Coil removal?

[AJPulley]

Hey guys. Can I get some instructional help? I am trying to remove my front coils and it's getting a bit clumbsy. I have two jackstands under the side rails and one hydraulic jack under the axle. I took apart the left side (brake caliper off, sway bar link out, shock out and LCA out), let the axle down but still not enough. I think I need a bigger jack, or something. Having a brain fart maybe. Do I just undo both LCAs at the same time? Or, will this let the axle flop forward? Do I take out the uppers too? I need to get a pickle fork for the TB, maybe that would help if it's out too.

If there's a right, and fast, way to do it, I'd like to know.

 

[Andy in Pa.]

Disconnect sway bar links, trackbar, brake caliper, shocks, on BOTH sides, and maybe loosen the upper and lower control arms (both ends, just loosen, don't remove the hardware), then let the axle drop. Sometimes it takes jacking up on the opposite side to get the springs out, but usually works as long as your not going from a stock spring to a 4.5" spring or something like that.

 

[Bluexj96]

This is the way I did it.

Unbolt the top bolt of front shock and the top sway bar link. Use the stock bottle jack to jack btween the axle and "frame" While the body is on jack stands. You can easily fit a 4in coil in there with out a compreser.

Chris

 

[AJPulley]

They are 3 inch springs. I'm putting in spacers until I get my lift situation figured out, then I'm doing new springs eventually.

 

[zfinger]

get some spring compressors, makes life easier. I had to slide a pipe under the spring, pry it up, and dropkick it so it slid down the pipe into place. thats sketchy, I dont suggest trying it.

 

[goodburbon]

Can't use spring compressors either, strutt compressors are an option, but not a very safe one. I had no problems just dropping the whole axle and bolting it back up, only took a few extra minutes, but saved me from having to compresss a spring. With just 3" springs you should be just fine disconnecting both LCA's and swaybar end links and the trac bar if needed.

 

[Char-Broil]

why cant you use spring compressors? i got some for $12 at harbor freight, made my 4.5" springs into 3" springs for the install with a couple turns..made life a while lot easier. You can even use an impact wrench on them to turn them quicker. u just have to be careful with them but i dont see why they wouldnt work, they worked for me. just dont put them in a place where you cant get a wrench on them once you put the coil in, that can be a problem.

 

[goodburbon]

spring compressors go inside the spring

strut compressors go on the outside, they can make life easier but are very dangerous since you are dealing with a lot of potential energy when you compress a spring.

since most strut compressors are made of cast materials and due to design are prone to shifting they can easily slip off or break and kill you.

not something I would trust a $12 harbor freight POS with.

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

why cant you use spring compressors? i got some for $12 at harbor freight, made my 4.5" springs into 3" springs for the install with a couple turns..made life a while lot easier. You can even use an impact wrench on them to turn them quicker. u just have to be careful with them but i dont see why they wouldnt work, they worked for me. just dont put them in a place where you cant get a wrench on them once you put the coil in, that can be a problem.

i didnt need strut compressors when i added my 3" srings and coil spacers, you just need to unbolt the lower control arms

 

[nhrocker]

I managed to fit in 5.5" grand coils with my bare hands. Just take the extra couple minutes and unbolt what you need to. In my case I had already taken off everything that connected to the axle but the brakes, so that helped.

Hopefully he got the new parts in by now, it's been two weeks... :laugh3: If not, someone get him a beer and a helping hand fast!:shocked::cheers:

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

I managed to fit in 5.5" grand coils with my bare hands. Just take the extra couple minutes and unbolt what you need to. In my case I had already taken off everything that connected to the axle but the brakes, so that helped.

Hopefully he got the new parts in by now, it's been two weeks... :laugh3: If not, someone get him a beer and a helping hand fast!:shocked::cheers:

you have long arms so you dont count

 

[goodburbon]

I have a short arm lift and have used both the strut compressor method, and CA removal method. Removing the CA's is 1000X easier, even without a car lift.

 

[nhrocker]

you have long arms so you dont count

Actually I hadn't bolted them to the rig yet, the only things attached to the axle were the brake lines, drag link, and tie rod...made it real easy to get the coils in there! :laugh3: