Installing front coil springs on 69 C10 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Arl37 · 12-05-2014, 10:58 PM

I will wrap up my conversion to disc brakes tomorrow when I re-install the front coil springs and wrap up the details. I plan to use the floor jack method to re install the springs. I did this a lot in the previous century many decades ago but my memory has faded and I have a question. In checking the forum, most commentaries on re-installing the front coil springs say the final connection of the the control arms once you have jacked up the coil spring should be the bottom ball joint. ie the spindle should be connected to the upper ball joint before you start jacking. Seems to me it would be easier to have the lower joint in place and then jack the lower control arm up and just drop the upper cont arm bolt in to the upper spindle hole. Any special reason for using the Lower ball joint as the final connection?

Tx Firefighter · 12-06-2014, 12:00 AM

No reason at all. Either way is equally easy and works the same.

I usually jack the lower arm up to compress the spring then drop the heavy ass spindle and rotor onto the lower ball joint just to save energy. Then jack and maneuver it up further until the upper ball joint will fall into its hole.

Arl37 · 12-06-2014, 12:33 AM

That is pretty much my plan but I think I will install the caliper and rotors after I get the spindle and springs in.Concerned that assembled it is just to damn heavy to deal with. Had to disassemble any way to grease wheel bearings. I'm an old Texan to. From bonham. Left many years ago.

*JonnyC10* · 12-06-2014, 12:52 AM

Ya, I waited til the spindle was all bolted up before I installed the rotor and caliper. I bolted the upper ball joint first and jacked up the lower a arm. Very easy. Just make sure you have the coil spring seated real good. Not sure about your year but my 67 has a raised bump in the spring cup. I put the cut edge of the spring up against it so that the coil wasn't sitting on top of it. Not sure if that's how its goes but made sense to me to do it that way. Good luck. Post some pics.

70c10stepper · 12-18-2014, 02:23 PM

I'm at this point also & my concern is when I put end of spring against bump stop in LCA, then the end at top of spring doesn't hit bump in crossmember spring pocket? I have no weight on spring yet.
Is this normal? Mine is a 70 c10.
Thanks

12-05-2014, 10:58 PM	#1
Arl37 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Valley Center, Ca Posts: 277	Installing front coil springs on 69 C10 I will wrap up my conversion to disc brakes tomorrow when I re-install the front coil springs and wrap up the details. I plan to use the floor jack method to re install the springs. I did this a lot in the previous century many decades ago but my memory has faded and I have a question. In checking the forum, most commentaries on re-installing the front coil springs say the final connection of the the control arms once you have jacked up the coil spring should be the bottom ball joint. ie the spindle should be connected to the upper ball joint before you start jacking. Seems to me it would be easier to have the lower joint in place and then jack the lower control arm up and just drop the upper cont arm bolt in to the upper spindle hole. Any special reason for using the Lower ball joint as the final connection?

12-06-2014, 12:00 AM	#2
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Installing front coil springs on 69 C10 No reason at all. Either way is equally easy and works the same. I usually jack the lower arm up to compress the spring then drop the heavy ass spindle and rotor onto the lower ball joint just to save energy. Then jack and maneuver it up further until the upper ball joint will fall into its hole. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

12-06-2014, 12:33 AM	#3
Arl37 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Valley Center, Ca Posts: 277	Re: Installing front coil springs on 69 C10 That is pretty much my plan but I think I will install the caliper and rotors after I get the spindle and springs in.Concerned that assembled it is just to damn heavy to deal with. Had to disassemble any way to grease wheel bearings. I'm an old Texan to. From bonham. Left many years ago.

12-06-2014, 12:52 AM	#4
JonnyC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: NH Posts: 280	Re: Installing front coil springs on 69 C10 Ya, I waited til the spindle was all bolted up before I installed the rotor and caliper. I bolted the upper ball joint first and jacked up the lower a arm. Very easy. Just make sure you have the coil spring seated real good. Not sure about your year but my 67 has a raised bump in the spring cup. I put the cut edge of the spring up against it so that the coil wasn't sitting on top of it. Not sure if that's how its goes but made sense to me to do it that way. Good luck. Post some pics.

12-18-2014, 02:23 PM	#5
70c10stepper Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Iuka, MS Posts: 22	Re: Installing front coil springs on 69 C10 I'm at this point also & my concern is when I put end of spring against bump stop in LCA, then the end at top of spring doesn't hit bump in crossmember spring pocket? I have no weight on spring yet. Is this normal? Mine is a 70 c10. Thanks



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