spring question

This may be a stupid question, but il ask anyway. Im buying a set of ome coil springs and shocks. Im pretty sure I do not need a spring compressor to get the old spring /shock setup out. I believe it comes out as one. Do I need the compressor to get the new coils on the new shocks?

 

Yes and yes. To remove the stock strut assembly, there are four bolts to remove. Once you have it out, you need to compress the stock springs to disassemble it, then take all the parts (sans the spring) and put the new spring on.

Make sense?

 

x100000000!!

 

What they said....

As an example - this is what the coil assemblies look like as you remove them from the truck.


You have to use a coil compressor to separate them and install the new stuff.

Don't forget this:
On the 1st gen trucks, this line-up was very important. If you don't get this right, you won't be able to install it back on the truck. Or atleast make NOTE of exactly the way its mounted before you separate coil/strut.

 

Does all this apply if I am not re-using the old shocks since I am not putting the new coil on the old shock?

 

Yep. Still needs to be lined up like that.

 

In order to get the new spring (ome) or any spring for that matter, onto your shock you will have to compress the spring first.

The last picture that Janster posted will give you a good idea of how this works. You can pull the coil over out from the vehicle without having to compress the spring, although in order to remove the spring from the coilover assembly you will first have to compress the spring and then remove the center nut (pictured with an arrow pointing at it).

EDIT: You can rent a spring compressor that will do the job just fine for FREE at most all large part stores. I know Autozone does this, and so does Advanced. You will just need to leave them about a 30 to 40 dollar deposit in most cases. (A impact wrench is essential for using these spring compressors)

 

The reason why - you need the top plate. The top plate is what holds it all together and what attaches it to the truck.

 

A note on those spring compressors you can rent... They are barely strong enough to compress the OMEs (or Eibach). I've heard some stories of people having trouble compressing them even with the wall mount hydraulic spring compressors...

Go the safe route. Pay the $40 and take them to a mechanic shop and have them do it. Not worth a trip to the ER (if you're that lucky).

 

+1 - that's what I had to do...

 

thanks for the info guys!

 

X2

For the many wrench-a-thons we had at our house and the many times we went to the shop to have coils compressed, I'd carry a print-out of that diagram and they still couldn't get it right. I'd check it before I left....and I'd always make 'em fix it!

 

Any tips on how you know you have the top nut down all the way on top of the top plate? I took it into 4 wheel parts to have them compress the springs. They compressed it and assembled with mostly everything lined up right, but they compressed on one side only, and the top plate is a bit catty-wompass (sp? ), so I don't know if they seated the nut all the way down to the last thread of the shock top bolt or if you don't have to worry about that...

See Pic


I put the top plate ans spacer horizontal for reference, and you can see the top bolt angled. The rubber cushion is assymetric as the other clue.

I could hear that lower washer rattle under the top plate (the silver cupped one that goes between the shock and the top plate), so I had them take it back and crank it more, and can't hear that rattle now...