Adjusting Billies snap ring while on truck

Had some Billies installed and I knew I should of done it myself but the truck has a warranty and wanted it to be done by a "reputable" shop for liability purposes and i was crunched for time. I asked them to set the snap ring at the middle setting and well to no surprise they didn't, they even wrote it on their assignment/qoute sheet. I'd take it back but we didnt end on good terms do to other issues.
Now the question is, has anyone ever tried to adjust them without disassembling the entire shock. I'm looking for a little ingenuity and improvisation. Can anyone think of a way to compress the spring just enough to relieve the pressure or a way to not have to take the assembly off the truck.

Any idea would help it might get the ball rolling toward other ideas.
Thank you in advance.

 

Must of been serious issues because best way is to take it back. You can try compressing it on the truck and reaching up to the snap ring putting up a notch but I'm not sure you can compress the spring enough to move it. Or just take out the whole assembly, total of four nuts(easy) and compress it then. And I mean using a spring compressor.

 

Not Possible. I looked at it real close when I installed mine because I wasn't sure which setting I wanted or needed.

If you do the drop LCA method it is fairly easy and only takes 2 hours max.

 

You mean undo the nut on top, bring it down spring removed then adjust?

 

I don't think its possible. Take them off the truck and use the correct tools. I'm not saying its impossible to do, as I'm sure someone on here has figured out a way to do it, but personally I wouldn't try it.

At the minimum, you could just put your front end on jackstands, yank out both coilover assemblies, and find a shop in your area to compress/readjust/reassemble them, then re-install them yourself in your garage.

I found a shop in my area that did assembled mine for $40 cash, wink wink. Then I just installed the whole assemblies myself.

 

Yeah im leaning towards the Drop LCA method.
What about ratchet straps over the UCA and anchored to the frame. Think that would be too much pressure on the UCA?
Maybe i should quit this halfass shit and just redo it. Blows cause that shit was not cheap or i should just leave it how it is and lift the back some.
Anyone think billies on 1st gen set at highest setting is too rough a ride. I haven't noticed much of a difference since i used to have spacers on it. SHAME SHAME i know but thats how i bought the truck.

 

If you were to jack the control arm all the way up, then attach a spring compressor to the coil, then dropping the control arm back down wouldn't that relieve the pressure on the snap ring enough to adjust the snap ring? Or no?

And I mean one of those cheap sketchy spring compressors with like two hooks on a threaded rod type deal

 

I need to say this to myself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSYtOkMv1No

 

That is a good idea. though i would only be able to set the compressor on one side. Think it would be okay?

 

Well if you go to napa or whatever they usually can rent out one of the spring compressors that two threaded rods with hooks on either end. And you should be able to get them both on the spring, I think

 

I think thats going to work. they wont be 180deg. from eachother but two is better than one. Thanks completely over looked that.

 

I was actually planning on doing the same thing tomorrow.. I need some more room to clear the 33's I have on the way

 

Are you putting it at the highest setting. What tires are you getting.

 

I have OME 881 coils already which are lifting me about 1.25-1.5" so I'm going to the middle setting. I have 33x10.5r15 BFG A/t's on the way

 

If you want 3" of lift definitely consider getting different coils like OME or Eibach. Then you won't be preloading your stock coils and it'll ride much better.

 

That snap ring adjustment method is going to be easier for you since you have longer coils. Im riding on OEM.

 

True. I'm not positive that method would work, but $10 to rent a spring compressor beats having to take them to a shop to have them do it.