How To Easily Replace Front Coil Springs
In order to install a replacement coil spring, you will need special tools and the right techniques when working on your vehicle. It’s not difficult, but it can be somewhat risky. You need to use proper precautions so that you can be successful in this endeavor. I would highly recommend checking out Apex shocks to see their quality products.
Step 1 – Vehicle Raising
First of all, you have to lift your vehicle up to a certain height so that you will have easy access to the coil springs. If you are using a car jack, make sure that it is positioned in a secure location, preferably on a solid part of the engine, right around the cradle if possible. Preferably, a hydraulic jack would be the best choice so as to support your suspension as the car moves upward.
Use preventative measures and always be in regard for your safety as slipping jacks are quite common. Before you lift up, make sure that the nuts are cracked on the wheels so that they are loose.
Step 2 – Remove Your Wheels
After you have jacked the car up, you need to take the front wheels off. The way that you do this really depends on the model and make of the vehicle that you are working on. Different cars have different setups, so the proper process is ideal when doing these repairs.
Step 3 – Ball Joint
The next step is to remove the lower ball joint which is connected to the control arm. Using a proper socket wrench will ensure that it will fit during this process. Pickle forks can also be used so as to control the spindle and the control arm. All of this will separate the friction fit that exists between the two. After this, jack up the rotor in order to remove the control arm away from the spindle stud.
Step 4 – Remove The Strut
Now you will have to open the hood and look for the three mounting bolts which are responsible for connecting the strut to the body. You will need to remove the nuts. Once this is accomplished, slip the strut out of its current position away from the vehicle. Every nut that you remove needs to be kept in a secure location so it can be used to replace the new parts. The coil springs are not going to have replacement nuts.
Step 5 – Compress The Coil
At this point, you must remove the coil from the strut, and make sure you do this in a safe manner. Your coil springs will need to be compressed before you take the bolts off at the top of the strut. This is actually quite dangerous, particularly when maintenance and vehicles in this way because it can uncoil and harm people working on the car. You will want to use compression brackets at about 180°, opposing each other, and then tighten that evenly with about 10 turns each before swapping. All you need to do is compress this lightly, and then you can remove the holding bolts which are located at the top of the strut which will allow you to take the coil off.
Step 6 – Installing The Coil Spring
Compress the new coil before you decide to put it back in the car. The same method for compression can be used on the new Springs as you used on the old ones, making sure to maintain opposing angles of 180°. Once tightened, you can then put the new spring directly on the strut. At the bottom of the strut, you’re going to see a groove that will be at the lower end of the coil spring and it will slip into this and reside there. You will want to rest it in the groove, and then tighten the bolt at the top. At this point, the new coil spring will be secured and installed and you can remove the compression tool.
Step 7 – Reinstall The Strut
This is going to be the opposite in comparison to the prior procedure, so simply replace the strut in the existing retaining home, and also replace the three holding bolts. You will then need to jack the rotor up again, and then bolt the spindle, along with the control arm so everything is back together. By following this reverse procedure, you can also replace all the remaining parts.