Installing coil spacers - Advice Please...

[JontyG]

Hi all,

I am going to be installing a set of 30mm coil spacers in my GU sometime this week. I am somewhat "mechanically disadvantaged", but I think it should be an easy enough job for me to do myself. I was hoping someone could give me some tips as to the best way to do this.

I was planning to disconnect the bottom of the shocks, jack up the chassis, so that it is high enough to insert the spacers, lower the jack and connect the shocks up....is this all there is to it?

A few questions:

Where is the best jacking point to lift the chassis, both front and rear? I will need to hire a large trolly jack...will this suffice? Any ideas where i can hire a trolly jack in Melbourne?

Any help appreciated.

TIA
Jonty

[TUFFRANGIE]

Jack up the chassis as close to the springs as practically possible (make sure you have enough room to remove the spring though and that you are jacking off a section of the chassis that is parallel with the ground) otherwise you will be lifting more of the car than you need and it may become unstable.

Disconnect the sway bars or else you wont be able to get enough droop from the diffs

Use chassis stands before you get under the car

You may need to place you bottle jack on top of the diff below the chassis to jack the two apart if the diff still hasn't drooped enough to get the coil out

A trolley jack may not go high enough for your needs. In the past i have used a high lift jack and the placed chassis stands underneath then released the high lift. (lets see how many posts saying that is a terrible method are posted )

Rob

[JontyG]

Thanks Rob,

I don't have chassis stands, guess i could hire that as well?!

I was even contemplating the idea of getting someone with a forklift to help out...maybe this would be easier...hmmm

Cheers,
Jonty

[Tiny]

Thanks Rob,

I don't have chassis stands, guess i could hire that as well?!

I was even contemplating the idea of getting someone with a forklift to help out...maybe this would be easier...hmmm

Cheers,
Jonty

buy some chassis stands and a jack from supercheap.

dissconect the sway bar and helps to loosen the panhard as well

[muzza_fattire]

Using spring compressers will help aswell

[shakes]

chassis/car stands are about $30 for the pair, fairly cheap insurance if you ask me, just make sure you get some that are high enough and preferably screw rather than pin ones.

i done mine the other week and your description is pretty much spot on.

[dirtyGQ]

After hiring all this stuff it would probably be cheaper to have them fitted about $55

[JontyG]

After hiring all this stuff it would probably be cheaper to have them fitted about $55

You could be right, but so far i haven't found anywhere that will do it for that price. I was quoted around $150 mark...anyone know of a cheaper place in melb??

If i do end up doing it myself, seems it may be easier to remove the wheels, and drop the car onto a set of jack stands, which will negate the necessity to hire a trolly jack, or chassis stands.

Using spring compressers will help aswell

Yep, thanks...i will definitely get one of these...if i end up doing it myself

[JontyG]

oh yeah...another thing...

i was hoping that i could just compress the spring enough to slip the spacer in ontop of the coil, but there is that big ass bump stop in the way ... i gather that means that i need to remove the spring completely??

[GASDRX]

Sorry but you have a GU III 4.8 and you dont want to spend $150. You have no tools and you will probably put yourself in danger.

Spend the money

[JontyG]

Sorry but you have a GU III 4.8 and you dont want to spend $150. You have no tools and you will probably put yourself in danger.

Spend the money

I understand where you're coming from. $150 is not a great deal of money, but I prefer the satisfaction of doing these things myself. I have done bodylifts, and similar jobs on my past 4by's, and find that it's always a good learning exercise. I didn't want to go into this blind, and value the opinion of many posters on this forum, hence my original post.

Down the track I plan to install a 5" lift, and thought this could be a good time to get to know the nuts and bolts of the suspension setup on my GU.

[bogged]

Down the track I plan to install a 5" lift, and thought this could be a good time to get to know the nuts and bolts of the suspension setup on my GU.

are you gaining that much really? 3cm spacers less a bit of squashing, aint much...
wait for the suspension lift.

[pootrol]

i did the springs on my GQ.holy crap.the hi-lift jack was wedged under the front and back corners,one corner at a time.didnt care if i damaged them ill toss em any way.disconnected shocks sways etc.the high lift couldnt get enough height without becoming to unsteady.i ended up removing the wheel on the particular corner laid it under car(cheap insurance if it falls)and had a trolley jack to lower diff too ground as i jacked body up to a safe point.spring compessors are a pain in the ass but if u have a bit of time it would be safer.unlike me do it in a nice open space so you have plenty of room to run if things get hairy,i had 2ft of room beside the patrol before i hit plaster.good thing it didnt fall on me.the missus would be pissed if i dented the wall.

[bazzle]

"Many a bloke has been killed or maimed when a vehicle has fallen on him."..

You will probablyneed longer shocks to match the lift.

Bazzle

[muddyperils]

Buy stands at least six inches higher than the truck sits normally(minimum, cuase you will prob. lift higher shortly 8P ), buy spring compressors (you will not regret it) My procedure with 6" springs, jack front or back up and place stands under the chassis as close to the end of the middle flat chassis section as (safely) possible, release the bottom shockers and bottom panhard mounting points and those wierd things i think they call sway bars??? (providing the wheel is not of the ground yet), place 2t trolley jack under the centre of the diff (front is tricky) jack up till the weight on the stands looks light (but still safe), then remove your gnarly mudders, then position spring compressors so as to be able to turn the shaft with a socket, then tighten em up some, than SLOWLY let the trolley jack down till you have enough room to slip the springs out or your standard brake lines or breather hoses reach their limit, in which case you will have to jack it up again and tighten springs some more(I found it easier this way, thats all).
ps: spring compessors are shit easy when used correctly???

[JontyG]

muddyperils, thanks for the tips. Much appreciated.

[MQPatrol]

Read this http://www.nohsc.gov.au/PDF/Statistics/report_jacks.pdf and you'll never crawl under anything again without 10 stands supporting.

[JontyG]

Read this http://www.nohsc.gov.au/PDF/Statistics/report_jacks.pdf and you'll never crawl under anything again without 10 stands supporting.

I understand the necessity for stands...i never siad that i would not use stands, just that i never had any. I have decided that i will remove the wheels, and lower the car onto jack stands, which - in conjunction with coil compressors - will make it easier to jack up the chassis and remove the springs, so that i can fit the spacers.

Cheers,
Jonty