Frame Clamp
anyone know how to change the front coil springs on a 97 gmc 1500?
I'm changing out the front coil springs on my truck, I tried using a spring compressor ( the 2 clamp deal from autozone rentals) and the problem is no matter where I set them on the springs, the compressors always bang into the top of the coil spring housing on the frame, is there a better method or tool I can use for this?
I own a shop, and what you are trying to do is all wrong. You could get seriously hurt this way. Do Not try to change these springs without removing the lover ball joint. You have found that you can't compress the spring that far, if you do, and it breaks loose it will come out of there with major force. The spring compressor is only useful to get the spring started back in anyway. The vehicle must be on jack stands, and place them under the frame so the weight of the vehicle is not on the lower control arm. Place a jack under the lower control arm, jack it up till it just begins to pick the vehicle up off the jack stand, stop, and keep all the weight on the stand. Remove the cotter pin, and nut from the lower ball joint. Remove the sway bar, shock, and anything else that will keep it from going down all the way. Lower the jack thats under the control arm just a little to put some pressure on the control arm, and stop. DO NOT lower it enough for the spring to pop out. Use a big hammer to smack the control arm around the sides of where the ball joint is. A few good hits, and the ball joint & control arm will seperate from the spindle. All you have to do now is; lower the jack to take the tension off the spring until it falls out. If after you lower it all the way and it won't come out, then use the spring compressor to get it the rest of the way. Put the new spring in position (pay attention to pads at top for spring to sit in) and jack the floor jack up until you can get the ball joint back in with the nut back on it. Tighten the nut to specs, install the cotter pin, and you are done. Sometimes a new spring will be hard to get in, and you will have to use the compressor to get it started, but I have never seen anyone use a spring compressor to change the springs with. There is just too much tension on the compressor this way, and it could break resulting in someone getting injured or killed. Know what you are doing when it comes to messing with things that has a lot of tension on it. Many people have been killed this way, and you are no exception. I cannot stress how dangerous this job is when done incorrectly.
Glad to help out, Good luck!!!
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