Front shock/spring install WITHOUT spring-compressor

Thanks, Yea i'll go ahead and give it a shot and post back up here how it worked for me. Worth a shot.

 

subd

 

LowerBost died.

 

From my experience, this method did not work out. Once we jacked the LCA to a certain point, the truck started to come up off the jackstands. We tried again with my 250 lb mass in the cab but that failed too.

 

What spring/strut combo were you installing? I'm going to be trying this later today with OME 885s and 5100s which is what was used in the video.

 

I did it with 881s and ome shocks, worked just fine. Word of warning: If the truck starts lifting off of the jack stands, the top of your shock is likely stuck in the shock tower. Even if you can see the top of the shock poking out, it could be caught on the threads. A slight jolt or bang should get it where it needs to be.

 

Stock springs on 5100's. I think it didn't work since we had to preload the spring since I was trying to get it at the 1.75 setting, since I have the rear TSB

 

I used this method on my 15' a few weeks back installing 5100's on the .85 setting. Worked like a charm.

 

Doesn't Advanced Auto Parts rent the Spring compressor tool for free?

 

Sure,but they are a pain in the ass to use. This method is so simple,it almost takes longer to jack the truck up and set the jackstands.

 

+1 this method was successful for me yesterday. Really easy and safe. One of my LCAs still needed some prying even after loosening, but overall it was much faster than using spring compressors, which I've used in the past.

I also used a similar method in the rear. Rather than using a clamp on the leaf pack (which takes forever to re-clamp after adding a leaf), I just set the jack under the axle and compressed the leaf pack as tightly as I could, and then zipped the nut on the centering pin with an impact wrench until the leaves were completely tight together.

 

In watching this, I really dont see where the danger is. On the way down, make sure your bolts are loose but still in place and the spring has no where to go. On the way up, same deal on the arm while ensuring the shock goes through the tower correctly.

For those who couldn't re-tension the spring without lifting the truck, did you end up taking the assembly somewhere to compress, then installing? In case I do this and have that experience, I'm considering my backup plan...

For those that have actually done this, are there any other potential pitfalls? I'm feeling confident based on the vids...

 

Having just done this, I can't really think of any pitfalls that you could encounter. I was slightly nervous while doing it due to the load on the spring, but there isn't really anything that can go wrong. On the way down and on the way up, the bottom of the shock is bolted in, and the top is in the tower. The spring has nowhere to go. Even in the event of jack failure... nothing bad can happen.

Keep in mind, you may need a long breaker bar to lever down the LCA. I bought a 4ft iron pipe from Lowe's and used that to get the LCA low enough to get the shock into place and the lower bolt through. Best part is, when you're done you can return the iron pipe back to Lowe's and get your $20 back! Lol

 

Thats what I was seeing/thinking and wanted to make sure of. Thanks.

I'm curious why this isn't the "standard" method, vs using a compressor...

 

I wondered the exact same thing. This is easier and safer.. unless you have a super expensive wall-mounted shop compressor then it's pretty much 6 of these half dozen of those.

I could see using compressor if the new spring was so long pre-compression that you couldn't get the shock in.. but for my 881OME upgrade it was fine.

 

My buddy got hit in the face with a spring when he improperly used the compressor, or maybe it broke on him, i don't remember. IT MESSED HIM UP BIG TIME!!!!!!! all new teeth, facial bone surgeries, eyeball popped, multiple surgeries.

I would pay a shop, maybe I'm just a pussy

 

Holy. FACK.

 

Maybe use that iron pipe idea on the jack lever, so you can stand 8 feet back....

But that kind of proves the point of what is safer. If you're using a compressor you're physically torquing big spring... in your hands... while staring at it...

 

+1 I had the floor jack lever facing out the front of the truck with the skid plate hanging on the hooks because I was lazy so I was completely shielded if something did go pop. 100x safer than using any spring compressor except the wall-mounted variety, and honestly probably easier on this particular vehicle than even that kind.