coil spring removal?

[Jeff in VA]

A little late, but.....you can use a small bottle jack to help push the axle down far enough to remove the spring(s). Wedge it between the axle tube and "framerail" inside the wheelwell. As you jack it, it'll push the axle down far enough so that the coil will practically fall out. You need a small bottle jack to do this with ('bout a $5 one), and it works like a charm.
Just thought I'd add this little trick into the post, hopefully it'll help someone else
Jeff

 

[Burley]

A little late, but.....you can use a small bottle jack to help push the axle down far enough to remove the spring(s). Wedge it between the axle tube and "framerail" inside the wheelwell. As you jack it, it'll push the axle down far enough so that the coil will practically fall out. You need a small bottle jack to do this with ('bout a $5 one), and it works like a charm.
Just thought I'd add this little trick into the post, hopefully it'll help someone else
Jeff

Well I'm still on the first side so I may try that on the driver side when I get this side put back together.

Thanks for the help and I 'll post late tonight or tomorrow after tonights battle.... stay tuned.

Burley

 

[Jeff in VA]

Using this method, you don't have to unbolt UCA/LCA's or the trackbar. Just unbolt the caliper, shock, coil retainer tab, and sway bar link. Unscrew the bumpstock using a pipewrench (you may have to rotate the spring around a little to get it to slip thru the coils). Like previously mentioned, jack up the vehicle and block it right behind the LCA frame mount, the higher the better, to let the axle drop as far as possible.
Good luck!
Jeff

 

[Burley]

Well I finally got the new springs in last night. here is what I did:

Unbolted the trackbar, swaybar, both lower control arms, and the front drive shaft.

After that I still needed the spring compressor to get the 3" springs in.

The drive shaft being unbolted helped in realigning the axle with the lower control arms. I lifted the axle with a large floor jack then used the OEM bottle jack to push the axle into alignment. One note for someone doing this the first time. When you jack the axle up with the new springs installed and the lca's off, the axle will twist if you jack at the axle tube. You need to find a way to put jack pressure directly under the spring. If you jack on the axle tube you will be putting a lateral pressure on the spring causing it to twist backward making it nearly impossible to connect the lca's. Having the drive shaft removed will enable you to put the bottle jack on the tail housing to adjust for lca alignment.

This is what worked for me. One thing I noticed is that everyone seems to have a different idea on how to change out coil springs and you just need to take a little from everybody and make your own way.

Burley

 

[whatsleakingtoday]

how do you disconnect the draglink from the pitman arm? I removed the crown bolt and nothing happened.

 

[xjbrian219]

Put jack stands behind the lower control arm mounts, disconnect the draglink from the pitman arm, disconnect the sway bars, and disconnect the tracbar from the axle.disconnect the bottom half of your shocks put a floor jack under the axle, remove the tires and lower the axle until the springs can be removed, I do not know why anyone needs to compress springs or remove control arms to do this. This is the way I have always done it. Its worked for 3", 6" and 8" lift coils

This ^

 

[Kingkong0192]

I haven't read through this entire thread, but this is how i do it;

Jack the front end of the vehicle up so the front axle is hanging. Put it on jackstands and lower it down.

Remove your swaybar disconnects so the axle can drop. If your shocks are maxed out and holding it up, remove those as well.

Put your floorjack on one side and slowly start jacking it up. Before you go crazy, put the "Autozone strut/spring compressor" on the coil that you're jacking up. As you jack it up and compress it with the jack, slowly tighten down on the strut compressor. You would need much force or even an impact to do this. Once it's fully compressed, lower the jack and the coil should remain compressed. Bring the jack to the other side of the vehicle and jack up that side. This will cause the other side to drop. Once it's dropped you should be able to pull the coil out without any problems.

Do the same for the other side.

 

[anthrax323]

Historically, I've needed to disconnect the sway bar, drag link (from the pitman arm), and possibly shocks to easily get the coils out. Track bar usually isn't a bad idea, depending on what kind you have. That's the route I'll be taking on Friday once my new track bar setup and ACOS crap arrives.

 

[whatsleakingtoday]

it is for sure not just a matter of loosening up the crown bolt to remove the drag link from the pitman arm. do you all who mentioned it use a metal hammer and work it bcak and fourth? I am in the middle of this and prob just going to remove it from the axle.

 

[ktm racer 419]

This thread is almost ten years old. I sure as hell hope he got his coil springs out by now...