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Installing lift..spring compressor

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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 10:28 PM
  #1  
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From: Orlando/Winter Garden
Year: 1998
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Engine: I6
Default Installing lift..spring compressor

does anyone use anything other than a spring compressor when installing a lift?
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 10:37 PM
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From: Lynden, WA
Year: 1998
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We just remove the shocks, lift up the front of the jeep, and take off the lower control arms. Take off the tires, and let the axle down to the floor. You will have plenty of room to get the springs on.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 10:41 PM
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From: Orlando/Winter Garden
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Then why does the instructions say I need a compressor if it's just that easy??
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 11:03 PM
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From: Lynden, WA
Year: 1998
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Some people might not have a jack or heist high enough to lift the front end up enough. I don't know.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Lead Foot
We just remove the shocks, lift up the front of the jeep, and take off the lower control arms. Take off the tires, and let the axle down to the floor. You will have plenty of room to get the springs on.
Thats how i do it!
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 02:31 AM
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I didn't even need to remove my control arms, just a pry bar and some grunting and the coils were in. Mine are just the OME 2 inch coils though. Anything bigger I would unbolt the control arms to make it easier.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 03:35 AM
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How big are the coils you are insralling? I've even seen somebody use ratchet straps to compress the springs.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 03:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 1998xjspt
Then why does the instructions say I need a compressor if it's just that easy??
prolly because you dont have control arms to install. Idk. how big is your lift. if its only 3" you should be good WITHOUT a compressor. Any bigger; it will be easier to dro the c/a's.


if you drop the c/a's you def wont need a compressor. but if you do it this you might as well save up and get some c/a's since your gonna be there.

Last edited by OEJ; Dec 14, 2012 at 04:01 AM.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 05:36 AM
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From: Orlando/Winter Garden
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Originally Posted by OEJ
prolly because you dont have control arms to install. Idk. how big is your lift. if its only 3" you should be good WITHOUT a compressor. Any bigger; it will be easier to dro the c/a's.


if you drop the c/a's you def wont need a compressor. but if you do it this you might as well save up and get some c/a's since your gonna be there.
its a RE 3.5 super-flex. it does come with control arms
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 07:28 AM
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You have two ways of doing this then. You can unbolt LCA's and not use the spring compressors- You should have enough room to fit the springs in. You can also unbolt sway bar links and jack the jeep up to create as much seperation as possible between axle and jeep. Using spring compressors compress springs and fit them in. If you have any worries about using a spring compressor def unbolt the LCAs. I used a spring compressor on my zone 3" and did not have any issues. You can figure this stuff out, just gotta have some patience. I did mine without doing much suspension work ever at all, and did it all myself. Just a lot of patience and four letter words.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 09:43 AM
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From: Orlando/Winter Garden
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Originally Posted by ryan8551226
You have two ways of doing this then. You can unbolt LCA's and not use the spring compressors- You should have enough room to fit the springs in. You can also unbolt sway bar links and jack the jeep up to create as much seperation as possible between axle and jeep. Using spring compressors compress springs and fit them in. If you have any worries about using a spring compressor def unbolt the LCAs. I used a spring compressor on my zone 3" and did not have any issues. You can figure this stuff out, just gotta have some patience. I did mine without doing much suspension work ever at all, and did it all myself. Just a lot of patience and four letter words.
lol thanks man, yeah my lift comes with control arms so ima have to unbolt the lcd anyways. but yeah it shouldn't be that hard i guess.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 10:16 AM
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From: vermont
Year: 1996
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i used a ratchet strap around them to compress them when i did my lift on jack stands got the whole three inch done by myself in about 3 hours i know its pretty dangerous to do this but it worked for me since i didn't have spring compressors
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 10:58 AM
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From: Orlando/Winter Garden
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Yeah I'm down to do it without compressors but Ima need to know exactly how. I'm not trying to blow my jaw off trying to take a spring out.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 02:54 PM
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i1m use spring compressor but only lightly tight it on spring and jack car up.
so spring can`t release with suspension because compressor hold it.
after that i remove a spring.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 05:44 PM
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Year: 1998
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I just installed RE 3.5 springs on my '98 a week ago. Here is what I did, I had a spring compressor and did not use it;

driver's side:
removed shock and sway bar links
pulled out spring, inserted new spring

passenger side:
removed shock
track bar (axle side)
unhooked tie rod at the spindle
pulled out spring, inserted new spring (I had to use my rubber mallet to persuade passenger side a little, if I would have unbolted the LCA maybe the mallet would not have been needed)
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