Going from lift to drop

[Reo Cook]

I need some help on what to do here... I've got a 2" spacer currently installed on the front of my truck and I cannot for the life of me get the spring out to put my drop coils on... It was a PITA to get them in when I installed them, and I can't get enough draw on a compressor to squeeze enough to pull them out

My thought process is to just cut the stupid spring out and be done with it. Relieve the pressure by taking the control arm off the spindle and all that, then make the cut to drop the coil out.

My dilemma is that I don't know what to use to do it. I can't imagine a reciprocating saw being able to cut the coil, so I'm thinking a cut off wheel on a grinder...

Anyone have any suggestions/tricks?

Thanks

 

[mojoe]

Take it to a local shop with a bench type spring compressor, that would be my advice. Pay them a few bucks and be done. Cutting through springs is not an easy task with a saws-all, I just did my rears, and went through 2 blades and took me about 30 minutes total time...Not fun! You would normally want to use a cut off wheel (thin disc).

Good luck, I hope it turns out well.

 

[Reo Cook]

Ok cool....I have some cut off wheels and a grinder...was just thinking that a sawzall would be wicked easy as long as it cut the material.

May look into the shop doing it too...I wish I had a plasma cutter LOL

 

[WhiteExpress]

I tried to cut a coil with a sawzall, it doesn't work.
You need a grinder with a thin cut off wheel.

Cutting the coil to remove it? That's just silly.

Did you break free you ball joint n all?

 

[Designflaw]

Take the easy route, go to AutoZone, or Advance Auto which ever has a tool borrow program and get some spring compressors. You'll be done in 5 minutes each.

 

[derek_m]

i dont recommend cutting a spring that is under pressure...thats just asking for trouble IMO.

if you really want to trash the coils to remove them, heat the springs with a torch and compress em. then when you take out theyll fall right out.

 

[BlkRamRt]

ok cool....i have some cut off wheels and a grinder...was just thinking that a sawzall would be wicked easy as long as it cut the material.

May look into the shop doing it too...i wish i had a plasma cutter lol

heat+springs=not a good combination

 

[mojoe]

Do not use a torch. I would never introduce that much heat that close to strut/shock. If I am reading your post correctly, you have already tried the "home use" spring compressors, and have not had any luck.

With the spring being on the shock still, you could cut it with a wheel and not have to worry about it flying out, but that would be my last resort...

I have used 4 of the home use spring compressors at once before to get the spring compressed enough on other (non RAM) trucks. This worked well, and allows you to stagger them around the coil.

I would still use a local shop though if you can find one.

 

[Reo Cook]

maybe i had them hooked up wrong but i couldnt get it hooked up without having a bunch of thread getting in the way of the bucket. i had everything disconnected and pulled out of the way. maybe if i flip them over and retry i'll get it

i'll try again and post up hopefully with a super fly lowered truck to show for it