Issue with front coil spring install

[Putzer]

Anybody have an idea how to get these 1 inch drop springs in? Spring compressors don't work because they're too long and hit either the top of the cross member or the bottom control arm. I even tried the jack method but I can't get the top to come close to seating then it just binds. Something just isn't adding up, doesn't seem like it should be this hard. Lastly, is there supposed to be anything between the spring and the top mount on the cross member?

[saxart]

Have you tried tucking the top of the spring up into the crossmember first? Seems that's how I remember reinstalling my (old sagged) standard height springs.

[Grumpy old man]

try seating the top of the spring first , . Use a safety chain something doesn't look right to me .

[Putzer]

I tried that. I can't even get close to dropping the knuckle on /compressing the spring far enough before the entire truck starts to move up off my jack stands.

[Grumpy old man]

Find a couple of fat friends .

[Putzer]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Find a couple of fat friends .

Haha I'm gonna have to figure something out. Maybe I can stack some block on top. I assumed that the lq4 engine would be enough weight!

Do you think everything else looks ok? Just need to add some weight and try to compress more?

[brownsville]

check to make sure the spring isn't hitting one side of the crossmember, I had that problem. Bolt you spindle up to the top balljoint then jack the lower arm into place and line up the lower balljoint. The spings can be kinda tricky getting them to line up with the top hate. hope this helps

[Putzer]

Originally Posted by brownsville

check to make sure the spring isn't hitting one side of the crossmember, I had that problem. Bolt you spindle up to the top balljoint then jack the lower arm into place and line up the lower balljoint. The spings can be kinda tricky getting them to line up with the top hate. hope this helps

Thank you !

[brownsville]

Originally Posted by Putzer

Thank you !

anytime let me know how it turns out. u can attach the spindle bottom first or top doesn't matter

[saxart]

Originally Posted by Putzer

I tried that. I can't even get close to dropping the knuckle on /compressing the spring far enough before the entire truck starts to move up off my jack stands.

You could aways get the spring in there, then put the spindle on the lower ball joint and use a ratchet strap to pull things together.

[kwmech]

For a drop spring it sure does look awfully long to me. Coils should not bind when installing

[Putzer]

Originally Posted by kwmech

For a drop spring it sure does look awfully long to me. Coils should not bind when installing

Anyone have an idea of what it should be? What is stock?

[Steeveedee]

Not sure I understand the problem. I have a 3/4T truck and the springs just fell out when I lowered the LCA. I had no problem with inserting the new springs, and raised the LCA with a floor jack. Not like with many cars I have had, where I needed a monster screwdriver to put the spring in the socket in the LCA and then maybe have it pop out when jacking it up. Of course, the new springs weren't being used to change the ride height, which I wasn't expecting to change. I replaced them only because I was putting in a disc brake conversion and was in there, anyway.

[Putzer]

My 1" drop springs measure 13" ...from what I've found that seems too long. Anyone else?

[Grumpy old man]

Looking at the pictures I don't see any jackstands ? Tell me your not using those 2x4's to hold up your truck while your under it ???

[Putzer]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Looking at the pictures I don't see any jackstands ? Tell me your not using those 2x4's to hold up your truck while your under it ???

No grumpy old man...there are jack stands haha. Those are more to keep it from moving side to side.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Putzer

My 1" drop springs measure 13" ...from what I've found that seems too long. Anyone else?

Have the springs that came out?

[brownsville]

Originally Posted by Putzer

My 1" drop springs measure 13" ...from what I've found that seems too long. Anyone else?

I've got two different sets of drop springs from two diff mfgs (mcgaugheys and CPP) both measured 13- 13 1/4". the mcgaugheys were about 3/4" tick and the cpp about 7/8"

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Ha ha, just did this and off the jack stands is exactly what happened, at the rear of the side we were working on. I had 400 lbs. of sons perched on my big block too. I blocked off the other side just in case and went through with it, and that was with stock coils and drop spindles.

13" drop coils? Hmmm. The factory coils I pulled off my C-10 are 13.7/8", and if I remember right the new ones were real close. So yeah, probably.......

For what it's worth, the more jack stands etc. the better, you just have to keep track of all of them. I had two under the rear frame rails, one under each leaf spring, two under the rails near the transmission, the engine cross-member on blocks, and the front of the frame rails supported by a floor jack and 4x4 That was in addition to the make-shift blocks I added while my frame was up in the air.

You need more weight, have a beer party or rent some grunts............With another glance, seems your frame is awfully high to begin with. A better floor jack might help too.

[Putzer]

Got it done today with the help of a friend. Only had to put 145lbs on the frame. The key was jacking the rear end up to transfer the weight to the front then jacking the opposite side up. I also bought 4 more jack stands and a nice low profile Daytona jack from HF. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Putzer

Got it done today with the help of a friend. Only had to put 145lbs on the frame. The key was jacking the rear end up to transfer the weight to the front then jacking the opposite side up. I also bought 4 more jack stands and a nice low profile Daytona jack from HF. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help.

Nice. You're faster than I am for sure, and that looks sharp. All I did today was sharpen up old brake dust shields, and then I discovered they won't work, cuz of the drop spindles. Not happy about that one, the shields are nice.

I have that floor jack as well, pretty dang nice. In hindsight, I should have made use of the transmission jack when we installed the coils. Good info.