Removing the Front Coil Spings

[MrPD]

I posted in another thread about lifting the front end of my 76 D-100 2wd, I would like to know what is the best (easiest) way for taking out the old coil springs and putting in the new ones. I was told maybe I could just use coil spring compressors drop the shock and then take the coils out but I am thinking there might be alittle more to it. I would like to do it the easiest way without taking apart alot of things but if that is what I have to do, then I guess it has to be done. Is there anywhere online that has a step by step to do this procedure?

Thanks,
PD

[timethy]

Spring compressor borrowed from the parts store worked fine for me. From memory:

Remove tires & support the front end on jack stands
remove the shock
compress the springs with the tool
remove spring & tool from truck
remove tool from spring
compress your new spring
position the new spring in the truck
uncompress it, remove tool
install new shock

I did this to mine and it got rid of the gangster lean.

[Speed Dragon]

I just took the shock out, put a jack under the control arm, took the upper balljoint loose, and lowered the jack till the spring came loose.

[cribbs74]

I just did this yesterday using both methods mentioned. I will suggest you use the compressor as It's the safest, but the jack method was super fast.

FWIW the new stock springs I installed raised my front end about 2 inches.

Ron

[cribbs74]

Correction......... I loosened the lower ball joint instead of the upper like Speed and I used the compressor on the drivers side But I still dropped the lower control arm.

[Speed Dragon]

Yeah the original spring on these trucks like to sag or break.

[MrPD]

Speed-

So would you take the upper or lower ball joint loose? By loose you mean the hex nut right? After removing the shock, fully take the nut off the upper (or lower) ball joint and then let the floor jack slowly down and the spring should pop out, correct? I don't have to remove the nuts to strut rods or anything?

Thanks,
PD

[Speed Dragon]

Nope you shouldn't. Doesn't really matter which one you loosen I guess, but to me it seems that the spindle will be out of the way more if you take it loose at the top.

[Autoglass]

Most of the coils are rated for @1300lbs.
In my 90 2WD the right side broke in 2, so I checked the parts books and got a set rated @1700lbs. Raised the front end up without changing the alignment.

[MrPD]

Ok thanks to everyone who responded, I will be swapping out the old coil springs in the next coming days and I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks again,
-PD

[bherder]

Speed-

So would you take the upper or lower ball joint loose? By loose you mean the hex nut right? After removing the shock, fully take the nut off the upper (or lower) ball joint and then let the floor jack slowly down and the spring should pop out, correct? I don't have to remove the nuts to strut rods or anything?

Thanks,
PD

You still gotta bust the ball joint loose with a pickle fork, right?

BTW... I think I'd stand as far out of the way as possible when letting that floor jack back down... ;)

[Speed Dragon]

You still gotta bust the ball joint loose with a pickle fork, right?

BTW... I think I'd stand as far out of the way as possible when letting that floor jack back down... ;)Nope, you just have to whack the spindle w/ a big hammer, it'll come loose. And it's not really that dangerous, you just let the jack down slowly;)

[MrPD]

Thanks again Speed, I was waiting to see your reply before doing anything!


-PD

[bherder]

Nope, you just have to whack the spindle w/ a big hammer, it'll come loose. And it's not really that dangerous, you just let the jack down slowly;)

I think I'd still stand off to the side.... :D

This is one of the reasons I'm a big 'torsion bar' fan! :D

[zerko]

Nobody mentioned about putting a jackstand under the frame to hold the front end up while you let the jack down SLOWLY! The front end has to be up fairly high, as the lower arm will come down quite a ways. Have done these before this way, and it works just fine. The spring compressor must be tightened evenly if you use them. Personally, I think they just get in the way, and if they fail while you are holding them, the front of your truck may not be the only thing that becomes higher! Although, having your nose on the TOP of your head will let you go deeper in the lake!

[MrPD]

Speed-

I still haven't got around to taking out my old coil springs, ran into family problems. I am now in the process of getting to it but I have a question for you ... you said to take the shock out, put a jack under the control arm, take the upper balljoint loose, and lower the jack till the spring came loose. Wouldn't it be better to remove the lower balljoint nut being the the jack would be holding the spring tension? The way I see it is that if the upper balljoint nut is removed there is nothing really holding the spring tension force upwards being the nut is removed? I could be wrong on this I just wanted to check and cover all my questions before getting to it.

Thanks again,
PD

[B-300]

You can do it either way.. upper or lower. For safety only loosen the ball joint nut if using Speeds method of removal by hammer. This will protect the threads if you miss and provide a safety to the spring energy.
Also if you disconnect at the lower ball joint you can leave the brake caliper and hose connected to the knuckle. If you disconnect at the upper ball joint you will need to remove the caliper and hang it so the hose isn't stressed. Removal at the upper is the way I have done it on both of my vans.
There is a 3rd option if trucks use 2 piece knuckles like vans. That is to remove the caliper and rotor and 2 bolts that hold th upper and lower knuckle together.. They are tight, but this method would put less stress on th ball joints... Don't forget the jack to support the lower contro arm.

[Speed Dragon]

The top of the spring isn't against the upper control arm, it's against the spring perch in the frame. So really it makes no difference which way you do it. I take the top loose, because it let you swing the spindle around out of the way more, plus it kinda sorta protects you a bit if the spring does happen to kick out at the bottom.

Here's how I do it:

1) Jack it up, pull the wheel, set it firmly on a jack stand under the frame.

2) Put the jack under the lower control arm, jack it up just enough to take pressure off the shock.

3) Remove the top nut on the shock, then the 2 bottom bolts, and remove the shock.

4) Remove the brake caliper and hang it up out of the way.

5) Loosen the upper balljoint, and whack the spindle w/ a hammer to break it free.

6) Remove the nut from the upper balljoint and lower the jack slowly.

7) Remove the spring. You may have to use a prybar to pop it out.

Just reverse the procedure to install.

[AMP762]

Down and dirty,remove shock install a treaded rod with washer on bottom tighten nuts jack up sit on stand remove inner bolt from lower control arm loosen nut. worked for me.