Hood hinge spring removal

[4th Gen C-10]

What is the best way to remove the hood hinge springs?

[Z10]

1. Grab a friend.

2. Drill a 1/8 inch hole in the bracket/hood where it attaches to the hood. You'll use this hole to align your hood when you reinstall it.

3. remove the 2 upper bolts on both hings.

4. You and your friend remove the hood.

5. Give your friend a beer.

[kcsa75]

I always found a big screwdriver did the trick. But be careful.

[Z10]

opps I miss read your question. Have no idea how to take just the spring off.

[FirstOwner69]

I used an engine hoist. I don't know if you have one. I wrapped a length of chain around the two tubes parallel to the floor with the casters on them and used a chain repair link (the kind that used a barrel nut) to connect the ends of the chain leaving a couple links free at one end. I put another repair link on the hoist hook. I then hooked one end of the spring on the top link and held the hinge in position so the other end of the spring engaged the first free link of the bottom chain as I pumped the ram. A few pumps to stretch the spring and spring and hinge separate. It helps to have an assistant to do this. Since I was reusing the springs, I left them extended, cleaned and painted them and just reversed the process after the paint on the hinges and springs thoroughly dried . It's simple, safe, and allows full paint coverage if you paint your hinges/springs. It's also a lot easier to do than trying to explain it.

[leftybass209]

Brake tools work. Same principle as taking brake springs off just more strength required.

[WIDESIDE72]

I bought a tool from lmc. It has a T handle and a hook on the end. Makes changing springs easy!

[rpatowers]

X2 on the LMC hook tool. Still, I needed someone to help me pull to remove old spring and install new one.

[chuckmc8]

I use two ratchet straps between 2 poles in my shop. Just do the click-n-stretch, it only has to stretch the spring an inch or so and the hinge falls out. I do whatever I need to the hinge and then set it back in place and release the strap and its ez and no drama

[burnin oil]

That tool from LMC is worth ever bite of the $15 or so I payed for it. As big as that spring is I didn't want to chance it and I rarely buy those type of specialty tools.

[4th Gen C-10]

Thanks everyone

[69GMCLonghorn]

I ended up having a local body shop do it for me. Cost me $15 I think. Well worth having a HEAD left afterwards.

[ubtripn]

No, go down to a farm supply shop and buy a hay bale hook. That is what I used, very heavy duty and safer in my opinion.

[turp mcspray]

I just use a large boxend wrench over the spring tip, and pull on the other end. It doesn't need to pull very far.

[jondancer]

A piece of rope or cable, hold it with each hand and hook it over the spring. Pull...it gives you a lot of leverage .

[chevytruckluver]

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

I just use a large boxend wrench over the spring tip, and pull on the other end. It doesn't need to pull very far.

What he said ^

[leddzepp]

Pop your hood open just enough so you can reach in from the side. The spring will be stretched as pictured below. Use some flat iron shims, or washers, or coins to put betwee the coils. Slowly open the hood all the way up. The spring will try to compress (as shown in the second pic, open all the way), but the shims keep it stretched and the hinge "shortens" enough for the spring to be removed by hand. If you use a lot of shims they will even fall out, so put a towel on your inner fenders if they have nice paint

[leddzepp]

Hood open all the way, spring compresses, but shims will prevent it from doing this. Once removed, it is fairly easy to flex the spring side to side by hand and the shims fall back out.

[4th Gen C-10]

Thanks leddzepp!

[BlacklandCamper]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Pop your hood open just enough so you can reach in from the side. The spring will be stretched as pictured below. Use some flat iron shims, or washers, or coins to put betwee the coils. Slowly open the hood all the way up. The spring will try to compress (as shown in the second pic, open all the way), but the shims keep it stretched and the hinge "shortens" enough for the spring to be removed by hand. If you use a lot of shims they will even fall out, so put a towel on your inner fenders if they have nice paint

That's how I did mine. Except I used wrenches.

To install them, I used a come along, and my tractor. Spring on the three point pin, and the come along anchored on the mow deck.