Does the sway bar have to come off???

[67chevemall]

Hello
I am trying to get the front springs out of the truck but it won't budge!
I have the lower ball joint loose and a chain around the spring. I 've sreaded lots of 2X2's beating on the lower ball joint to get her loose but it won't move

Does the sway bar and tie rod have to come off to get the spring out?

I'm going to get the ball joint tool to see if that works.

[67chevemall]

ttt

[u2slow]

Disconnect the sway bar at the control arms. The arm has to drop further than you think to get the spring out. You might have to jack up the front end higher.

Not sure if the tie-rod needs to be disconnected, I had my whole front end apart at the time I swapped springs.

[67chevemall]

I have a big jack in the middle and two smaller ones under each control arm.
I need a bigger hammer i guess. I 'll have to get the sway bar off.
Where the bugger is summer?

[u2slow]

Undo the 2-bolt strap on the control arm (the one that holds the rubber bushing).

[SanitysBane]

i had to push down on the control arm in order to get the spring out

[r0lf-]

Yes, take the sway bar and control arm off to get the lower control arm all the way down to get the spring out. Its only like 3 more bolts.

[SanitysBane]

2 bolts actually

[r0lf-]

well, 2 bolts for the swaybar mount, then 1 for the tierod.

[67chevemall]

Take em all off eh!
Dam I gonna blow this thing up!
Where'[s the plasma cutter?

[SanitysBane]

i didn't have to take off the tie rod to get the spring out.

[Tx Firefighter]

I always disconnect to sway bar, lower shock bolt, and pop the lower balljoint. This allows the arm to pivot down enough to pull the spring.

I leave the tie rod end connected and just swing the spindle assembly out of the way.

[67chevemall]

I have all the bolts off but the darn thing won't budge!~
How does that ball joint come out?
I don't have a big enough hammer!
Should I get a ball joint tool?
Ahhhhhhhh!

[Slonaker]

I am asuming that you are trying to separate the lower balljoint from spindle so that you can replace the spring. If that is not the case, the following probably won't apply.

Remove the two bolts that attach the sway bar to the lower control Arm (LCA). Nothing in the steering needs to be disconnected.

I wouldn't use a ball joint tool. They usually tear the dust boot. I would only use one of those if all else fails.

Whatever you do, DON"T REMOVE THE NUT ALL THE WAY FROM THE LOWER BALL JOINT AT THE SPINDLE! Just loosen the nut enough so that it can come loose, probably 1/4 inch or so. You want the nut to stay on there so that the whole assembly does not fly apart and cut off your head, fingers, or any other, uh, important body parts.

With the frame supported on a jackstand and nothing under the lower control arm, loosen the nut on the lower balljoint where it attaches to the spindle. You are using the spring tension to help pull it apart, this is why the LCA should be unsupported for this part. Take a large hammer, like a small sledgehammer, and hit the spindle with it. Hit it on the side of the part the lower ball joint goes through. Hit it directly with the hammer, not with a 2X2. If you use wood in there, you'll never be able to hit it hard enough. Usually it just takes 4 or 5 good swings, and the balljoint will pull out of the spindle. This is why you left the nut on. It stops everything from flying apart when it pops loose.

Now put a floor jack underneath the spring pocket in the lower control arm. Position the jack so that you are in front of the truck. If the spring flies out (it shouldn't since you have it chained in place, but don't take any chances), it will come out the side and miss you completely. Raise the lower control arm with the jack just enough to take the tension off the balljoint nut. Unscrew the nut, and SLOWLY lower the floor jack (remember, you positioned the jack so that you can do this from in FRONT of the truck) allowing the tension on the spring to be released. Once ALL of the tension is released from the spring, pull the spring out. Make note of how it fits in (big end down, small end up) and how the bottom of the spring fits in the pocket in the LCA.

Yo u put it back together in the opposite manner. If you are installing drop springs, they are short and will probably go in easily. If your new springs are stock, they will be longer than the old worn out springs, and hard to fit in. On mine, I used my feet to push the LCA down enough to squeeze the spring in. It only fits one way, so make sure it is right side up and oriented correctly at the top and bottom. Remember , small end up, and turn it until it lines up top and bottom.

Good luck,

Slonaker

[67chevemall]

I 'm going to try that Saturday morning.
Thanks a bunch that was what I needed.
I need a better BFH!
I'm just tearing this one down for parts but I'll remember now to mark the springs with
tape and marker. Thanks
Beware of the spring eh?Can't get in front of the truck right now so I'll just
stay the he!! out of the way. Maybe even two chains.
She already "bit"my hand once. She's mad at me for the tear down,.\$3#