The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop TCI IFS Spring Problem - response from TCI (long)

Several people have expressed problems getting the M2 IFS springs to install correctly.

I have been in touch with Pat Hollister (a fellow Oletrucker) who had the same issue as I did (see http://www.wsu.edu/~rsain/apache.html) with compressing the springs.

He called TCI to see what they said. Below is a copy of the email he sent me detailing TCI's response (the message is posted with permission from the author).

"Ryan, Well yes I did talk to TCI, and yes I did have some luck with them,(I think). I explained to them that I had the motor and tranny in and stood up on the frame, and that the springs still where bowed and far from level, (a-arms). He explained to me that he was sure I had the right springs and that they get a couple calls a week about the same problem. He said they were about to put it on their web site, and on the instruction sheet that this is normal. He went on to tell me that I need to finish the truck, (get ALL the body back together, and the interior, ect.) Then I need to drive the truck, easily, at first, to help seat the springs. He said the springs will settle in and be the right height after all the weight is on them and they seat in. He said this was due to them using a heavier spring that won't bottom out after it settles in.

"I told him that it might be as much as 2 years before I get to the stage of being able to drive the truck. He said it didn't matter to them, if I still have trouble when I get everything back together, to call them and they will make it right. I guess I can't ask for anything more than that, (as long as they keep their word)

"Seems that we have a common problem, that's not a problem at all, just a pain in the ...... So, I guess just finish your truck, drive it, and if you don't like it, call them. He also told me that some guys have cut their springs to shorten them, and it worked for a while, but after the springs settled in, they were not happy with them. They could not align the front end after it settled too far, and had problems with sagging."

(snip the last paragraph)

"Later,

Pat Hollister---'58 step"

Hope this helps all of you out there - and DON'T CUT YOUR SPRINGS!

- Ryan

Ryan - information like this rarely sees the light of day, thanks for sharing. I can't help but think that if these are this big of a pain that TCI hasn't taken the time to document it and get the information as public as possible at the time of purchase. But - that may compromise $ale$ and you wouldn't want that!?!? This kind of non-disclosure is a crappy way to run a business.

You're welcome!

Good point.

TCI have changed their instruction sheets to mention the problem that I described above.

And they have always stood behind their product when I had problems with the spindles.
- Ryan

hi guys, yes all the weight need's to be on there.
down to the water in the radiator.

in my shop after i install ms11 set up,i make a brkt, that goes where the shock goes.

place a 2x4 under ms11 cross member, that way
lower a-arms are flat with ground.

i take a pipe weld a bolt on the end of it, that goes thru the top hat, bottom part of pipe drill a hole thru it. put bolt thru a-ram & pipe.

that way the truck is sitting at the ride height
it should be at.

when the truck is done i drive it to the front end shop, he install's the coil's & align the front end.

the spring i put in are for a ms11 v6 with air.

DO NOT CUT THE COIL'S