I have a 1982 Ford F-150 4x4, the right pass. coil is broken.

I'm thinking of changing the pair myself , Any suggestions or tips.'

Iv'e done some front end work, but never springs. And I plan to rent a spring compressor.

 

changing a coil spring is very easy....make sure you have a couple of jacks; one to lift the frame and one to lower the axle/I-beam. take the top off first so you can move the top around a lil bit then get a looong ratchet extension and use and air gun and it will go 3 times as fast!

good luck

-cutts-

 

Thanks, for the support. I'll make it a point to let you know how I make out hope to get to it by next week.

 

I don't know how easy changing this springs was, but it is done. The truck is sitting pretty.

 

How did you get that big nut at the bottom off? Air impact wrench? Heat? How much of a hassle was it to get that loose?

 

I used evrything!! But it was heat (I only have a propane torch but left it on the nut fr about five minutes) and a 1/2 breaker bar with a pipe around the handle. It took a while but worth it. The stud was still in good shape so I went to ford and got new nuts upper retaing clips the lower spring washers and the rubber gasket that goes below. It went together very smooth with the new parts.

In the install I used a outside coil spring compressor to squeeze the spring back in on the passenger side.

For the added touch, while everything was out, I cleaned it up a bit and undercoated it, and threw in new shocks also (stock).

Ever since I got the truck the passenger coil was broken, they had those rubber spacers to lift it. But it still leaned, I tell you it felt great when I dropped the truck from the jack stands and it sat there like a ford truck should.

All in all It took about 10-12 hours over four days, But its done right. A regular shop could of done it probally in four to six but then who knows how much care they are going to take, and probally wouldn't use new parts. Just slap in some springs. Or tell me I needed something I didn't.

Total Cost: Springs $96.00 moog, Ford parts: $85. Shocks $30. Misc: $30. and an 1 1/8: box end wrench $18.

Seeing it sit pretty, and having the door shut correctly: PRICELESS


If I can be of any other help please feel free.

Christopher

 

Wow, 10-12 hours!

Of course, that's the way I do things, I just spent two weeks on and off starting with an oil pan but replacing a whole crapload of other things that I found broken on the way. This spring was one of them.

You say you had to use a spring compressor, but the shock and brake hose were disconnected? Reading on here it seems like mixed reports of some needing a spring compressor and others not needing one.

Also, that nut is definitely 1 1/8", right? I think my biggest impact socket is 1 1/16", I am probably going to go to the hardware store for a 1 1/8" then.

Thanks for the good info!

 

Yeah it seemed like a long time, but it always does the first time you do it.
And I know I didn't rush because I didn't throw a single tool at the wall.

Actually you didn't need a spring compressor, (it just came in handy, the tool has been laying around for years in an old tool box). I left the caliper and brake hose on so I was limited in the amount of distance I could drop the axle. I cut the shocks right out so they weren't an issue.

That nut could actually be mertic but 1 1/8 socket and wrench worked fine, besides the metric wrench of that size was almost twice the cost. My bolt was so rusted, I think I used and 1 1/16 to get one of them off.

 

I replaced the coils in an '86 Bronco once, and it took me about 6 hours to do both sides, but the nut popped right off. Of course, it wasn't salt rusted like a WNY vehicle would have been.

 

May want to consider having an alighnment done if you drive on the road a lot. The new springs will raise the front of the truck up and change all your angles.

 

Yah, it's nice to not have to rush. That's why I don't do this for a living.

I do have a spring compressor set, but you think you could have done it without it if you had unhooked the brake hose, right? If I can do it without a compressor I'd feel safer. I am going to run all new brake lines and hoses anyway, they look a little scary and the only thing worse than having a brake line blow out on you is have it happen to your wife (although a lot of guys might think that was great!)

I'm trying to figure out what socket to use because my impact set only goes up to 1 1/16" so I probably will go looking for a 1 1/8" before I start. I'm almost sure it is SAE because the bolt head at the bottom of the beam is marked as grade 8 with the 6 lines.

 

Most likely with the caliper and brake hoses off you would not need the compressor. Removing the spring wasn't as scary as you would think. I did use a chain through the spring that I looped around the frame. But as I lowered the axle the spring just fell out of it's top mount.