front coil swap tips?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 202
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From: Hamburg PA
front coil swap tips?
hi im just looking for a few tips/ tricks on swapping out the front coils. i imagine some1 has done this already? im just trying to keep steel outta my face if you know what i mean. i appreciate any help/ hints, this is on my 84 f150 2wd
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh
the spring swap is actually real straight forward.
The top of the spring at the bucket there's a "J" hook that holds the top of the coil to the bucket. Pull this bolt and remove the clip. You'll probably also have to loosen either one of the shock mounts so the spring can fully relax as you lift the truck.
Then jack the truck up by the frame. Drop a 1 1/8" socket down the center of the coil spring and feed a 1/2" ratchet to it. This is all to loosen the lower coil retainer. It's on there TIGHT and probably rusted. Once this is loose, remove old coil, place new coil in, and reverse procedure to install.
Do one side at a time, for safety's sake.
You don't need any fancy tools or coil compressors, the suspension unloads enough to do the swap without them.
Justin
The top of the spring at the bucket there's a "J" hook that holds the top of the coil to the bucket. Pull this bolt and remove the clip. You'll probably also have to loosen either one of the shock mounts so the spring can fully relax as you lift the truck.
Then jack the truck up by the frame. Drop a 1 1/8" socket down the center of the coil spring and feed a 1/2" ratchet to it. This is all to loosen the lower coil retainer. It's on there TIGHT and probably rusted. Once this is loose, remove old coil, place new coil in, and reverse procedure to install.
Do one side at a time, for safety's sake.
You don't need any fancy tools or coil compressors, the suspension unloads enough to do the swap without them.
Justin
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Northern New Jersey
I just did it and it was shockingly easy. I never dreamed it would be so simple. I dont think that its so easy on other vehicles. Just make sure to consider different types of springs (hard vs soft). I bought what I thought were stock springs and the ride turned out to be very bouncy. Im not sure what went wrong but they are in there now and Im still trying to get used to them. Before anyone accuses me of installing cheap shocks, I used Monroe shocks designed for light trucks.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Grand Junction, CO
I swapped in a pair of 2 wheel drive F250 coils into an '81 Bronco I used to have. Lifted the front about 1" and rode much better than the original springs ever thought about. The stockers are just a bit too soft, IMHO. The 2x 3/4 ton springs were perfect.
Squirt the top and bottom retaining bolts with penetrating oil for a couple of days prior to doing the swap. They'll come off much easier and you lessen the chance of shearing off the upper bolt. It's not very big.
Squirt the top and bottom retaining bolts with penetrating oil for a couple of days prior to doing the swap. They'll come off much easier and you lessen the chance of shearing off the upper bolt. It's not very big.
