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Step 2REMOVING FRONT SUSPENSION ARM - Even if you shouldn't have to
Ok, so I pulled the front suspension arm out of the truck because I was sure I couldn't get the bottom ball joint out. Of course it would have helped if A) I knew what I was doing and B) I had the right tools..
Speaking of right tools. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS! Here's a hint. AuthoZone will let you use a ball-joint remover / installer tool for free. Free? They'll hit your card for a $99 charge but will credit you in full whenever you return it. Even, a-hem, weeks later like some unreliable people....
To remove the front suspension arm I had to.....
1. I put a stand on the truck and then used the bottle jack to push the arm up and compress the spring.
2. This was fun. I used two chains with a long bolt, nut and some washers to further compress the spring and hold it in place as I lowered the jack. It was juuuuuuuust enough to get it out. Trust me on this, you REALLY don't want the chains to snap and you'd probably be better of to use a real spring compression tool.
3. I removed a couple of nuts to take off the spring clamp on top and the large spring connector on the bottom. Out comes the spring.
4. Once the spring was out I had a MAJOR problem getting a 12" bolt out. The bolt went through the bottom spring housing, through the suspension arm and connects the support arm. There's a large exposed section of bolt in the center of the arm that was rusted and prevented ANY movement until I sanded and oiled and beat the living daylights out of it with a sledge. Then it moved enough for me to pull out. Whew...
5. Removed the end bold of the arm and the whole thing just kind of falls out. WARNING! Yes, it's REALLY VERY HEAVY so don't let it fall on you. No, really...
Speaking of right tools. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS! Here's a hint. AuthoZone will let you use a ball-joint remover / installer tool for free. Free? They'll hit your card for a $99 charge but will credit you in full whenever you return it. Even, a-hem, weeks later like some unreliable people....
To remove the front suspension arm I had to.....
1. I put a stand on the truck and then used the bottle jack to push the arm up and compress the spring.
2. This was fun. I used two chains with a long bolt, nut and some washers to further compress the spring and hold it in place as I lowered the jack. It was juuuuuuuust enough to get it out. Trust me on this, you REALLY don't want the chains to snap and you'd probably be better of to use a real spring compression tool.
3. I removed a couple of nuts to take off the spring clamp on top and the large spring connector on the bottom. Out comes the spring.
4. Once the spring was out I had a MAJOR problem getting a 12" bolt out. The bolt went through the bottom spring housing, through the suspension arm and connects the support arm. There's a large exposed section of bolt in the center of the arm that was rusted and prevented ANY movement until I sanded and oiled and beat the living daylights out of it with a sledge. Then it moved enough for me to pull out. Whew...
5. Removed the end bold of the arm and the whole thing just kind of falls out. WARNING! Yes, it's REALLY VERY HEAVY so don't let it fall on you. No, really...
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I had a friend who had to buy his parents a new garage door after he put a spring THROUGH IT!
He'd used two g clamps and some wood wedged through the spring, but then the wood broke and fired it off.
Took just about all the rivets off that side of the door skin and punched a whopping great hole in it.
Definitely never gonna try a lash up myself