Are these springs collapsed or cut?

[MDPotter]

Do these coils appear to be collapsed or cut at all? According to the SPID, these are the heavy duty rear springs. I would like to do 3" drop coils but don't want to be disappointed if these stock springs have already been cut or are collapsed. And will I be okay without a c-notch with a 3" drop?

[TrkEnvy]

Looks like someone took a torch and heated the upper 3 coils. So yes they have been collapsed.

[dmjlambert]

I have the heavy duty rear springs and they have a couple of coils collapsed like that. I'm thinking that is 50 years worth of tired, so you and I probably already have 2.5 inch drop springs that we didn't even need to buy.

[sick472]

I have an original set of rear coils on my truck and mine have a few close coils but are not collapsed to where the coils touch. The ride height looks very normal on my truck however. I think mine are what is called progressive coil springs. Yours are touching, or very close, and I'd say they have had it.

I can't help with the lowering questions as I usually go up a little rather than down. Springs are a goofing thing when it comes to our hobby. Sometimes it's trial and error if your picky at all in where it ends up.

[cebra]

I have read you get a 1" drop from every 1/2 coil cut; I am going to guess that if you put 3" drop springs on your truck you may get about a 1.5" drop from where you are at now looking at how much those are collapsed. I had the same issue, put 3" coils on the rear of mine and it actually went up (measuring wheelwell to ground)...I came back in and added 2" blocks. Definitely no c-notch on 3" drop, I am at 5" total and have never hit frame (3" ECE springs, 2" blocks). When I had 5" CPP springs (which collapsed a lot as well right out of the box) I bottomed out a lot.

[67C10Step]

I've got 4" drop, progressive rate springs on the rear of mine. The old "hop up and down" test on the rear frame section tells me I shouldn't have to much of a problem bottoming out unless I have a load in the bed. No C notch.

[MDPotter]

It sounds like I should just keep the springs and add blocks. What is the best source for blocks and lowering shocks?

[Abomb]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

It sounds like I should just keep the springs and add blocks. What is the best source for blocks and lowering shocks?

I wouldn’t run those...you have less than half of your potential suspension left...even with 5 inch drop coils, each coil is actually working to smooth your ride, the top 3 coils on what you currently have can’t do anything for you now. I have 5 inch drop coils in the rear of my truck, and it rides nice...

[saxart]

Originally Posted by Abomb

I wouldn’t run those...you have less than half of your potential suspension left...even with 5 inch drop coils, each coil is actually working to smooth your ride, the top 3 coils on what you currently have can’t do anything for you now.

This!!!

Mine were just like the ones you pictured. I didn't drop my truck, but replaced the springs with stock height springs, They have three coils on them that are closer together like that, but not touching like the old crappy ones were. When I took the old springs out, they were not only collapsed, but were bent into an arch shape instead of a straight coil.

Whether you do drop springs or stock height springs, do yourself a favor and also do new bushings in the trailing arms, and add a rear shock relocate kit. You'll love the ride, and if you go minimal with your drop springs, you can always add blocks later if it's not the right height. New springs and a shock relocate made my truck ride beautiful.

[cebra]

Agree with above, I wouldn't run those unless I was in a pinch and needed to save some cash in the short-term. Adding blocks to them is a bit of a waste as you can just get 5" springs for not that much more (do not get CPP, ECE may still have their 20% off deal going on if they are not closed up yet). Adding blocks often times results in needing pinion shims too so that is added cost.

[MDPotter]

We can definitely replace the springs and bushings and do the shock relocate. So it's better to go with 5" drop springs and no blocks than to go with 3" drop springs and 2" blocks?

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

We can definitely replace the springs and bushings and do the shock relocate. So it's better to go with 5" drop springs and no blocks than to go with 3" drop springs and 2" blocks?

The lowering blocks get your suspension's lowest points very close to pavement, especially the 2 inch blocks.

Answer to question....yes!

Those are the rear heavy duty springs, and HAVE been torched to get that way!!! The coils in the middle that are close together provide a good ride without a load, they press together when heavily loaded, allowing the more spaced out coils to handle the heavy load better. There's no way to cut those springs, the way they are mounted, and torching those was not a good thing...

[cebra]

Yeah, I wouldn't suggest blocks if you don't need them, it messes up the geometry of the rearend (hence the need for pinion shims after my blocks). I did not need shims on 5" springs.