Author Topic: How to replace the coil springs?  (Read 11951 times)

Offline Chisholmcody

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How to replace the coil springs?
« on: February 07, 2015, 11:19:31 pm »
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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Offline Irish_Alley

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Offline Chisholmcody

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2015, 02:08:26 pm »
Thank you!


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Offline NCali

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2015, 09:28:58 pm »
you Have to use a spring compressor. The spring is to long to get in and out by just lowering the lower control arm
Black Labs Matter

Offline NCali

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2015, 08:06:01 pm »
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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Offline Chisholmcody

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2015, 02:58:21 am »
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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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2015, 03:03:42 am »
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
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline Chisholmcody

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2015, 03:07:50 am »
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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Offline Irish_Alley

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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2015, 04:38:50 am »
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline Chisholmcody

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2015, 12:36:45 pm »
I ended up getting this from napa and am going to try it tonight hopefully it works if not guess I will have to hear it up and hope for the best


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Offline timthescarrd

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2015, 03:25:11 pm »

Offline Chisholmcody

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2015, 03:48:09 pm »
Thanks for the info if this doesn't work with heat I will head that route and rent them


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Offline NCali

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2015, 09:41:32 pm »
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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Offline 78BIG-TEN

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Re: How to replace the coil springs?
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2015, 09:23:51 am »
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