How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tcb-1 · 11-26-2007, 09:03 PM

how low can I go with front springs while still being able to maintain frontend alignment? I have new rubber up front and I don't want to scrub them down.

I have 2.5 drop springs on it now, but want to go bit lower.

I know I can go with spindles, but my 69 stepside is being built on a budget.

thanks for any ideas.

**Boog** · 11-26-2007, 09:18 PM

If you've already got 2 1/2" drop springs on the front your best bet will most likely be dropped spindles to give you about 5" total. However since you have 15 x 10" rims and wide tires on front you might have some clearance issues to consider. The spindles will push each wheel out about 3/4" further. Someone else will post what they have experienced I'm sure.

tcb-1 · 11-26-2007, 09:28 PM

boog,
I could go with spindles, but I am maxed out fund wise. I'd love to get spindles up front, but then I'll have to go discs.

I actually have quite a bit more clearance I could drop the front. probably have close to 4".

this is a wierd truck. I have 5" drop springs on the back, but it doesn't drop it nearly as much as other trucks that run a 5" drop. actually, it's about a 3" drop...... just don't understand.

but I digress..

any ideas on my frontend?

**Boog** · 11-26-2007, 09:56 PM

That truck sure sits up "normal" like to have dropped springs on it. Well, as much as I dislike the idea of cutting springs, you could cut 1 coil off the front springs and get a couple more inches of drop up there. As for the rear, no cutting. You will have to install say a 2" lowering block to get it down some or buy more springs. You're running 10" wheels and 275/60 tires all round right?

tcb-1 · 11-26-2007, 10:02 PM

well, that's my plan is to wack about an 1.5" off the front. I'm then going to go with some 2" drop blocks from CPP for the rear, just like your suggestion.

but I'm just concerned about if I do go 1.5" lower, the frontend won't align.

yes, I am running 15 x 10's with 275/60/15 at all four corners......

**Boog** · 11-26-2007, 10:12 PM

Sounds good. Do some more reading on this. I'm not sure just how much drop you get per coil cut off. Removing 1 coil may be just enough and it may not. If you end up with more drop than an alignment can fix you can always pickup some more coils to put it back. If you get 4" of spring drop I think your bump stops will be close to the frame won't they? Bottomed out?

tcb-1 · 11-26-2007, 10:22 PM

as right now, I am 3" off the bump stops up front. so, I'm thinking to go half of that and I'm gold.

just paranoid about ruining new rubber.

68shortfleet · 11-27-2007, 04:39 AM

If i were cutting your coils, I would only cut about 3/4 of one coil and reinstall to check the height. Drive it a few miles before checking the height. I would bet that 3/4 of one coil will drop the front about 1-1 1/4". You are getting very borderline on alignment at that point(usually). Look at upper control arm mounting bolts/nuts. How much thread is still not being used? The alignment shop will need about another 1/4" of thread to shim the upper arm back out when you lower it more.

HTH
Jason

Tx Firefighter · 11-27-2007, 05:50 AM

My truck is has 4 inches of spring drop in the front (along with my spindles). I'm right at the limit of aligning it. I'm out of upper control arm bolt room and my camber is still about 1/4 degree negative.

When I had just 3 nch drop springs,it aligned fine.

70GMCer · 11-27-2007, 07:20 AM

Ask 70c10 about this. He did this and alignment is way out now. He knows how much coil cut he did along with his 2 1/2 drop spindles.

**special-K** · 11-27-2007, 07:42 AM

Tx Firefighter is right at the limit with 4",as he said.3" is good and safe for allowing more adjustment,if needed and alignment guys won`t scwabble and whine.

piecesparts · 11-27-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

My truck is has 4 inches of spring dropin the drop (along with my spindles). I'm right at the limit of aligning it. I'm out of upper control arm bolt room and my camber is still about 1/4 degree negative.

When I had just 3 nch drop springs,it aligned fine.

I am putting the CPP tubular control arms on my 68 and that will be along with a 2 1/2" drop spring and drop spindles. The tubular arms are set with the camber changed to make up for the the lower setting and allow further wheel adjustment, when lowering. I am hoping that I will be able ot align when I am done.

Tx Firefighter · 11-27-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piecesparts

I am putting the CPP tubular control arms on my 68 and that will be along with a 2 1/2" drop spring and drop spindles. The tubular arms are set with the camber changed to make up for the the lower setting and allow further wheel adjustment, when lowering. I am hoping that I will be able ot align when I am done.

You can align a 3 inch spring with stock arms, so with your expensive aftermarket arms, I'm sure you won't have any trouble with just a 2 1/2 inch spring..

Robznob11 · 11-27-2007, 01:37 PM

im shure if you relly wanted to you could replace those a arm bolts with some longer grade 8 hardware in a fine thread and it would be cheaper than upper tubular arms, if your gonna get tubulars id suggest performance suspension online they are 3/8 longer arms with adjusted camber just for lowered springs

71 lowrider · 11-27-2007, 07:07 PM

If you cut 1 full coil from a stock spring,you will drop the truck 3". I have done 4 or 5 of them,and they all dropped about that amount. You will have to cut off the bump stop brackets,and put bump stops directly on the lower control arms.I have never had any problem aligning these trucks,but if you drop too far the angle of the upper balljoint stud gets pretty steep.The stud could bind up and snap off.

11-26-2007, 09:03 PM	#1
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? how low can I go with front springs while still being able to maintain frontend alignment? I have new rubber up front and I don't want to scrub them down. I have 2.5 drop springs on it now, but want to go bit lower. I know I can go with spindles, but my 69 stepside is being built on a budget. thanks for any ideas.

11-26-2007, 09:18 PM	#2
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,284	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? If you've already got 2 1/2" drop springs on the front your best bet will most likely be dropped spindles to give you about 5" total. However since you have 15 x 10" rims and wide tires on front you might have some clearance issues to consider. The spindles will push each wheel out about 3/4" further. Someone else will post what they have experienced I'm sure. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

11-26-2007, 09:28 PM	#3
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? boog, I could go with spindles, but I am maxed out fund wise. I'd love to get spindles up front, but then I'll have to go discs. I actually have quite a bit more clearance I could drop the front. probably have close to 4". this is a wierd truck. I have 5" drop springs on the back, but it doesn't drop it nearly as much as other trucks that run a 5" drop. actually, it's about a 3" drop...... just don't understand. but I digress.. any ideas on my frontend?

11-26-2007, 09:56 PM	#4
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,284	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? That truck sure sits up "normal" like to have dropped springs on it. Well, as much as I dislike the idea of cutting springs, you could cut 1 coil off the front springs and get a couple more inches of drop up there. As for the rear, no cutting. You will have to install say a 2" lowering block to get it down some or buy more springs. You're running 10" wheels and 275/60 tires all round right? __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

11-26-2007, 10:02 PM	#5
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? well, that's my plan is to wack about an 1.5" off the front. I'm then going to go with some 2" drop blocks from CPP for the rear, just like your suggestion. but I'm just concerned about if I do go 1.5" lower, the frontend won't align. yes, I am running 15 x 10's with 275/60/15 at all four corners......

11-26-2007, 10:12 PM	#6
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,284	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? Sounds good. Do some more reading on this. I'm not sure just how much drop you get per coil cut off. Removing 1 coil may be just enough and it may not. If you end up with more drop than an alignment can fix you can always pickup some more coils to put it back. If you get 4" of spring drop I think your bump stops will be close to the frame won't they? Bottomed out? __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

11-26-2007, 10:22 PM	#7
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? as right now, I am 3" off the bump stops up front. so, I'm thinking to go half of that and I'm gold. just paranoid about ruining new rubber.

11-27-2007, 04:39 AM	#8
68shortfleet Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dundee, Oregon Posts: 311	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? If i were cutting your coils, I would only cut about 3/4 of one coil and reinstall to check the height. Drive it a few miles before checking the height. I would bet that 3/4 of one coil will drop the front about 1-1 1/4". You are getting very borderline on alignment at that point(usually). Look at upper control arm mounting bolts/nuts. How much thread is still not being used? The alignment shop will need about another 1/4" of thread to shim the upper arm back out when you lower it more. HTH Jason

11-27-2007, 05:50 AM	#9
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? My truck is has 4 inches of spring drop in the front (along with my spindles). I'm right at the limit of aligning it. I'm out of upper control arm bolt room and my camber is still about 1/4 degree negative. When I had just 3 nch drop springs,it aligned fine. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin Last edited by Tx Firefighter; 11-27-2007 at 11:33 AM.

11-27-2007, 07:20 AM	#10
70GMCer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joppa, Maryland Posts: 4,408	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? Ask 70c10 about this. He did this and alignment is way out now. He knows how much coil cut he did along with his 2 1/2 drop spindles. __________________ 1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang

11-27-2007, 07:42 AM	#11
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,858	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? Tx Firefighter is right at the limit with 4",as he said.3" is good and safe for allowing more adjustment,if needed and alignment guys won`t scwabble and whine. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

11-27-2007, 01:37 PM	#14
Robznob11 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: brownfield texas (west texas) Posts: 1,936	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? im shure if you relly wanted to you could replace those a arm bolts with some longer grade 8 hardware in a fine thread and it would be cheaper than upper tubular arms, if your gonna get tubulars id suggest performance suspension online they are 3/8 longer arms with adjusted camber just for lowered springs __________________ The Ghost 67 short wide full custom. 550 hp LSX, 4l80E, narrowed 9". Body dropped w/air ride! ........................ ___ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(⊙)___//___/__(O)_/ @disciple2.rc 💪instagram💪 LED TAILS

11-27-2007, 07:07 PM	#15
71 lowrider Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: meadville pa. Posts: 37	Re: How low with front drop springs while keeping alignment???? If you cut 1 full coil from a stock spring,you will drop the truck 3". I have done 4 or 5 of them,and they all dropped about that amount. You will have to cut off the bump stop brackets,and put bump stops directly on the lower control arms.I have never had any problem aligning these trucks,but if you drop too far the angle of the upper balljoint stud gets pretty steep.The stud could bind up and snap off.



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