How did you remove your front coils?

[chevybuilder18]

ok well im sorta low on cash, and it really sucks i dont got the money to take my front springs out with a spring compressor. has anyone done anything different to take the front coils out?

[bk2life]

put jack under control arm, unscrew/seperate ball joint, let jack down remove coil from control arm. the control arm will go all the way down almost 90 degrees allowing easy removal of the coil.

plenty of how-tos on google..

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by bk2life

put jack under control arm, unscrew/seperate ball joint, let jack down remove coil from control arm. the control arm will go all the way down almost 90 degrees allowing easy removal of the coil.

plenty of how-tos on google..

THANKS! that relieves me

[cory d]

i havent done it with the ball joint. i just undo the u-bolts that hole the lower control arm and lowerit with a jack, with full length srpins its a good idea to chain them to the lower control arm. there is allot of energy there, if something slips some one can get seriously injured

[bigwheel15]

Yep definitely run a chain through the coil an the control arm, it only takes a slip for a coil to become a missile.
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[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by bk2life

put jack under control arm, unscrew/seperate ball joint, let jack down remove coil from control arm. the control arm will go all the way down almost 90 degrees allowing easy removal of the coil.

plenty of how-tos on google..

Originally Posted by bigwheel15

Yep definitely run a chain through the coil an the control arm, it only takes a slip for a coil to become a missile.
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I agree with all of the above

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by bigwheel15

Yep definitely run a chain through the coil an the control arm, it only takes a slip for a coil to become a missile.
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wait which side of the control arm do i un bolt to relieve the spring? undo the ball joint, chain it up and let down slowly? or un bolt lower control arm from frame and have it come straight down?

[Mike Bradbury]

Too much of you being under the truck unbolting the u bolts. Too much chance of something letting go with you under it.

Much safer to be out from under the truck when removing the spring.

Undo the lower control arm ball joint nut but leave a couple of threads screwed onto the nut. Then separate the joint with a fork, or you can buy or make a spreading tool that applies pressure on the nut to pop it free.
Position your jack perpendicular to the side of the truck. This way when your lower control arm starts rotating downward it does not tilt the jack and spit that out at you too. Jack the control arm up to relieve pressure on the nut, but not too much pressure to seat it in the bore again. Unscrew the nut and slowly lower the jack making sure there are no obstructions in the way of the wheels of the jack so it can travel inward as the LCA is traveling down. The spring will reach it's max height and then just fall out of the upper control arm perch. Easy and safe.

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by Mike Bradbury

Too much of you being under the truck unbolting the u bolts. Too much chance of something letting go with you under it.

Much safer to be out from under the truck when removing the spring.

Undo the lower control arm ball joint nut but leave a couple of threads screwed onto the nut. Then separate the joint with a fork, or you can buy or make a spreading tool that applies pressure on the nut to pop it free.
Position your jack perpendicular to the side of the truck. This way when your lower control arm starts rotating downward it does not tilt the jack and spit that out at you too. Jack the control arm up to relieve pressure on the nut, but not too much pressure to seat it in the bore again. Unscrew the nut and slowly lower the jack making sure there are no obstructions in the way of the wheels of the jack so it can travel inward as the LCA is traveling down. The spring will reach it's max height and then just fall out of the upper control arm perch. Easy and safe.

Gonna save me an arm and a leg this way.

[Mike Bradbury]

To be honest I never have used a spring compressor because the jack method is so easy that it never made sense to buy one.

[andrewmp6]

I have done a few with the floor jack even with the spring chained in i still jump when it pops free.

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

I have done a few with the floor jack even with the spring chained in i still jump when it pops free.

me too....and I always stand to side when lowering just in case lol

[bigd65]

Bk2life has it right on, no danger in that way if you let t he jack down slowly. Still don't get in front but works perfectly
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[Can't kech me]

can't you rent a spring compressor from autozone for like $20 and when you return it they give you the money bacK?

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by Can't kech me

can't you rent a spring compressor from autozone for like $20 and when you return it they give you the money bacK?

Orielly's also. And if you know the people there, usually they will let you borrow it for free....at least that's what the guys we go to do.

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by THE "10" SILVERADO

Orielly's also. And if you know the people there, usually they will let you borrow it for free....at least that's what the guys we go to do.

spring compressor here is $100 dollars, wish the guys here would do that also

[long80gmc]

you dont have to use a fork to seperate the ball joint, just use a hammer on the spindle area where it goes through, it will create enough shock to release and save your ball joints.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by long80gmc

you dont have to use a fork to seperate the ball joint, just use a hammer on the spindle area where it goes through, it will create enough shock to release and save your ball joints.

And mushroom the tip of the ball joint and never get the nut back on

Put down the hammer, it's the calibrated dodge tool and keys leave it for the dodge guys
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[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

And mushroom the tip of the ball joint and never get the nut back on

Put down the hammer, it's the calibrated dodge tool and keys leave it for the dodge guys
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well you make a sturdy point but what if i take the nut all the way to the top of the ball joint stud and tap it down?

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by long80gmc

you dont have to use a fork to seperate the ball joint, just use a hammer on the spindle area where it goes through, it will create enough shock to release and save your ball joints.

I might add to this that using a chunk of wood will save the stud.

[bk2life]

Originally Posted by long80gmc

you dont have to use a fork to seperate the ball joint, just use a hammer on the spindle area where it goes through, it will create enough shock to release and save your ball joints.

he didnt say hit the stud/the nut or mushroom the threads. he said "on the spindle area" like next to the balljoint to shock the spindle and it will loosen the ball joint. im sure you all have done this.

[long80gmc]

Originally Posted by bk2life

he didnt say hit the stud/the nut or mushroom the threads. he said "on the spindle area" like next to the balljoint to shock the spindle and it will loosen the ball joint. im sure you all have done this.

exactly! sorry if i wasent clear, do not hit the ball joint it self. hit the spindle. the shock from the impact will break it free...after a few hits

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by long80gmc

exactly! sorry if i wasent clear, do not hit the ball joint it self. hit the spindle. the shock from the impact will break it free...after a few hits

yea with a mini 5 pound sludge! Oh and how many coils should i cut for a 4 inch drop in the front?

[bigwheel15]

Originally Posted by chevybuilder18

yea with a mini 5 pound sludge! Oh and how many coils should i cut for a 4 inch drop in the front?

For a 4 inch drop up front you'd have to cut 2 coils but now you have to deal with the issue of running out of adjustment to get camber back to spec, not to mention any time you jack up the front your coils would fall out.

To do it properly you'd need a 3 inch drop spindle and cut a bit of your stock coil.

[Lost81c10]

Originally Posted by long80gmc

you dont have to use a fork to seperate the ball joint, just use a hammer on the spindle area where it goes through, it will create enough shock to release and save your ball joints.

i did not try that, but will have to. specially once i install new ball joints.

whish i would have known this i would still have my dust boots. thanks.