qdude79

Pulled my rear springs to put spacers (1.5") and replace shocks. Not too difficult to remove with axle at full sag, but with the spacer installed looks like it's going to be tough getting 'em back in. Any suggestions or experience?

PS- '90 2wd.

abecedarian

2 sections of 1" x 1/4" thick x 12" long flat bar with 1/2" holes somewhere near the ends
two pieces of 3/8 x 24" threaded rod
four 3/8 fender washers
four 3/8" nuts.
slide one each of the flat bar through the spring as close to the end as possible and run the two pieces of threaded rod between the bars, placing the fender washers towards the ends of the bars, and use the nuts to compress the spring.
Put the spring in place then slowly, and evenly, loosen the nuts until the spring settles where you want it.

There ya' go- redneck spring compressor.

OSU4Runner

Go pick up a set of spring compressors at autozone.

qdude79

I'll have to see if the Autozone nearby has 'em (new store). If not, I'll redneck it! Thanks!

YotaJunky

I've done this before on a 2nd gen 4Runner by myself without a spring compressor. It's best to have someone help you out. Have a second pair of hands widen the opening by using the 2x4 as a long pry bar. Make sure that your e brake line is hanging and you've disconnected the brake line proportioning valve before you lay into the 2x4. You should be able to get the coil and the 1.5" spacer in.

qdude79

Mother of Pearl! That sucked! Got the spring compressor, but it didn't work with the big internal bump stops. Took up most of the room inside of the coil when half way in place, making it impossible to have the compressor in there. Even considered getting rid of the bumpstops, but decided to muscle/rig/cuss the springs in to place. Glad that's over... looks good though! Installed air shocks, need to run the air lines tomorrow.

904_runner

Wheres the pictures?

n16ht5

i use ratchet straps before I take the coils out - i strap the coils down with the weight of the truck then i jack up and take em out peiece of cake


probably not safe at all, but im cheap and quick

Matt16

No that isn't safe. There is so much energy stored in a spring that that could be a deadly error.

Crawdad

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't done that, but man it sure ain't safe. Autozone rents spring compressors for free.

qdude79

No pics of the process (sorry), but I do have before/after pics if you'd like. Having dealt with coils on an old El Camino before, I would NOT recommend strapping, but that's only my opinion. I've seen those shoot out. I'd rather have a saggy rear end (on the vehicle, that is). Someone wanna tell me how to post pics here? I can also post pics of inflated air shocks, once I get the plumbing run.

iamsuperbleeder

Why didn't you just get the compressor that goes over the outside? They usually call it a "Strut Spring Compressor". Jut just uses 2 compressors, one on one side of the spring, and the other on the opposite side of the spring. Then you don't have to fish the darn thing out of the spring afterwards to.

qdude79

Where were you yesterday???? Kidding, but it would have been nice to know of that before (I don't have experience with those, didn't even know they existed).

n16ht5

ive also used a bottle jack between the axle and the frame, to force the axle downard... just dont overdo it and bend any brackets

qdude79

I thought of that, too, but my rear brake line was already pretty maxed out. I was at that "do I pull the brake line and go through that fiasco, or just make it work" point. Not sure I made the right decision, but I just forced it in. Knuckles still healing.