Front spindle, spring

[Robert G.]

[Richard M.]

Re: Front spindle, spring

Robert,

1- On all C2's I've done over the years using new ball joints I've always had a pretty tight spindle even before installing springs. I attribute this to the newness of the balljoints and after greasing and functional(driving) usage they always freed up a bit. Unless you have a defective ball joint I'd say you're ok. The upper bumper length should not be a factor IMO.

2 - The spring assembly design requires that the top of the spring wire end is to be just outside the hole in the upper tower. IIRC about 1/4" or so. If your spring wire end is covering the hole that isn't proper. Suggest you turn it a boit away from the hole. Where the lower end of the spring lands is not important as the hole in the lower control arm is merely a drain hole.

Rich

[Patrick B.]

[Gary B.]

Re: Front spindle, spring

...

2 - The spring assembly design requires that the top of the spring wire end is to be just outside the hole in the upper tower. IIRC about 1/4" or so. If your spring wire end is covering the hole that isn't proper. Suggest you turn it a boit away from the hole. Where the lower end of the spring lands is not important as the hole in the lower control arm is merely a drain hole.

Rich

Rich,


I’m about to install the A-arms, coil springs, spindles, etc. on my ‘66 and I want to do it right the first time. What is the reason that the upper end of the coil spring needs to be a bolt-width away from the hole in the upper tower? Before reading your post, my natural tendency would have been to position the end of the coil at the end of the “groove”, which would have resulted in the coil entirely covering up the hole in the upper tower.

PS: I just found the note in the ‘66 AIM that says “End of coil must be .38 +/- .12 from stop”. Is the “stop” a stud or some special tool that is placed into the hole in the tower?

Thanks,


Gary

[Richard M.]

Re: Front spindle, spring

Rich,


I’m about to install the A-arms, coil springs, spindles, etc. on my ‘66 and I want to do it right the first time. What is the reason that the upper end of the coil spring needs to be a bolt-width away from the hole in the upper tower? Before reading your post, my natural tendency would have been to position the end of the coil at the end of the “groove”, which would have resulted in the coil entirely covering up the hole in the upper tower.

PS: I just found the note in the ‘66 AIM that says “End of coil must be .38 +/- .12 from stop”. Is the “stop” a stud or some special tool that is placed into the hole in the tower?

Thanks,


Gary

Gary, when I said ....."Suggest you turn it a boit away from the hole."
I meant to say "... a bit away from the hole."
Sorry bout spelling error

You just need to get it so the spring wire edge is a little beyond the hole so the edge isn't hard to the stop point.

Rich

[Gary B.]

[Richard M.]

Re: Front spindle, spring

Gary, Great bit of research there. That's probably what they did at assembly when the frames were built at the plant.

Many folks install the springs with the bottom edge of the spring wire into the lower control arm at that stop. As John Hinckley mentioned in the past that bottom hole is merely a drain hole for the arm. eg HERE

Rich

[Gary B.]

[Robert G.]

Re: Front spindle, spring

Thank you Rich, Patrick and Gary. Excellent feedback and much appreciated. I was glad to learn of an objective test for ball joint and will be testing mine this weekend.