Hey, how long will it take me to install my Front Springs? I havent done it before but am pretty good with that stuff. Can i get it done in like 4 hours?

Any special tools needed or that would dramaticly help?

Thanks, gonna try to do it tomorrow night and dont wana be stuck truckless or up till 5am.

 

ttt

 

A ball-joint splitter for the upper control arm, a second jack to raise and lower the lower, and a chain/nylon pull strap to wrap around the spring for safety's sake.

Daniel

 

How long does it usually take to do both front springs?

 

With those tools and basic hand tools it can be done in less than a hour. There was not alot of pressure on my springs when I popped the balljoint. Just be careful.....

 

For those of you who have done the springs, let me run this idea by you and see if you think it'll work.

Instead of popping off the tie rod end, I was thinking I could compress the spring with a spring compressor, take out the upper arm bolts (since I have to replace them anyway with cam bolts), lower the whole assembly down with my jack and pull the compressed spring out. I may have to undo the sway bar end if I need more travel. Then I could just reverse the process to install the new springs.

Will this work?

Bob

PS. Does anyone remember what the sizes of the bolt heads/nuts are for most the main bolts?

 

Thats what I did, works great.

 

Thanks RT. I thought it would.

 

k, how long would it take if i didnt have the above mentioned tools? i only have one floor jack and 2 jackstands, i dont have a ball-joint spliter.

Could i use the jack that came with the truck to lift and put on a jack stand then use the floor jack to raise and lower the control arm?

Would it be highly advisable to get spring compressors?

 

Dude you don't need that stuff to do.

Jack up your truck, put it on stand. Remove the inner wheel well, and the rim and tire. Take your jack and jack the lower control arm until the truck starts to come off the jack and the lower it just enough so its on the jack stand. Put a cain or something around the spring and remove the upper control arm bolts. then slowly lower the lower control arm SLOW! and it should come out. Reverse the process and your done.

Your of course going to have to get a cam bolt kit anyway, so whats the diff. Go to the alignment shop and your done!

Oh, yeah you need to remove your socks too, but I'm sure you know that.

 

dt, I'm in the same boat as you as far as tools. Here's the steps I'm going to do and from what RTKilla said, it should work without having to have a ball joint tool. You will need a spring compressor. I was able to rent one from a local auto parts store for $25 deposit.

1. Jack up truck and put on jack stands.
2. Remove tire.
3. Remove shock.
4. Jack up lower control arm to support.
5. Using spring compressor, compress spring.
6. Remove upper control arm bolts.
7. Slowly lower jack to lower whole lower arm/spindle/upper arm assembly.
8. Remove spring and uncompress.
9. Reverse process to install new spring.

You may need to undo the sway bar end link from the lower arm to allow assembly to swing down enough to remove compressed spring.

Bob

Looks like RT beat me to the punch.

 

Whats the dealeio with the Cam Kit? Do i install that or do the alignment guys? And can i drive my truck without getting an alignment for half a day?

 

The cam bolt kit is needed to properly align your truck after dropping the front end. You can buy the kits at any NAPA store for $15-17 a side. Part #264-2953. You can install them yourself and if you do the install the way RTKilla and myself suggested, you'll be pulling out the old bolts anyway. If you have a shop do it, they'll most likely cost you more than from Napa and they'll probably charge you for installation.

I wouldn't recommend driving it for any distance except for how far it is to the alignment shop.

Bob

 

Two supper dumb questions.
1. Can i get the cam kits at AutoZone?
2. At what step in your outline do i install the cam kits?

 

ttt