Anyone have the steps i need to take on removing front coil springs and shocks on my 86 Ram 50?
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Anyone have the steps i need to take on removing front coil springs and shocks on my 86 Ram 50?
- Support the truck frame on stands (you will need enough clearance to pull the shock absorber down through the lower control arm so make sure it is up high enough)
- Wheels off (pretty obvious but I'll state it anyway...)
- Remove brake caliper and hang it from the upper control arm on a strap/piece of thick wire (this is to take some of the weight off the steering hub assembly and make it more manageable for the next steps)
- Support the lower control arm with a jack and a block of wood to bear some load (make sure the jack is away from the lower mount of the shock absorber and you have access to the bolts)
- Remove the lower shock bolts and upper retaining nuts and slip the shock out through the lower control arm (straight down)
- Undo the inner pivot bolt nut and retaining bolts on the lower control arm (make sure the jack and block of wood are bearing enough load to keep the spring compressed but not enough to lift the truck off the stands) *you may need a second support for the steering hub/brake rotor assembly as they weigh a lot and will make this a handful to manage
- Tap the inner pivot bolt out of the frame gently with a mallet/hammer until the pivot bolt is free and the lower control arm is able to be dropped out (avoid damaging the threads) Maybe have a small pry bar handy as well.
-Slowly lower the control arm until the spring is loose enough to pull free.
Install is the reversal of the above. Now is as good a time as any to inspect lower control arm and stabiliser bar bushes, tie rod ends, radius rods etc. If the truck has had a rough life it could have a damaged radius rod, lower control arm or even a stabiliser bar. Gen 2 parts will interchange.
*You can knock the lower joint apart and separate the complete lower control arm but the above method relies only on sockets and wrenches - no specialised tools or risk of damaging a ball joint with a fork and hammer or the threaded end on the joint. It shouldn't affect wheel alignment once reassembled, but it would still be advisable to take it into a shop for an alignment check.