch higher than rear. I love how the bigger tires fill out the huge wheel/fender well in front, but I need to bring the front down 1-1 1/2 inches to make me happy. What's the easiest way to do this besides torching....... I don't have the means for drop spindles, and don't need a full 2 inches.......Any advice appreciated. TIA __________________ 69 chevy SWB 70 GTO 65 GTO hardtop 65 GTO ragtop 77 Trans Am Hmmm. Too many pontiacs, not enough chevy trucks yet.

06-03-2005, 07:21 PM	#2
farside847 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 995	1" drop springs? __________________ 1971 Chevy C10 Shortbed Stepside, 307v8 3-on-the-tree

06-03-2005, 07:25 PM	#3
5150 C10 Club Tennessee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: White House, TN 37188 Posts: 8,281	You can try cutting a half of a coil off the bottom of the front springs. I think that would be 1 inch drop and it's the cheapest. Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but that should do it. __________________ Bryan www.gmtruckshow.com Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck Project: Patina Burb for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4

06-03-2005, 09:48 PM	#5
shortbed70 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Forney TX Posts: 4,512	Its alot of work but start with a quarter coil cut and set down on ground and remember it will settle in some. Don't go to far. __________________ Troy 1965 Chevy Bagged,361 sbc,voodoo cam,1.5 full roller rockers,patriot 185cc vortec heads 2.02-1.60,vortec weiand polished intake,demon carb my truckhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=332884 Big Red Dog build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=572274

06-03-2005, 09:59 PM	#6
pissonNOS senior member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: fort macleod alberta Posts: 2,770	i cut 2 coils out of my truck and it dropped it 3 inches if that helps any I would cut a ful coil out of yours P.S. I used 3/4 ton springs if that matters __________________ 69 GMC bagged Last edited by pissonNOS; 06-03-2005 at 09:59 PM.

06-03-2005, 07:57 PM	#4
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	a big block might lower it. i took the sb engine out of my truck and the front lifted 3 inches. it looks like a pre-runner now with the high front end.

06-03-2005, 10:03 PM	#7
71HUGGER396 Confirmed Truckaholic Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sarver,PA 16055 Posts: 732	I would go the 1" drop springs also. __________________ 1968 50th STEP SIDE SHORTY, 350/350, a/c, ps, p,b Daily Driver, 1970 Cst short fleet, all black, 350/350, 1970 2wd Blazer, 2wd, 6 cyl. 3 spd, original, now a 454, 350turbo, 3.73 posi, on the road 1971 2wd fleet shorty, 454, 700r4, 3.73 posi, SOLD to 67OLDSTYLE72 "My rig's a little old but that don't mean she's slow" - SAWYER BROWN's Six Days On The Road SEMPER FI "I use to be a lean mean fighting machine, but now I'm a huffin, puffin, over stuffin love muffin"

06-03-2005, 10:24 PM	#8
camaro__thunder Epoxy Primer Friendly Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South of Houston TEXXXAS Posts: 680	I would cut first because your not considering the age factor. What if the 1" drop springs make it higher ?? Springs sag over time, Cutting is cheaper. __________________ My Project 69 SWB SHAVED BAGGED DOORED

06-03-2005, 10:33 PM	#9
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	if you do decide to cut I'd only go in half a coil increments I'd also put the coil in a bucket and fill with water up to were I was going to cut it! That keeps the coil from getting hot and losing temper! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

06-04-2005, 12:00 AM	#10
Green Machine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Estherville, Iowa Posts: 3,371	I'm not a spring expert by any means, but don't the top and bottom ends register in a slot/groove on each end ? Wouldn't cutting 1/2 coil instead of 1 coil cause the spring to be mis-indexed in it's fitting ? I may want to do this someday myself. __________________ 1968 C10 307 3spd Long Fleet ------ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=201103 1970 C10 305 Super T10 Long Fleet --- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=202285 1971 C20 383 TH350 Dana Posi ----- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=206894 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0

06-04-2005, 05:22 AM	#11
lngbed71 Nothing fits but the oil Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gaston, Indiana Posts: 424	Naw...no worries about slot/grooving alignment. Zap off half a coil, that will give you about an inch drop. Don't go too much or you may wind up with wheel alignment/toe/camber problems. __________________ Land of the free Because of the brave

06-04-2005, 11:13 PM	#12
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	I would start with cutting 1/4 of a coil. I did that to mine and it made a big difference. __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

06-05-2005, 06:47 PM	#13
backinblack Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Utah Posts: 142	I think I'm going to cut the coil then........Can anyone tell me the easiest way to remove the coil spring without killing myself.......... Thank you!! __________________ 69 chevy SWB 70 GTO 65 GTO hardtop 65 GTO ragtop 77 Trans Am Hmmm. Too many pontiacs, not enough chevy trucks yet.

06-05-2005, 08:11 PM	#14
70short/step Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 1,579	If you did go with the 1" lowered springs just remember that your original springs are old and have sagged some. So a 1" dropped spring may not make a difference. __________________ For every person with a spark of genius, There are a hundred with ignition trouble. 70 Short/Step



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