73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: Chisholmcody on February 07, 2015, 11:19:31 pm
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So in a few days I am replacing my coil springs in my 78 c10 and was wondering if any one had a step by step guide?
Also do I really need a spring compressor or can I just jack the lower control arm up with the spring in it?
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http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=16666.0
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Thank you!
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you Have to use a spring compressor. The spring is to long to get in and out by just lowering the lower control arm
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I stand corrected: I just removed and replaced my coil springs without using a spring compressor: I did have the spindle removed from the ball joints and with a long bar I rotated the a arm until the spring went in
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So I got it all apart except for the ball joint from the lower control arm. It seems like it's stuck I used the "Pickle fork" or the ball joint separator tool and that ended up snapping in half. Going to get a new one after school. Does anyone have any tricks to get them separated?
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sometimes heat but if you heat up the ball joint it will expand and be stuck even more so try to heat up just the control arm
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Ok and then is there a better tool then the pickle fork? It seemed to small and just slid in with ease
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theres a couple different size pickle forks
http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/pitman-arm-separator
http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/ball-joint-separator
http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/tie-rod-end-separator
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http://www.delbridge.net/balljoints
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I ended up getting this from napa and am going to try it tonight hopefully it works(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/11/b9e52409e2fcfea7f922ef4d73683f52.jpg) if not guess I will have to hear it up and hope for the best
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I've had good luck with this style
http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-41900-Pitman-Arm-Puller/dp/B0009OR91K
and this
http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/ball-joint-press/oem-ball-joint-u-joint-press-set/557231_0_0/
Which can be rented at most parts stores
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Thanks for the info if this doesn't work with heat I will head that route and rent them
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Before you go putting heat to it, try a ball joint pickle fork.
with the vehicle supported on jack stands,
put a floor jack under the control arm .with about an inch of clearance
you will be using the jack to support the control arm when it pops loose so the spring doesnt come shooting out
loosen the nut on the ball joint and hammer the fork between the spindle and the lower control arm.
with the fork putting pressure on the joint hit the spindle right next to the hole for the ball joint
dont remove the nut from the ball joint , use the spring pressure to help it come loose
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The right tool for getting ball joints loose from the spindle is like a jack screw.One end is hollow to go over the stud aand against the nut and the other end goes against the stud,simply unscew and they pop loose
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I ended up buying another pickle fork and spent 10 min just whaling on it and it finally cam loose.
After that I got the spring compressor on the spring and got the new one in.
Now for the other side
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So I got around to doing the other side and everything is going fine until I get to the crown nut on the ball joint
I got a socket on it and it start turning all easy.... Turns out the bolt of the balljoint is stripped. Does any one have any recommendations on how to get the nut off?
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Old ball joint right? Angle grinder and a cut-off wheel
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Yep after I cut it out I take it that I go rent I press and press out the old? Then press in the new one
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Before pressing the old one out, ensure it doesn't have an adjuster sleeve. I know the 4x4s came with them, I don't think the 2wd's did, but just be sure
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Ok thank you
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I used a bolt a nut and a socket to make a separator. The Idea us to push the ball joint out of the spindle. Loosen off the ball joint you want to separate but leave the nut on. Then put the bolt home made separator between them and turn the nut to push the socket against the ball joint till it pops. Then with the jack under the control arm remove the ball joint nut and lower the arm. This method doesn't damage the ball joint. You should be able the find an image of a ball joint separator on Google.
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I just did the same thing with the right side spring on my truck, I made a separator and used it along with a pickle fork and it worked without using heat
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The right tool for getting ball joints loose from the spindle is like a jack screw.One end is hollow to go over the stud aand against the nut and the other end goes against the stud,simply unscew and they pop loose
I literally just used this method. Jack up on the frame with the suspension hanging free, back off the ball joint retaining nuts 1/16" or so (enough for a noticeable gap), and install the jackscrew and put some preload on the end of the ball joint. Then, with a decent sized hammer, whack the spindle casting as close to the ball joint as you can and it'll pop loose. No heat and no torn rubber boots. I just popped loose all four of my front ball joints in a little less than an hour this way having never done this before and I'm pretty sure my truck's ball joints have never been apart either. In this situation, pressure from the coil spings, preload from the jackscrew, and a jarring impact from the hammer all work together very well.
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...You should be able the find an image of a ball joint separator on Google.
Google image search for "gm tool j23742"