Removing springs on an '80 C10???

[bikeman59]

I'm going to do a poor man's drop on my '80 C10 SWB. In the front, I want to cut off 2 coils. I've never done this before, so I have a couple of questions:

1. Do I need spring compressers to safely get the springs out? If so, do I need the type that work on the inside of the spring or the outside?

2. How badly will this affect my ride, stearing, camber, etc. This is not my daily driver, so it won't get many miles put on it.

I know the answers are probably buried in this forum someplace, but I've not found them. I also know there are much better ways to drop the front, but that will have to wait until more $ is available (drop spindles, new springs, etc).

Thanks everyone, looking forward to your help.

[stevencvn72]

A spring compressor would be the safest way, but you can do it without one. Stick the truck on jack stands and put a jack under the lower A arm and jack it up. Remove the shock, and sway bar bracket from the lower A arm. Remove the cotter pin and nut from the spindle and SLOWLY, and I mean SLOWLY lower the jack. I've heard of some folks putting a chain around the spring to keep it from popping out. Just do whatever you can to stay out of it's way if it does pop out. Mine were already cut, so mine just kinda fell out. Some others might chime in here, but if you use some forthought you'll be fine.

Mine were chopped and uneven when I got the truck, so I evened them up. Had to trim the lower bump stop after I think two coils were cut, but with drop shocks, the ride didn't seem too bad, but nothing I own rides like a dream.

[stevencvn72]

....oh, and when you put your springs back in, be sure they're set in the pocket on the top and bottom correctly or you'll be all lopsided.

[BMERDOC]

stevencvn72's directions are correct but to be a little more detailed...

Support the frame on a jackstand and raise your jack so that its an inch or two below the lower arm. Once you have the cotter pin and lower nut LOOSE you'll have to smack the spindle where the lower ball joint is installed with your biggest hammer. I like to remove the nut and reinstall it to make sure it'll come back off without spinning the ball joint in its socket. Smack it as hard as you can and DON'T miss. You'll want to minimize the amount of times you hit it to avoid "over-marring" it You can use a pickle fork but they usually tear up the ball joint boot. The lower arm will drop when the ball joint is loose. Jack the lower arm up until it takes the tension off the nut. Slowly lower the arm until the spring is just loose. It may be a little stuck so you may have to whack it a little to loosen it too. It shouldn't jump out at you but make sure the tension is off of it before you fully release the jack.

Cutting two coils off is probably excessive. Cut off one coil and reinstall to consider the ride height. One coil should be worth two inches depending on the sag in the springs. Don't use a torch to cut it off. Use something like a cut off wheel or plasma cutter to isolate the heat. You can wrap a wet rag or fill a bucket up with water to the coil you want to cut off to act as a heat sink.

It shouldn't kill ride quality and from my experience it'll only improve the crappy camber (too positive) that the trucks stock specs specify.

[bikeman59]

Thanks guys. That is exactly the info I was looking for. Now I can proceed (with caution) and make this happen.

[mikewayne]

Thanks for putting such an informative post and will be really helpful, for newbies looking forward to do the upgrade.