Does anyone know right off if you have to compress the front springs to remove?

 

Try lifting the front up, so that the spring releases all of the tension, and loosen the bolt/retainer...If it doesn't just fall out, then yeah...I'd think it will need to be compressed...

 

You shouldn't need to compress the spring if you jack the front up and take the weight off. Might have to step on the hub/spindle to drop it down a bit more.

LOL DO NOT jack the truck up and place the jackstand under the TTB, I had someone locally do that and then complain that my way wouldn't work.

 

Good deal...I have a set of Lightning springs I am planning to install.

 

The spring does not have to be compressed, but the shock/shocks have to come off to allow the suspension to swing far enough the get the spring out. The lower spring retainer bolt can be a real joy to get off, I needed a sacrificial box end wrench(cut the open end off) so a 4' section of steel pipe will slide down over it to give you the leverage necessary to move these suckers since a 500ft/lb pneumatic impact wrench is nowhere close to big enough.

 

I snake a 1/2 drive Craftman wrench down the coil and use a 4 foot fence pipe to break it loose.Were some gloves incase it slips so you do not bust your hands up as bad. Make sure you spray some rust buster on it a couple times before you try to get it off.

 

Yeah I thought this is the way I removed them on my '73.....I do remember I used a 1/2 drive socket and 4' cheater bar. I didn't recall having to compress.

 

No need to compress the spring. I have sagging 6 inch lift coils and 1 1/2 coil spacers and still got them in by hand. Just remove the top bracket to the coil tower and pull coil out of the coil tower, drop socket in and snake the wrench down the coils. FYI I think the socket is a 1 1/16 or 1 1/8.

 

and if you really just want to keep it compressed take about 6 coat hangers and while the spring is compressed just wrap the hangers around it a few times and e end real good and then raise it and support it from the frame let the suspeesion just hang after assemble just cut the wires and pull out. ive never needed to do this on a truck but have on a few mustangs
and they are 1 1/8

 

This sounds a bit dangerous. lol I can see someone twisting a hanger one time and then having it spear them

 

Yeah, I didn't recall when I took them off my '73, but I was thinking they would just come out after taking the clip off the top, removing shock bolt and letting the beam hang. Sounds like a good afternoon project. I may go ahead and change them out today....after it cools down a bit. Been 100+ about every day here lately. I do have a/c in my shop, but my '73 is taking up all the room so I can't pull it in there right away, but would like to give these springs a go.

 

Changed them out in about an hour with no problems. The bolt was no issue and once the shock was loosend and the clip at the top was removed the beam just dropped down and they easily remove. You don't even have to remove the big bolt and nut completely just loosen it up good and the coil comes right off. Man...what a difference with the lightning springs, truck feels much more refined and much smoother not to mention the nice stance. I did find a bad shock on the driver side, there is resistance in the shock, but no rebound. I was figuring the shocks were due for replacement, just need to decide on what I want to go with.

 

as a guy who also swapped in L front springs into my daily driver 87, i will tell you to drive it for about 100 miles before you align it. I aligned mine the next day( im an alignment tech at work) and within a week, i noticed the springs had settled some more and i had to re-align it. Just my thoughts ...

 

The truck is tracking perfect...do you really think I need to realign? I can't feel any pulling, swaying, etc. I am going to replace the shocks due to the one shock having no rebound, plus I'm sure it's just time to replace.

 

my truck drove great as well, however, after a few days, the front tire camber was noticeably out of spec. if it seems to be out at all, or if the inside edges of your tires start wearing, then yes, you need to realign ...