Replacement front coil spring shorter?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 8
From: Illinois
Replacement front coil spring shorter?
Bought new coil springs for the front end of a 1971 350cc/330hp from VBP--460 lb stock replacement but they are shorter. Is that normal?
How do you place the spring when replacing. Line up the top or the bottom. What do you line it up with? Someone on another thread line it up at the top with a hole?
Thanks
How do you place the spring when replacing. Line up the top or the bottom. What do you line it up with? Someone on another thread line it up at the top with a hole?
Thanks
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Have you removed the other springs?. This is a question that could have an extensive answer. 1st the new spring should be shorter. It has a higher weight rating. Atleast thats what I was told on mine 68 BB..
Its really trickey getting the old one out and the new ones in. Make sure you read up on it before trying. The spring can hurt you comming out. Theres a tool you can rent from auto pts store. Spring compressor.
Have you removed the old ones?.
Its really trickey getting the old one out and the new ones in. Make sure you read up on it before trying. The spring can hurt you comming out. Theres a tool you can rent from auto pts store. Spring compressor.
Have you removed the old ones?.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Length = normal. 44 years of improved technology will do that. 
I'm pretty sure they're aligned to the upper (frame) pocket, but check the factory shop manual to be sure. Mine's about 2200 miles away right now.
I'm pretty sure they're aligned to the upper (frame) pocket, but check the factory shop manual to be sure. Mine's about 2200 miles away right now.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 8
From: Illinois
Yes I have already removed the shock, spring, bearings and sway bar. I am now ready to put it all back together--new shocks, springs, bearings, an sway bar bushings, etc.--that's why I am asking on where to place the spring.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (home in Colorado Springs)
When I did a lift kit on my Jeep, the replacement coils were same height as the stock springs. thing is, the replacement springs are stiffer and larger diameter wire and don't compress as much as the stock springs.
Just my 2 cents worth...
Just my 2 cents worth...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
Bought new coil springs for the front end of a 1971 350cc/330hp from VBP--460 lb stock replacement but they are shorter. Is that normal?
How do you place the spring when replacing. Line up the top or the bottom. What do you line it up with? Someone on another thread line it up at the top with a hole?
Thanks
How do you place the spring when replacing. Line up the top or the bottom. What do you line it up with? Someone on another thread line it up at the top with a hole?
Thanks
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Bought new coil springs for the front end of a 1971 350cc/330hp from VBP--460 lb stock replacement but they are shorter. Is that normal?
How do you place the spring when replacing. Line up the top or the bottom. What do you line it up with? Someone on another thread line it up at the top with a hole?
Thanks
How do you place the spring when replacing. Line up the top or the bottom. What do you line it up with? Someone on another thread line it up at the top with a hole?
Thanks
Theres a drain hole in the bottom pocket. The end of the coil is supposed to barley cover it. Leaving the hole mostly exposed. You jack the car way way up. Let the lower A Arm drop as low as possible.
Put the spring into the upper pocket and compress it with the compressor.
Raise the lower A arm and make sure the coil ends on the hole. You can turn it but be careful. I put a chain around the coil through the shock mount to make sure if it brake loose it wouldnt go anywhere.
Jack the lower A Arm up til the ball joint can be attached. Remove the compressor.. Good luck..
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
this is the right way to align the spring. View A in the drawing refers to the upper spring pocket, not the lower one. If you align the lower end of the spring you can't be sure that the upper end will end up in the right place, especially with aftermarket springs.
Rick B.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 1
From: Shreveport Louisiana LSU
What difference does it make? I aligned the bottom ones and assume that if it is correct, the top must be also. I also thought the bottom one would continue to drift down in the fitted space. Also, it was almost impossible to see the top, when the bottom was easy to see. I just didn't want to stick my head up in an area where things are held with spring compressors, jacks and safety chains!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
I put VBP 460# on my 65. The VBP are definitely shorter. Even so, the car sat higher in the front than with the old springs. Actually, I ended up cutting the new springs. It looked too high in the front for me. Let me say my car is not stock and I wanted it a little lower.
Seat the top of the spring. If you seat the bottom, the top will not sit flat in the spring seat.
Seat the top of the spring. If you seat the bottom, the top will not sit flat in the spring seat.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 549
Likes: 5
From: punta gorda florida
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 549
Likes: 5
From: punta gorda florida
springs
I made a fixture for my hydralic jack it fits on the a arm at the bushing you can put at the bushings loosen the 2 bolts on the cross bars and lower a arm you also need too use a pair of racheting tie down straps to keep the a arm from moving out from car i connect these straps on the other side of the car gives you a lot of control on the a arm movement the fixture is in the chasis manual sounds more involved that it is but very safe and the sring pressure seems to be less on the inside of the a arm in my opinion
