From last nights fun, there must be an easier way to change out rear coil springs on 2nd gens.

I removed lower shock mount, removed, sway bar upper links, removed all the hardware holding brake line to axle AND still had to use spring compressors as I could not get enough downward axle travel.
The compressors were OK except the stud portion seemed to foul everything getting the springs in and out of the correct spot. Perhaps I could trim and inch or so off the studs and not compromise the compressors too badly as I have not had to use full extension yet.

I know it was doing it myself and an extra body (or foot to be more precise) on the hub would have helped but still.

How many of you remove/disconnect the panhard bar and which end do you disconnect ?

Thanks

David

 

I installed LONG cruiser coils with the shocks in tact and no compressors.

Leave the panhard. Unless you are on a lift, it is a pain to get back in.

Disconnect shocks and swaybar. Have fat friend stand on drum. Remove coil.

Repeat in reverse for installation.

 

I loosended the trailing arms (incase the old bushings were preventing them from moving)

lossened the break line,
removed the sway bar mounts (not the links)
removed the shocks.

i still had to hang on the drum while a buddy poped/beat the spring in place with a dead blow hammer.

(OME coils for me)

 

I found that disconnecting the sway bar worked well. I also jacked up the opposite side of the axle and if that didnt' give me enough room, had someone push my side of it. This moved the axle plenty and they slipped right in.

 

When installing my LC coils, we used compressors, disconnected shocks, swaybar links, panhard, and still we needed me or the other guy to stand on the brake drum while the other put the coil in. It's probably because my truck was backed up on an incline and it didn't give us as much room as we could have had on a level surface.

 

I have no idea how you did that cheese, you must have really fat friends. My skinny friend and I had to disconnect the sway bar, shocks, panhard and driver side upper link to get my cruiser coils in. No spring compressor though.

To get the panhard back in, we used a couple ratchet straps to align everything, not too hard.

 

The fat friend method seems pretty common. It worked for me too with my downeys.

 

I had a 6 foot bar to lever on the little buggers.

Everything was still in tact.

I was fatter then.

 

loosen the upper links helps a lot.. make sure you have long brake line though.