but what's new? Anyway I installed the front coil springs in my son's 70 this weekend as per info I read on here. End of bottom spring between two holes, for drainage. Now I've read it should be turned so the end of the bottom spring should fit into the pocket of the bottom control arm. Which is it? Also these were moog springs and didn't have a flat side per say. The originals I took out were flat on both sides. One side of the moog springs appeared "flatter" than the other so that was the side I put into the prame pocket. Your opinions are appreciated. TIA Pete

See the topic about "spring hitting frame." That might get you going in the right direction.

If I read/understand that post correctly the spring needs to be turned until it hits the "pocket" and NOT to worry about the drain holes, right? I'm not trying to be difficult, I guess maybe I'm dense but I have read conflicting opinions on this site and before I finish it up I want to make sure I do it right. TIA Pete

The bottom end of the spring should not be flat. Yes the spring fits into the pocket in lower a arm. Look at the shape of the pocket and the bottom of the spring. They're designed to mate together. If it's not sitting in the pocket correctly the pressure is not spread evenly around the bottom coil and the spring will compress unevenly, more on one side than the other.
The top of the spring, originals, should be flat. There is no pocket in the frame so being flat spreads the pressure evenly around the top coil. The frame has flanges coming down that go inside the spring and keep it in place, but no pocket.

Thanks for the replies, I knew better when I did it but that little voice inside of me said "remember, it said between the holes to allow for drainage, ask me how I know". Anyway I'll have to loosen things up and turn the springs so they'll rest in the pockets. Oh the fun of it all. Pete

Finally the original springs were flat top AND bottom. These Moog springs are not "flat" like the originals but once under pressure I could see where the spring would compress and imitate being flat on top. Thanks Pete

The spring being in the control arm pocket or between the 2 holes should be the same thing.

Where the holes are should be the deepest part of the pocket to accept the end of the spring which should be the part sticking down the most.

Tim.

I'll have to double check tonight but if I remember correctly the pocket was about and inch or so past the two holes on my lower control arms. Pete

Originally posted by TronDD:
The spring being in the control arm pocket or between the 2 holes should be the same thing.

Where the holes are should be the deepest part of the pocket to accept the end of the spring which should be the part sticking down the most.

Tim. Not on my car Tim. If you run the end of the coil into the deepest part of the socket it covers the hole. Anyway we agree thats how the spring should fit the pocket, correct?

Pete, my springs are flat on one end. I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure they're original. The control arm bushings looked bad enough to be original when I tore it apart.

I'm almost 100% certain the springs are original. If I knew how to post a picture in this thread I would.

The consensus is I need to rotate my springs so the bottom rests in the pocket, right? Pete

Several times it's outlined in the Chiltons that.......
"after assembly, end of spring coil must cover all or part of one inspection drain hole. The other hole must be partly exposed or completely uncovered." To make that happen you will not have the end of the coil all the way to the end of the pocket. If you are not familiar with front end assy, a $15.00 Chiltons manual would be worth it's weight in gold for you. The illistrations of this procedure leave no questions.


Rocky

Hey Rocky thanks for the reply. I guess I'll just leave it alone then as One inspection hole is covered and the other one is exposed. I do have a chilton manual guess I didn't read ir close enough. Thanks Pete

I did mine the same way. I have one hole covered and one exposed. the end sits right between the two holes. My holes are also at least an inch from the "pocket".

Somes springs actually come flattened as if they were put on a grinder and ground flat.They're easy to spot.
The other style the manufacturer heats the spring end and squeeses it so it almost touches the next coil to flatten it.The non flattened end will have equally spaced coils.Some will use a paint splotch or dot to point out the flattened end.

Originally posted by rocks66ss:
Several times it's outlined in the Chiltons that.......
"after assembly, end of spring coil must cover all or part of one inspection drain hole. The other hole must be partly exposed or completely uncovered." To make that happen you will not have the end of the coil all the way to the end of the pocket. If you are not familiar with front end assy, a $15.00 Chiltons manual would be worth it's weight in gold for you. The illistrations of this procedure leave no questions.
Rocky Read your reply and thought 'I totally missed that.' :confused:
Got out the manual last night, went to Chevelle section and read everything on front suspension, not a word about how to position spring, umh? :confused: :confused:
I know he didn't make this up just to confuse everyone. Let's try GTO/Lemans, nothin? :confused: :confused: :confused:
Ok, maybe Buick, yup there it is. :mad: Damn, I thought Chiltons was better then that. Now I see I'll have to read 4 different sections on a-bodys to get the whole picture. Or throw out the manual and look for a more comprehensive version.

Are you sure your not reading a chitlin's instead of a Chiltons :D
I looked in Two different one's I have around here, The first one, Chiltons auto repair manual 1980 covering cars 1973 through 1980, page C401 shows an illistration pointing to the holes in question with the direction posted above.

Next, Chiltons covering Chevy mid-size cars 1964-88 book #(8594) 28440 covering all U.S. and Canadian models of Chevrolet Chevelle,ELCamino, Laguna S-3 Malibu and Monte Carlo;including SS models, in the suspension and steering section 8-5 shows the same illistrations and directions that were posted above.

It is interesting that one little tid bit of info about the spring covering one drain hole is also not in all of my manuals, it's not in my Corvette Chiltons covering 1963-82.

And it's also not in my 1966 Chassis service manual that states..."Properly position the spring on the arm and with the steel bar in place, as shown in fig 21, lift the arm up until the ball stud may be installed in the knuckle. install the nut and cotter pin.

I guess they just expect you know that piece of info.


Rocky

Rocky
The 66 front springs are not indexed between the bottom holes. It is the top end of the spring that is indexed 3/8" +- 1/8" from the stop. There is a small hole in the top pocket where you can see the end of the spring from above.
If you have an assembly manual look at the note on page UPC 3 A4.

Rene
66_Malibu

Rene,

When I redid my front end on my 66 I indexed the springs to the bottom holes. will this affect it any way adversly? I don't notice anything out of the norm as far as ride or handling. This was two years ago, so I guess it would have been noticed by now.


Rocky

Rocky
....removed

Edit: I just checked the bottom pocket on my car and the last hole is next to the stop.. and the second hole is 2" away. The end of my bottom coil is less than 1/2" from the stop same as the top end. Looks like rotating bottom end closer towards the second hole would also rotate the top end closer to the top stop. So it seems there there is only about a 1" margin where the ends can terminate to keep both ends seated?.
Seems like I learn something every day about these cars... smile.gif

Rene
66_Malibu

I have to agree with Shooter (Rene), I installed the springs in my 66 just as the Assembly Manual shows, that is paying close attention to the stop in the top of the frame, I even went as far as painting a white mark 3/8" from the stop and put masking tape on the end of the spring, it is some what hard to see up in pocket trying to index the spring. I must say it would be much easier to install the spring into the lower control arm pocket but????? Each to their own I guess folks. I have used the top pocket method no less that 4 times since 2000. Long story going from a SB to a BB and not liking the stance was part of the story.

Jesse