decided to cut the front springs

[exmonkeypunk]

So, i started pulling the front springs out today... Never done this on these trucks. I unbolted the u bolts from the inside of the control arm. Had one hell of a time getting it to come down, until i realized that if i jacked up the arm the bolts could just be pulled out. When i did that, yeah, piece of cake. I don't have air so i don't have a cut off wheel or torch or anything like that... I started hacking away at the spring with a sawzall..... Not recommended.. lol
About 20 minutes and 2 or 3 blades later, i'm not even half way through and my arms are jello.... lol.... I got ahold of a buddy with a cut off wheel, waiting for him to get off work so i can use it. Kinda sucks because all my stands are under the corvair, so i have one floor jack and one scissor jack i can use, so i have to take the spring to my buddies, use the wheel, come back, put it back together, see if it's how i want it, then take the other side off and go back over to use the wheel. See, he lives about 45 minutes away in another town... lol. I am cutting 1 coil from the springs... i almost want to cut 2 being that i want it low and i don't want to have to drive 4 extra trips if 1 isn't enough...... I've been taking pics of everything, so i'll post everything when it's done.

[see ten]

If you've got access to a large hammer try taking the other side out like we did in these vids. It might save you some heartache.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...light=saturday

[joe231]

yeah, much easier to just pop the ball joint and use the jack to lower the control arm.

[exmonkeypunk]

The hardest part for me, was bolting the control arm back up. By the second side, i figured it out. I was using a scissor jack being the last jack i had to use at the time. Which sucked, by the way... lol. But i'm very pleased with the results. The air cut off wheel was much easier. lol.
Here's some before and after pics. Excuse the greasy hand prints on the tires.
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[exmonkeypunk]

I notice the rake when i drive it. The handling seems to be slightly better than before. A little stiffer. I'd like one more inch at least lower though. Is there possibility of settling any lower?

[joe231]

looks good!
I wouldn't think it will settle much....
what are you gonna do in the back?

[exmonkeypunk]

I've been on a "Freebie" or just plain "cheap" kick for a few months, so i've been wondering about removing some rear leafs...
I know about as much about removing rear leafs as i did about removing the front coils, so who knows. ANyone have any idea at what kinds of drop i can get out of removing leafs if it's safe?
I've been looking into rear shackles and maybe blocks.
If i can just pull a couple leafs out and get it more than 2 inches down, then i'd be happy to have a free lowering job.
I'm already stoked at how great the front looks at no cost.

[joe231]

it all depends on how many leafs you have in your current spring pack...I I pulled 2 leafs and the thick short leaf at the bottom on my '80 heavy half. I got probably more than 3" maybe 4"...not sure exactly...i didn't measure

[N2TRUX]

Do you have a circular (Skil) saw? You can buy a cheap tile blade which is nothing more than an abrasive wheel. Use it to cut your springs the next time you do a set. It works great.

Take a look at the spring pack. You can pull the bottom "overload" spring and get about 3/4" drop. From there it will depend on your spring pack as t how many you can pull.

[exmonkeypunk]

There's at least 5 or 6 leafs i'm thinking. how would i go about removing leafs? best way to support the vehicle for doing it.

[joe231]

I supported mine by the frame in front of the rear axle where the frame levels back out. then used a floor jack to lower the rear end. you need to get the truck kinda high due to how far the leaf springs hang or droop with the weight off of them....you will probably want to find replacement bolt/pin that holds the pack together (mine were badly rotted). I couldn't find them in a pinch so I used socket head cap screws(allen head bolts) instead.

[exmonkeypunk]

so put the back half up on stands at the frame rails, and support the rear with a jack. Do i need to unbolt the leafs from the shackles and u bolts? or just the u bolts? Then there's a bolt in the center.

Local parts stores sell air shocks for the rear. The shock replacement ones. Supposed to have alot of range. I'm curious about that.

[joe231]

you can leave the springs attached to the frame in the front and shackles in the rear. yeah pull your U-bolts and there is a bolt in the middle of the spring pack that holds them together. I had to use c-clamps or those large vice grip clamps to get the leafs back together and get the new bolt in them.
the pin/bolt is also the locater(sp?) for the rear end, the head fits into a hole in each of the perches on the rear end. once you get it apart, it is pretty self-explanatory

[N2TRUX]

Don't buy air shocks unless you want a harsh ride. They have to little capacity to be effective for much more than an adjustable overload shock.

[exmonkeypunk]

I already have a really bouncy rough ride in the rear. If anything, i'd like to improve it, can't really see it being worst than it already is... There's some roads i don't drive down, because it's like being on a horse... I bounce around in the springy seat.

[joe231]

removing some leafs will help the ride, your truck is bouncy because the suspension on a 3/4 ton is heavy to handle a load, but when it is unloaded it is very stiff, taking a couple leafs out will soften the ride and you suspension unloaded will absorb the bumps better so you won't have to feel every little bump

[exmonkeypunk]

Okay. Wish i could go at that today being such a nice day, but i have some family stuff to do. Next weekend, if it's not raining i'll pull a couple leafs. A buddy said he has a set of blocks that should fit the truck. So, if they fit i got a free set of lowering blocks as well.

[joe231]

correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't your leaf springs on top of the axle?
if so those are lift blocks not lowering blocks...

[exmonkeypunk]

didn't even think about that. you are correct. scratch that until the axle's flipped. That'll be a while off.

[exmonkeypunk]

Here's how it sits on the right side. The left side is slightly higher. It looks to me like it's quite a bit lower than the day i cut the springs. Looks good to me.
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