installing springs

[peterbat]

can anyone tell me the correct way to install rear springs, followed the way posted in the forum- but appears some steps are missing! i did remove rear shock& disconnected sway bar, removed spring retainer- but the axle would not lower! help me please!!!!!

[gordo]

Okay, first let me tell you this is probably not the safest way to do it so be very careful and watch your hands but this is how I do it.
remove wheel, rear shock mount on bottom, lower the axle w/o the tire to a big block of wood (a 6x6 section is handy).
Now slide the jack under the frame, use another block between the jack and the frame, then lift the frame. Jack up until the spring pops out.
Ok if the axle starts to pick up before the spring pops out, then use a small bottle jack between the axle and the frame to pop the spring out. Be careful to make sure it has a good bite. The factory jack is pretty good for this.
I do them all this way and it works well but when it is jacked like this Im careful not to leave my fingers in the spring, just in case. Just be careful
The other option vs the bottle jack is renting spring compressors to pull them together just enough to slide them out. Those are equally scary to me though!
One good thing is most springs pop out pretty easy. Gordo

[CliftonRover]

I do it the same way, and have had my hand caught in the front while doing this so be careful.

[peterbat]

hey guys, i'm still haviing trouble getting the rear axle to lower, after disconnecting sway bar & shox i am finding axle only drops by about 1 inch! could this be because the load level/ride height unit is seized & not allowing it to drop? ido have spring compressors but these won't help untill axle drops a lot more.
cheers, pete b