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The logistics of doing suspension work.

colbystephens

colbystephens

1 ton status
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I have really short jack stands. I'm preparing to do my 1 ton swap. I was wondering if you think it would be safe to put a chain around the frame and spring, with the chain going around the bottom-most part of the spring pack which is flat - one that isn't part of the actual "spring" action. Forgive my lack of part-name. Perhaps it's the overload spring? That way I could lift from the frame without having the suspension unload. I'm just not convinced that it's safe. But, I haven't really looked too closely to determine. Thoughts?
 
i ended up cutting up a 4x4 and stacking it like lincoln logs under my jackstands for the frame.
even on my 30 degree driveway it was fairly solid. lets just say i left it as short as possible tho.
 
That's a good call. I like that method. probably cost about the same as the chain would've too. :D
 
whenever i use my hi lift to jack my truck up since i dont have a floor jack i use a good tietown and hook it were my shock is so when i jack it up it doesnt unload. then i stick the jackstands under it and it is good to go.

I have been doing this for a while
 
That would require leaving the axle attached to the spring, no? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you.
 
I have some 24" stands you can borrow Colby, and I've got two things of wood cribbing I made that are 12" tall so that I could remove the rear axle with the 40s still on there.

In my experience from chaining the frame to my jack to check bump clearance, the frame near the gas tank is kind of a pain to get a chain to wrap around nicely. In the past, I have put the axle on jackstands, removed tires, lifted axle, removed jackstands and placed them under the frame, and then lowered the whole thing on to the jackstands. To get the axle out because I have so much droop, I then (the jack has been under the diff this whole time) placed a jackstand under each overload as close to the center pin as possible. The stands under the overloads really weren't supporting much weight, and the ones under the frame had a lot of weight on them so it was pretty solid.

Way easier with the cribbing though, I just bought like $25 worth of 2x4 and stacked them with some good deck screws. I made the base several inches wider than my stands, so they're actually a lot more stable at 24" with the cribbing than the jackstand fully extended at 24".
 
I vote get some big jack stands. I have some small ones but I have a couple big (8 ton or something like that) that go up really high. They're tall enough I can floor jack under the axle, take the wheels off and lower it down closer to the ground with a big jack stand under the frame.
It worked fine even when I used to have 8" lift springs.
 
I put my axle in with these holding my truck up

I had to put the rear on small tires and roll the axle in on the disc's

Edit: I was suppose to include a pic of 6 ton basic jack stands
 
Last edited:
owenst7 said:
I have some 24" stands you can borrow Colby, and I've got two things of wood cribbing I made that are 12" tall so that I could remove the rear axle with the 40s still on there.

In my experience from chaining the frame to my jack to check bump clearance, the frame near the gas tank is kind of a pain to get a chain to wrap around nicely. In the past, I have put the axle on jackstands, removed tires, lifted axle, removed jackstands and placed them under the frame, and then lowered the whole thing on to the jackstands. To get the axle out because I have so much droop, I then (the jack has been under the diff this whole time) placed a jackstand under each overload as close to the center pin as possible. The stands under the overloads really weren't supporting much weight, and the ones under the frame had a lot of weight on them so it was pretty solid.

Way easier with the cribbing though, I just bought like $25 worth of 2x4 and stacked them with some good deck screws. I made the base several inches wider than my stands, so they're actually a lot more stable at 24" with the cribbing than the jackstand fully extended at 24".
Click to expand...

That'd be great! Thanks!!
 
I have a pair of 12 ton jackstands from Harbor Freight that i've been using. Just remember here, SAFETY FIRST. Also remember that you're going to be tugging and pulling trying to get a Dodge 60 installed under a Chevy.
 
I've used the hillbilly method---just chain saw some nice hardwood logs as big around as you can find that are not rotted to the length you need,and use them for stands...ones about 18" around or larger are pretty stable,I trusted them more than "tippy" jack stands when we had to hold a body up off the frame doing frame repair on some antiques we restored at the junkyard...
 
Rad! Thanks guys! Looks like I'll be able to borrow the 4 stands I'll need. Yes! :bow:
 
I also have a pair of little guys, like 1.5ton or so and a pair of little furniture dollys that help out moving axles around. If you want to use those too.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9810 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks. I appreciate the offer, but don't know if the dollies will do me much good. I think I'm going to do my swap in the dirt behind the church where my green Blazer is stored. I figure I'll just put the wheels on them to get them all moved around, or use my cherry picker. I also have 4 2 ton stands, they're just not very tall. :)

However, the 24" stands would be great! I'll have to have 2 trucks up on stands at a time, so having a total of 4 of them will be awesome. :)
 
Cool Colby. Be safe under there. Especially on dirt you never know what can happen when your rig is in the air
 
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