coil spring

[Booncha57]

Can somebody explain to me how you get the coil springs out of my truck. '98 2wd. I just did my ball joints and was trying to figure out how to get the spring out. I have a spring compressor but I don't see how you would even get it on there. Maybe I need a step by step process if anyone has the time to write one up. Thanks in advance!

 

[thegoat4]

There's a special spring compressor tool that slips up through the center of the coil once the shock has been removed. Yeah, the external ones are hopeless.

Looking at mine, this is how I would do it without that tool.

This is a little dangerous. The spring can squirt out in a hurry if you're not careful.

Assuming the knuckle is already off, set the crossmember on a jack stand. Jack up near the lower ball joint (should actualy have a little shelf welded to the lower arm for this very purpose) and take out the shock absorber. Unhook the sway bar. Set another jack stand near the ball joint and remove the jack. Now jack up on the whole control arm directly below the spring perch. Remove the second jack stand and pivot bolts and lower the jack, bringing the arm down with the spring.

Use a floor jack, not a bottle jack since it's more stable. Thread a chunk of wire rope through the spring and secure it to the frame so if everything goes wrong it won't get too far. You could also probably reconnect the knuckle temporarily to limit how far stuff flies.

There are two little holes in the lower arm. The spring needs to be installed so the end of the coil covers only one hole.

And remember to have the truck's weight sitting on the suspension before tightening the pivot bolts.

 

[Booncha57]

I have the compressor, I just didn't know it replaced the shock. That makes sense though. Sorry to make you type all that. So if I have the compressor, I jack up the crossmember and remove the shock and the spindle? Is a knuckle the same as a spindle? will the spring come out pretty easily once it's compressed? One more question, what are the pivot bolts or won't I be messing with them since I have the compressor? Thanks, I appreciate all of this!

 

[bluovaldude]

To be honest a spring compressor will do nothing but make more work for you.

Here is what I did. 1. jack the front of the truck up and support it with stands.
2. remove tire.
3. Remove shock
4. Place jack under control lower control arm and jack the control arm up.
5. Remove lower control arm from spindle
6. lower jack slowly
7. The coil spring should fall down with the control arm.

 

[Booncha57]

Thanks guys, I'm sure I'll figure it out.