Lowering my 65 D100 and getting a slightly better ride?

[Marc]

I have a 65 D100 Utiline that Has the slant six and a 4 leaf front spring pack. I am not sure how many leafs are in the back but I want that a little lower too. I have been doing some reading trying to get a good straight answer on what to do but I think I still need some help. lol
I have read to remove the 2nd leaf from the top to drop it about 2 inches. Is that right? I want the truck a little lower and the wife wants a little better ride. lol
I don't want to slam it, run into bump-steer or have to make big modifications. lol
I want it a little lower and to make it a little less bumpy of a ride but not get body roll in corners.
I am sure that with taking out a leaf or 2 and getting some new shocks it will ride great but I wanna make sure I know what I am doing before I start. I don't have a driveway and have to do my work on a busy street, have street cleaning twice a week and this truck is my daily driver. lol

Thanks in advance guys!!!

-Marc

[Marc]

Nothing? Lol

[40YearOldFury]

I took two out of my front and two out of the back of mine. I had however a 6 spring pack up front and a 7 spring pack in back. From the front I removed the 2nd and the 4th from the top and from the rear I removed the bottom 3. The front dropped about 3.5" the rear dropped about 2.75. My ride is a little more firm but not as bouncy if that makes sense. I also put on some shocks that were a little shorter truck shocks, mine were completely spent when I removed them. There are many threads out there about dropping your truck and how to do it. Remember to get some new u-bolts on order and the center pin that holds the spring packs together as well. Sometimes when you take the center bolt it is not threaded all the way and the nut bottoms out on the bolt so it will not tighten up the springs. I'm kind of concerned that you only have 4 springs up front though. I have not been around these trucks as long as allot of these guys but I thought they came with at least 5.....sure someone will pipe up and correct me.

[Marc]

I think that was my main reason for asking these questions. Since I only have 4 springs up front I didn't know if it was standard, if someone had already taken one out OR because I only have 4 to begin with if there was a different spring to remove.
Every thread I have read involved removing springs from a 5 spring pack or more.
I have heard that 5 springs up front is standard... but I have also heard that 4 springs is standard if the truck is originally a slant six D100 truck.

Ok so on short order I should get some new U bolts and a new bolt for the spring pack before I start taking everything apart?
That makes sense.
Also, as far as shocks go, since I am not planning on going much lower do I have to get a different shock that a stock one? Is there a good shorter shock that I can use as a cross-reference?

Thanks so far!!!!!

-Marc

[40YearOldFury]

You can take the 2nd spring out and see how it rides......how you like it and see if you have any issues. I took out the 3rd and 5th spring and didn't like it then took out the 2nd and 4th instead and that's how she sits now. Trial and error. You will find that you get pretty good at taking springs out and putting them back in after a couple times! Make sure you have penetrating fluid of some kind like PB Blaster or a 50/50 mix of ATF/Acetone......(shake well and frequently)
I called http://www.springsnthings.com/ and got my u-bolts. They are real good to deal with and very economical. Cheaper than buying off the shelf ones at the auto parts store.
There is a detailed mounting catalog at http://www.monroe.com/ that tells you the mounting type length extended and compressed and all. I just looked at this for a shock that was about 2" or so shorter. Some say that the little bit I lowered it it doesn't matter but I did it anyway. I'll be putting a bigger drop with an IFS in it so I didn't need anything too spectacular just something to get me through as my shocks were completely shot. I ended up getting the MONROE 34853 which are for the W100/W200 truck and they are about 2" shorter than the factory specs. I found them at http://rockauto.com/ on close out for like $15 each.
Watch for bumpsteer and bottoming out once you get it done.

[Marc]

Awesome. Thank you. I will give that a shot. I seem to have tons of clearance from my axle to the oil pan so I should be okay there.
Bumpsteer is my main concern. I will keep an eye on that for sure. Is there a speed it tends to be noticeable? Or will I probably notice it right off the bat? Such as hitting a drainage dip in an intersection at 10mph? lol
I have tons of penetrating fluid, a tap & die set and lots of patients. haha Sounds like fun. :)
Thanks for the links to stuff. I know for a fact that will come in handy. :)

-Marc

[Marc]

So I crawled under my truck this morning just to look at what I was dealing with again.... And I took some pics...

Does this look stock??? Upon looking closer with "fresh" eyes... I don't think so... It looks like the springs bow away from the ground instead of towards it.
I dunno... Or maybe it had more springs originally and some have been removed already?
Or is it supposed to look like that? lol

I have 4 3/4" from the top of my tire to the fender.... That sounds like 2 1/4" LESS that what most people on this forum say they are starting with.

Take a look at these pics I took and let me know what you think. lol

http://s990.photobucket.com/albums/af23 ... 20springs/

Maybe I JUST need new shocks...

-Marc

[dakotadave]

i think those springs have been altered or are extremely tired, and i havent seen tired springs on the average sweptline - in my experience tired saggy springs are more of a chevy thing. my 69 d200 fronts arch noticeably while yours are beyond flat into negative arch.

[Marc]

That's what I was thinking. I guess it's possible that it had a 6 spring pack at one point and someone took out spring 2 and 5. I dunno... If it were a 6 spring pack at some point would removing 2 of them give it this negative arch?
It does seem that there is either something altered, removed or at least NOT stock. lol
Either way I think I am NOT going to try to take out any springs. I might get some new shocks and see if that improves my ride some. But as far as my springs go... they seem to not be broken or cracked so ....
Oh well....

Any other ideas as to what could be at work here?

[40YearOldFury]

That is what my springs started out like.....then got another set from a friend on here. They were the same way. With the springs removed I do have negative arch on my springs. I know if you get the springs from a Power Wagon or 4x4 truck they are pretty much flat. It is just the way they were built. I'm keeping an eye on mine to see how they do. They just have to get be by until I do a IFS on the front. So for they have had no ill effect on the truck. I would not tell anyone it's ok to have a negative arch and that it's ok. For me......it's just working out OK for now.
Shocks should smooth out the ride for you and control some of the bounce and harshness. However if your springs are shot nothing is really going to improve it much other than new springs. Check for someone on Craigslist parting out a 60s 70s or 80s truck with the straight axle. The springs on most are interchangeable. ESPO does sell new springs as well. Some spring manufactures even make the spring packs to have a drop. I guess it depends on what you are going to do with your truck in the future.

[Marc]

Thanks dakotadave and 40yearoldfury!
As far as I am concerned, none of the springs are currently cracked or broken so, I am just going to leave it. I will get some new shocks to see if that smooths out my ride some.
As far as long term plans for the truck, I have none. I just wanna keep it running and driving well and keep it on the road.
I may sell it soon but I might keep it for years. lol It kinda depends on if something else comes along that someone might wanna trade me for... Or if we get another heat wave and I freak out and want A/C.
I love these old Swepties and I love my Ute but there are days where I just miss a smooth riding, auto shifting, power brakes, power steering, power windows and air conditioning car...
Thank you very much for your eyes and thoughts guys. I hunt Craigslist frequently so, I may come across something and just decide to upgrade if I have the money and time. Otherwise, I will just leave it be. :)

-Marc