Compressing front springs

Shortbus04 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:50 am **Posts:** 24

All,

I'm about to tackle installing a 2.5" Rusty's lift on my gf's 05 KJ. I've dealt with suspensions before and have never been worried about dealing with hiccups at all, but this is the first time I'll be working on a IFS. Most of my other excursions has been via SFA wranglers and the sort. So my question is...

When compressing the front springs to install the struts, how difficult is it? I've done as much reading as possible and found that everyone has been able to the install with little to no issues. But when I spoke to a few other non-KJ'ers (those that knew the KJ was IFS), they all replied that tackling an IFS is pretty dangerous due to the strut / spring combo and should probably be done by a shop.

Any advice?

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:40 pm

Yes, it is dangerous if you are careless and have cheap compressor equipment. You are safe with a shop.....but if you do, review the work before you leave the shop. We had an incident with Pep Boys destroying a set and then not accepting responsibility since we got home and then saw them and took them back. They ruined the struts.

Shortbus04 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:50 am **Posts:** 24

How much force is required to compress the springs? Can it be done with 2 spring compressors, regular sockets, and a lot of elbow grease? Or it this an air-tool job?

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:36 pm

really two compresors are better... the aamebly is not the hard part it is getting it back in to the kj...mark the bolts befor you unscrew the lower arms...this will aid in getting the alingment closer to what it needs...might have to use a pry bar just have some one with you to aide...

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:44 pm

ohv_kj wrote:

really two compresors are better... the aamebly is not the hard part it is getting it back in to the kj...mark the bolts befor you unscrew the lower arms...this will aid in getting the alingment closer to what it needs...might have to use a pry bar just have some one with you to aide...

Why unscrew the LCA's? Never had to before when installing a lift on a KJ.

Rusty's springs are pretty soft rated so a decent set of spring compressors(see pic below) will have no problem compressing them.The spring compressors in the pic below have been the only ones I have found that work with the KJ front coils,can be bought at CarQuest,Napa,or Advance Auto parts stores for about $30-$40.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:14 pm

The Rustys are weak or the same as stock so they are not like say the OME Heavy Duty...but if you just take the strut assembly out you can take it to a shop and have them compress the springs and reassemble, then go home and reinstall. You do not have to take the lower control arm loose at all, would make the job harder.
There are some rundowns on here on the process or PM me and I can give you a quick run down on what you need to do. Have done 2 Rustys, 1 Frankenlift and 2 OME heavy dutys so know some short cuts etc.

Tom

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:24 am

I did my Rusty's with a set of compressors (not the ones Troy shows, unfortunately) and had little trouble with only hand tools.

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

tjkj2002 wrote:

ohv_kj wrote:

really two compresors are better... the aamebly is not the hard part it is getting it back in to the kj...mark the bolts befor you unscrew the lower arms...this will aid in getting the alingment closer to what it needs...might have to use a pry bar just have some one with you to aide...

Why unscrew the LCA's? Never had to before when installing a lift on a KJ.

Rusty's springs are pretty soft rated so a decent set of spring compressors(see pic below) will have no problem compressing them.The spring compressors in the pic below have been the only ones I have found that work with the KJ front coils,can be bought at CarQuest,Napa,or Advance Auto parts stores for about $30-$40.

Except for being black, those are exactly the same ones I have. I just installed a HD franken with those (rear springs). I've had them (the compressors) for almost 15 years now and have only used them 4 times

. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying is all...

N

Shortbus04 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:50 am **Posts:** 24

Excellent advice everyone. Thank you for your responses. The spring comps that are shown above are actually the same one that i was planning on grabbing at Advanced. I'll be to be careful and take some good pics of the process.

See you all on the trails!

-Eric

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:52 am

Oh and don't waste your time compressing the rear springs you can get them in without doing that. Theres a trick but faster then compressing them
unless you just like using the compressor :roll:

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:19 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Why unscrew the LCA's? Never had to before when installing a lift on a KJ.

Rusty's springs are pretty soft rated so a decent set of spring compressors(see pic below) will have no problem compressing them.The spring compressors in the pic below have been the only ones I have found that work with the KJ front coils,can be bought at CarQuest,Napa,or Advance Auto parts stores for about $30-$40.

Those are the ones that I got from Advanced. I have found a bunch of uses for them on the KJ and my buddy's XJ. Well, worth the money.

Good to know it will work on stiffer coils than the Rusty's too...

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:16 pm

I guess I have it made , my local alignment shop ( great bunch of real mechanics not parts replacers) do mine for free, since they do my alignments for me , so no use buying a set of compressors, more money for other stuff!

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

I paid under $20 for mine

Although, as I mentioned earlier, that was some time ago. I've used them on my chev sprint, my jeep and my brother used them for his Eagle AMC cambak and has just used them for his Cherokee. Money well spent considering I'll have them for life.

Tommudd, I'm guessing you don't work on your vehicle on sundays :lol:

N

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:09 pm

nlife wrote:

I paid under $20 for mine

Although, as I mentioned earlier, that was some time ago. I've used them on my chev sprint, my jeep and my brother used them for his Eagle AMC cambak and has just used them for his Cherokee. Money well spent considering I'll have them for life.

Tommudd, I'm guessing you don't work on your vehicle on sundays :lol:

N

sure enough do work on Sundays , just have a special phone number for Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Its a small shop with 4 mechanics with about 130 years of experience. Owner used to work for Champion Plugs and was the guy who determined what plugs to use in race boats/ stok cars etc great bunch of guys

Compressing front springs

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