At the Good Guys show I was talking to Race. He said that he has had good luck with using a drop spring in the past instead of spindles. I would love to be enlightened on the good and bad of using springs to get the front of my wagon lower an inch or two. Thanks!!
Spindles don't affect the ride whereas springs will. Springs are cheaper, less work, and did I mention cheap and easy? I lowered my Dailey driver '91 Caprice wagon with S-10 front springs. Rides like a champ and handle great while lowering it about 3 inches.
I thought about that but I don't want it slammed. Just a subtle lowering. I would love to keep the turning radius that I currently have. What would I have to do after doing springs? Typical alignment? Will it need camber adjustments? Steering componend adjustments?
If you only cut 1 - 1 1/2 coils it will lower a bit more than 2 inches and personnally I'll have the front end alligned (camber, caster, toe in). The handling will be fine with probably a bit of bumsteer. If you go more than that the bumpsteer will increase.
Trial and error. Forgot to mention wheels. With some drop spindles, stock size wheels won't work because of the change in hub position.
Springs vs. spindles: When you use a drop spring (or cut the spring, for that matter) suspension geometry is changed AND the overall spring rate is changed. A coil spring (I'm ***umin' you have a shoebox chevy based on yer sig) uses front coils - coils are nothing more than a torsion bar that's been twisted on itself a few times. When you shorten the torsion bar, you raise the spring rate as a percentage of the material removed against the overall length of the torsion bar. Since old Chevys were pretty softly sprung to start with - losing a wee bit will actually help stiffen the front end. A good rule of thumb on a spring drop is no more than a coil - go much beyond an inch or two of drop, and you're gonna run into suspension travel probs - along with changes in geometry. Drop spindles solve the problems with suspension travel by preserving the base geometry of the suspension while moving the spindle up. Suspension travel is preserved - steering geometry is preserved, and spring rate remains constant. NetNet: If all ya want is an inch - go ahead and chop the spring. If you want more than 2" - spindles are prolly a better way to go.
Thanks for all of the help guys!! I talked to a HAMBER in Detroit that just put some new springs on the fron of his 61 with the other typical stuff that you should change out regardless like shocks and any failing busings. Here is who I am going to go with: Coil Spring Specialties 785.437.2025 Its the same company Roadstars son Race recomended this weekend. They are about half the price of drop spindles. I am not slamming the Chebby wagon just getting the tire tucked into the fender a touch. Again, Thanks everyone for the help!
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