Yet Another Spring Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 10
From: Dirty Jerzey
Yet Another Spring Question
I'm sure this has been asked many times here, and I did search, but I can’t find the answers I’m looking for. I have a ’75 with an all stock suspension, bushings and such have been replaced. I want to lower the car just a little, nothing too crazy or unsafe. Right now it site about 29.5” inches at the center of the fender wheel opening, I would like to get this down to around 26” – 27”.
I understand that a 550 front spring set will lower the front of the car a bit. Also I understand that longer spring bolts in the rear will allow me to lower the rear.
Here are my questions:
Will the 550 springs lower the car 2” – 3”, or will I have to cut them?
Do I need an 8” or a 10” bolt to get 2” – 3” lower in the rear?
Finally, how difficult will this be to do in my garage with standard hand tools? I have jack stands, a jack, and hand tools, but changing the front springs sounds dangerous.
Thanks in advance.
I understand that a 550 front spring set will lower the front of the car a bit. Also I understand that longer spring bolts in the rear will allow me to lower the rear.
Here are my questions:
Will the 550 springs lower the car 2” – 3”, or will I have to cut them?
Do I need an 8” or a 10” bolt to get 2” – 3” lower in the rear?
Finally, how difficult will this be to do in my garage with standard hand tools? I have jack stands, a jack, and hand tools, but changing the front springs sounds dangerous.
Thanks in advance.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
I'm sure this has been asked many times here, and I did search, but I can’t find the answers I’m looking for. I have a ’75 with an all stock suspension, bushings and such have been replaced. I want to lower the car just a little, nothing too crazy or unsafe. Right now it site about 29.5” inches at the center of the fender wheel opening, I would like to get this down to around 26” – 27”.
I understand that a 550 front spring set will lower the front of the car a bit. Also I understand that longer spring bolts in the rear will allow me to lower the rear.
Here are my questions:
Will the 550 springs lower the car 2” – 3”, or will I have to cut them?
Do I need an 8” or a 10” bolt to get 2” – 3” lower in the rear?
Finally, how difficult will this be to do in my garage with standard hand tools? I have jack stands, a jack, and hand tools, but changing the front springs sounds dangerous.
Thanks in advance.
I understand that a 550 front spring set will lower the front of the car a bit. Also I understand that longer spring bolts in the rear will allow me to lower the rear.
Here are my questions:
Will the 550 springs lower the car 2” – 3”, or will I have to cut them?
Do I need an 8” or a 10” bolt to get 2” – 3” lower in the rear?
Finally, how difficult will this be to do in my garage with standard hand tools? I have jack stands, a jack, and hand tools, but changing the front springs sounds dangerous.
Thanks in advance.
Go with the 10" bolts and you can cut off what you don't need after the ride height is correct.
The front springs are not complicated, but you need to take care or they will bite!!! You can do all of this with hand tools.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 10
From: Dirty Jerzey
Thanks for the info.
I've removed rear coil springs in the past using a spring compressor and jack. On my 75 there does not seem to be a way to install a compressor. Is there a safe way to do this without one? Also, what is the easiest way? Unbolting the spindle and lowering the control arm with a jack?
Thanks again.
I've removed rear coil springs in the past using a spring compressor and jack. On my 75 there does not seem to be a way to install a compressor. Is there a safe way to do this without one? Also, what is the easiest way? Unbolting the spindle and lowering the control arm with a jack?
Thanks again.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: Onley VA
Thanks for the info.
I've removed rear coil springs in the past using a spring compressor and jack. On my 75 there does not seem to be a way to install a compressor. Is there a safe way to do this without one? Also, what is the easiest way? Unbolting the spindle and lowering the control arm with a jack?
Thanks again.
I've removed rear coil springs in the past using a spring compressor and jack. On my 75 there does not seem to be a way to install a compressor. Is there a safe way to do this without one? Also, what is the easiest way? Unbolting the spindle and lowering the control arm with a jack?
Thanks again.
Good luck with it!!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield PA
I'm sure this has been asked many times here, and I did search, but I can’t find the answers I’m looking for. I have a ’75 with an all stock suspension, bushings and such have been replaced. I want to lower the car just a little, nothing too crazy or unsafe. Right now it site about 29.5” inches at the center of the fender wheel opening, I would like to get this down to around 26” – 27”.
I understand that a 550 front spring set will lower the front of the car a bit. Also I understand that longer spring bolts in the rear will allow me to lower the rear.
Here are my questions:
Will the 550 springs lower the car 2” – 3”, or will I have to cut them?
Do I need an 8” or a 10” bolt to get 2” – 3” lower in the rear?
Finally, how difficult will this be to do in my garage with standard hand tools? I have jack stands, a jack, and hand tools, but changing the front springs sounds dangerous.
Thanks in advance.
I understand that a 550 front spring set will lower the front of the car a bit. Also I understand that longer spring bolts in the rear will allow me to lower the rear.
Here are my questions:
Will the 550 springs lower the car 2” – 3”, or will I have to cut them?
Do I need an 8” or a 10” bolt to get 2” – 3” lower in the rear?
Finally, how difficult will this be to do in my garage with standard hand tools? I have jack stands, a jack, and hand tools, but changing the front springs sounds dangerous.
Thanks in advance.
I installed the 550 springs and I have 27-3/4" center fender height and I have a mono spring in the back and had to get 10" bolts to get the 27-3/4" center fender height. So it dropped about 1-1/4" with the 550 springs.
I want to do the same as you; I would like to get a center fender height of 27". I am going to start with cutting a half coil at a time to get to 27".
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
only cut a half coil at a time...ask me how I know. and I disconnected the lower ball joint not the top. I guess you could do either one, but the lower was no problem. try hitting the very front of the lower a-arm with a sledgehammer (look for the flat pad) iinstead of the using the pickle fork, you might damage the ball joint boot........again as me how I know.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 10
From: Dirty Jerzey
Thanks for the tip.
Well I placed my order. I ordered a 550# front spring set and a pair of 8" bolts. I was a little off in my current ride height dimensions. It sits at 28" in the front and 29" in the rear. I want to bring it down to 27" all the way around.
Well I placed my order. I ordered a 550# front spring set and a pair of 8" bolts. I was a little off in my current ride height dimensions. It sits at 28" in the front and 29" in the rear. I want to bring it down to 27" all the way around.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 10
From: Dirty Jerzey
only cut a half coil at a time...ask me how I know. and I disconnected the lower ball joint not the top. I guess you could do either one, but the lower was no problem. try hitting the very front of the lower a-arm with a sledgehammer (look for the flat pad) iinstead of the using the pickle fork, you might damage the ball joint boot........again as me how I know.
Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: Onley VA
only cut a half coil at a time...ask me how I know. and I disconnected the lower ball joint not the top. I guess you could do either one, but the lower was no problem. try hitting the very front of the lower a-arm with a sledgehammer (look for the flat pad) iinstead of the using the pickle fork, you might damage the ball joint boot........again as me how I know.
