A thought about front springs?

[JohnHenryDoe]

I have a 6 inch lift on an 87 v1500 SB. I really don't want to buy new springs for the front. But to get it inspected, I need to get it back to stock height. The rear has a 6 inch block, I can knock that out and I think it will be near stock height, but the front has a nine leaf spring. Could I remove several leafs to have the front end near stock height?

 

[6.2puller]

Current Maine Laws do not have an issue with your front lift AFAIK. The rear blocks are another issue. Here is the laws ftp://ftp.maine.gov/pub/sos/cec/rcn/apa/16/222/222c001.doc

§7.7 Springs, Torsion Bar, Shocks, Bushings, and Axles

§7.7.1 Reject vehicle if the leaf springs have loose or broken leaves.

§7.7.2 Reject vehicle if the coil springs or spring perches are broken, insecurely mounted or are extended by spacers or blocks.

§7.7.3 Reject vehicle if there are loose, missing, broken, severely rusted, or worn spring shackles, spring perches, hangars, u-bolts, or spring clips.

§7.7.4 Reject vehicle if the stabilizer bar, caster struts or trailing arms are loose, bent, broken, or severely rusted.

§7.7.5 Reject vehicle if the control arms, radius rods, equalizer beam assemblies, beam assemblies, torque rods, struts, track bar or steering arm are loose, broken or bent.

§7.7.6 Reject vehicle if any rubber bushings are missing, split, badly deteriorated, or badly extruded from the suspension joints.

§7.7.7 Reject vehicle if the shock absorbers or struts leak or have loose or broken mountings, or worn, missing, or defective bushings. Shock absorbers in satisfactory condition should not have more than two cycles of free rocking motion.

§7.7.8 Reject vehicle if the suspension mounting brackets on the vehicle frame are crooked or broken.

§7.7.9 Reject vehicle if the torsion bars, on vehicles so equipped, are broken or improperly adjusted.

§7.7.10 Reject vehicle if the rear axle is bent or not in proper alignment with the longitudinal axis, as determined by a visual inspection.


§7.7.11 Reject vehicle if any part of the steering linkage or components have been modified so as to affect the proper steering of the vehicle.

§7.7.12 Reject vehicle if the drive shaft universal joints, constant velocity joints, or center bearings show excessive wear or play.

§7.7.13 Reject vehicle if the constant velocity boots are torn or cracked to the extent that the CV joints are contaminated with dirt, salt, or water.

§7.7.14 Reject vehicle if the front or rear suspension has been altered or modified to raise or lower the front end or rear end by the use of blocks, spring shackle extensions, or the improper use of air shocks, spacers, or other similar means.

 

[6.2puller]

Vehicle Heights

§10.5.1 Frame height limits are based on the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle providing the majority of the running gear. Heavy duty springs will not be considered to increase the gross vehicle weight rating over the manufacturer’s original rating.

§10.5.2 Door height limits will be based on the door height as the vehicle was originally manufactured or based on the standards for the door height as manufactured for the vehicle providing the majority of the running gear.

§10.5.3 All measurements for the bottom of the driver’s door will be made on a level surface with the vehicle unladen. All tires must be inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure. The doors must be in the original manufactured location. Vehicles manufactured without doors shall be measured from the lowest point on the floor panel directly below the operator’s position.

§10.5.4 Frame end measurement shall be taken when the vehicle is parked on a level surface with the vehicle unladen. All tires must be inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure. Measurements shall be to the bottom edge of the original manufacturer’s frame rail, at the end where the bumper brackets attach. Any frame component or sub-frames added to the vehicle after original manufacture shall be disregarded for frame height requirements.

§10.5.5 Maximum frame end heights are established by 29-A MRSA §1920 and are restated below.

Type of Vehicle
Front
Rear





Automobile
22 inches
22 inches

Vehicles up to and including 4,500 lbs. GVWR
24 inches
26 inches

Vehicles from 4,501 lbs. to 7,501 lbs. GVWR
27 inches
29 inches

Vehicles from 7,501 lbs. to 10,000 lbs. GVWR
28 inches
30 inches




§10.5.6 The minimum frame end height is 10 inches or the frame end height as the vehicle was originally manufactured.

Street rods are exempt from this section.

§10.5.7 Vehicles equipped with an anti-lock brake system may not be altered.

§10.5.8 Any vehicle where the vehicle height has been altered in any way shall be closely inspected as to any part that may be stressed by the alteration. In particular, the following items shall be examined:

tie rod ends spring ends
drag links idler arms
emergency brake cables brake lines and hoses
wheel bearings brakes
shock absorbers

§10.5.9 Any tire on any vehicle not equipped with an anti-lock braking system must be within 2 tire sizes of the original manufacturer’s recommendations.

Reject vehicle if it is equipped with tires more than 2 sizes larger or smaller than manufacturer’s specifications.

Reject vehicle if any tire contacts any portion of the body, the steering components or the frame during normal vehicle operation.

§10.5.10 If the rim size has been altered, the overall diameter of the wheel with the tire must be within the manufacturer’s specifications. If, in the opinion of the inspection mechanic, there is insufficient tire sidewall to permit safe operation of the vehicle, no sticker may be issued.

§10.5.11 Suspension lifts are permitted provided that they are manufactured by an after market manufacturer, are designed for the make and model vehicle on which it is installed, is installed according to the manufacturer'’ recommendations, and as long as the entire kit is used.

§10.5.12 No lift kit which utilizes lift blocks between the leaf springs and the axles or which uses spring shackle extensions may be installed on a vehicle. Only original equipment blocks are permitted.

§10.5.13 If a vehicle was originally manufactured with the leaf springs mounted beneath the axles, the springs may be not be mounted above the axles.


§10.5.14 Body lifts are permitted provided that they are manufactured by an after market manufacturer, are designed for the make and model vehicle on which it is installed, and is installed according to the manufacturer'’ recommendations.

Body lifts may not use more than a three inch spacer and may not raise the body more than four inches above the frame when all components are installed.

 

[tolovana]

Reject, reject, reject,,, damn...

 

[76zimmer]

I can't believe that Maine has some of the toughest laws in the Union.....Michigan...(motor state) has some of the lackest laws (yeh).
I have some family that lives in Maine, and they're always complaining about the certification.

 

[bear76]

I didnt read all the regs. so this may have been covered. Why not try a axel flip for the front, put the axel on top of the springs. This should lower it about six inches. After inspection flip it back. Also I guess you would take out the blocks too.