C10 front coil springs... different height?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

84GMC15tepside · 03-25-2015, 09:22 PM

So I took out my front coils a few months ago and cut them last weekend to help get my front down approximately 4.5". After cutting them, I noticed one spring (on the right in pics) is shorter/more compressed than the other:

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I cut one coil off of each and you can see a difference in height on the actual coils that were cut off as well... one spring is more compressed. Has anyone one seen this on their factory coils? Which side of the truck do you think the shorter coil spring goes on?

J Knight · 03-25-2015, 10:30 PM

There is no left or right specific coil spring, you likely have a weak spring or possibly a mix of one spring for a 1-ton and one spring for a 1/2-ton. I would recommend getting a new or used set of stock coil springs to cut or a set of drop springs.

**MikeB** · 03-26-2015, 08:51 AM

The springs weren't the same height before you cut them, were they?

Could be that one has sagged a little, or they were different heights (and rates) to begin with. Are the wire diameters the same?

You do know that removing coils makes for a much harsher ride, vs. using shorter springs, right?

SkinnyG · 03-26-2015, 10:37 AM

Removing coils does, in fact, stiffen the spring rate (you can do the math), but ~usually~ it does not stiffen the rate ~enough~ to make up for the drop you get.

If the ride height is lower, and the spring rate is not stiff enough, you bottom out the suspension - which will certainly ride rougher.

badchevy · 03-26-2015, 03:38 PM

If I remember correctly, mine were the same as yours. I wound up cutting a quarter coil more on the longer one (this is after I installed and noticed one side sat higher than the other). Now my truck sits level. I know some would disagree on this but I'm happy and the truck runs straight. No problems at all.

84GMC15tepside · 03-26-2015, 08:51 PM

Thanks for the replies; the springs are original for a 1/2 ton, same diameter etc. They must of been a different height to begin with but I did not notice until after cutting them. Multiple people on here have had success cutting 1 coil so I am sure I am fine there... I have drop spindles to get me the rest of the way down. Though I am thinking of getting new drop springs as Jknight suggests, I am also curious about bad chevy's idea too. BUT 1 coil off of a normal/not-weak spring is the max I wanted to do so I will probably go with new springs.

03-25-2015, 09:22 PM	#1
84GMC15tepside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oakland County, MI Posts: 138	C10 front coil springs... different height?? So I took out my front coils a few months ago and cut them last weekend to help get my front down approximately 4.5". After cutting them, I noticed one spring (on the right in pics) is shorter/more compressed than the other: I cut one coil off of each and you can see a difference in height on the actual coils that were cut off as well... one spring is more compressed. Has anyone one seen this on their factory coils? Which side of the truck do you think the shorter coil spring goes on? __________________ MY6 Stepside

03-25-2015, 10:30 PM	#2
J Knight Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Baytown TX Posts: 2,219	Re: C10 front coil springs... different height?? There is no left or right specific coil spring, you likely have a weak spring or possibly a mix of one spring for a 1-ton and one spring for a 1/2-ton. I would recommend getting a new or used set of stock coil springs to cut or a set of drop springs. __________________ John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 Last edited by J Knight; 03-25-2015 at 10:37 PM.

03-26-2015, 08:51 AM	#3
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,597	Re: C10 front coil springs... different height?? The springs weren't the same height before you cut them, were they? Could be that one has sagged a little, or they were different heights (and rates) to begin with. Are the wire diameters the same? You do know that removing coils makes for a much harsher ride, vs. using shorter springs, right? __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

03-26-2015, 10:37 AM	#4
SkinnyG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?! Posts: 2,267	Re: C10 front coil springs... different height?? Removing coils does, in fact, stiffen the spring rate (you can do the math), but ~usually~ it does not stiffen the rate ~enough~ to make up for the drop you get. If the ride height is lower, and the spring rate is not stiff enough, you bottom out the suspension - which will certainly ride rougher. __________________ 1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, turbo, LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate

03-26-2015, 03:38 PM	#5
badchevy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 102	Re: C10 front coil springs... different height?? If I remember correctly, mine were the same as yours. I wound up cutting a quarter coil more on the longer one (this is after I installed and noticed one side sat higher than the other). Now my truck sits level. I know some would disagree on this but I'm happy and the truck runs straight. No problems at all.

03-26-2015, 08:51 PM	#6
84GMC15tepside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oakland County, MI Posts: 138	Re: C10 front coil springs... different height?? Thanks for the replies; the springs are original for a 1/2 ton, same diameter etc. They must of been a different height to begin with but I did not notice until after cutting them. Multiple people on here have had success cutting 1 coil so I am sure I am fine there... I have drop spindles to get me the rest of the way down. Though I am thinking of getting new drop springs as Jknight suggests, I am also curious about bad chevy's idea too. BUT 1 coil off of a normal/not-weak spring is the max I wanted to do so I will probably go with new springs. __________________ MY6 Stepside

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