11-19-2021, 01:59 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
|
C20 Spring Removal
Next week I'm doing a disc brake upgrade and although I don't need to, I want to remove the front springs to clean and paint everything. Does anyone know if just releasing the lower ball joint and letting the lower control arm down pivoting on the rear bushings will allow the stock spring to be removed or does the lower control arm have to be removed?
Thanks in advance
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
11-19-2021, 03:37 PM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Overland Park, Ks.
Posts: 5,228
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Yes. You can disconnect the lower ball joint & let the lower a-arm down to remove the spring. You do not need a spring compressor as the truck springs don't "grow" like a car spring does. Of course you need to disconnect the shock & sway bar.
George |
11-19-2021, 06:16 PM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Simi, CA
Posts: 495
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
That's how I got mine out. You should put a chain through the spring just to be safe when using that method.
__________________
Made in America by Americans |
11-19-2021, 11:10 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,803
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Does anybody have this procedure in pictures?
|
11-20-2021, 03:03 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
Posts: 8,592
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
I use my 3.5t floor jack and let it down slow. Re-installing make sure the top of the spring is in the pocket correctly
|
11-20-2021, 12:13 PM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Perfect, Thanks for the confirmation on doing this. I will use a chain thru the spring as safety measure
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
11-20-2021, 06:11 PM | #7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whitehorse YK Canada
Posts: 2,651
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
When I swapped out the front coil springs on my 68 C20 I was unable to get the outer end of the control arm to swing out of the pocket in the backer plate for the brake drum after releasing the lower ball joint. I had to remove the lower control arm from the frame side.
I had read many discussions on this and I was left thinking that the newer trucks maybe had a different set up for the backing plate. I did not figure out a year cut off though.
__________________
Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is! |
11-20-2021, 06:16 PM | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whitehorse YK Canada
Posts: 2,651
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Here is a photo showing the end of the control arm not coming out of the backing plate
__________________
Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is! |
11-20-2021, 11:55 PM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Overland Park, Ks.
Posts: 5,228
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
If I ran into the problem that Northern describes I would Remove the backing plate before the lower control arm.
George |
11-21-2021, 02:08 AM | #10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
I won't run into that problem as I'm removing the entire spindle and discarding. Now if I could only get the lower ball joint to break loose.
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
11-21-2021, 03:47 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,852
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Hopefully not the nut. If nut is loose back off a few threads leave lower arm hanging with the jack under it but not touching. Whack the spindle where the ball joint goes into it with a BFH. If the upper is already loose reconnect to do this.
__________________
Richard 1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746 |
11-21-2021, 01:42 PM | #12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whitehorse YK Canada
Posts: 2,651
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
I struggled to get the lower to pop open as well. It takes a pretty big hit with a BFH, so multiple hits.
__________________
Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is! |
11-21-2021, 02:08 PM | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Hampton Roads VA
Posts: 643
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
You can use a jack and a ratchet strap (around the top control arm 'CA' down to the jack) to compress the spring. The ratchet strap is to control the reaction. I have two sets of spring compressors here and neither would fit the c20 springs.
If you have to hit the ball joint stud, be mindful of mushrooming the stud because you might not be able to get it through the spindle. There are some pics on my build page but when you loosen the lower balljoint from the spindle, the lower CA will literally hang freely, straight down. Be prepared because between the weight of the lower CA and the spring forcing it down, if you don't retain the CA/spring it will slam down and send the spring off. While you are going to the trouble of cleaning/painting etc, you really should replace the CA bushings.
__________________
70 C20 Build link : Project Montezuma http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=794479 How to repair that rusted out 67-72 c10-c30! Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/c/MaycoCustomRestorations |
11-21-2021, 07:29 PM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 7,291
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Quote:
I'm no expert, but a floor jack supporting the A arm, and IMO as a novice, secure the spring so it can't come at you. Only takes a few minutes to secure one, chain or something.
__________________
Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 |
|
11-21-2021, 08:05 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: TN.
Posts: 8,300
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Quote:
You could use a pickle fork . Either manuel or one that you could use in a Air hammer
__________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build |
|
11-23-2021, 12:47 AM | #16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 7,291
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Quote:
__________________
Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 |
|
11-23-2021, 01:21 AM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: kennewick, WA
Posts: 1,511
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
I usually have good luck removing the spindle from the ball joints by un-threading the ball joints until the castle nut is flush with the top of ball joint end, hit the spindle in the ball joint area with a big hammer a couple of times and the spindle will separate without the need for a pickle fork
__________________
1965 c/10 swb 1969 c/10 lwb |
11-23-2021, 12:34 PM | #18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Pickle fork is the only thing that worked. Only took a minute. Struggle with it prior forever. LCA bushings shot on one side replacing both sides
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
11-23-2021, 01:52 PM | #19 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,398
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Quote:
I am hoping it is true, that is, cause I have a C20 and a C10 that need new springs.
__________________
DAVE Edmonton, Alberta 1959 Apache 1967 K20 1968 C20 1970 C10 1972 GMC 2500 1981 C10 |
|
11-23-2021, 04:03 PM | #20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Overland Park, Ks.
Posts: 5,228
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Quote:
George |
|
11-23-2021, 06:25 PM | #21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Thats what I did. Once the lower ball joint is loose and the nut off, I just lowered the floor Jack. the lower control arm pivoted open and spring basically fell out.
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
11-23-2021, 07:38 PM | #22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Cheraw
Posts: 1,300
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
You really need the weight of the engine to be able to replace the front springs.
|
11-23-2021, 08:21 PM | #23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: TN.
Posts: 8,300
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Quote:
__________________
________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build |
|
11-24-2021, 12:37 AM | #24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Actually not really. I have the truck in the air with jack stands under the frame. Remove the wheels, remove sway bar and shocks place floor jack under the lower control arm. Remove the lower ball joint and lower the jack slowly. the lower control arm will swing down releasing the spring and it basically falls out. I just did this so I know it works.
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
11-24-2021, 12:42 AM | #25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca
Posts: 1,210
|
Re: C20 Spring Removal
Now I just waiting for parts. I'm replacing lower control arm bushings as one side had a lot of play. Other side good, but replacing while I have everything apart. Hopefully tomorrow I can start putting suspension back together with new spindles, brakes etc. Then I need to work on M/C, proportioning valve, booster and plumbing the hydraulic lines. I have new respect for people that work on suspensions, especially older vehicles.
__________________
Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|