This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the front coil springs on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with 5.3L V8, requiring disassembly of strut components and use of a spring compressor.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front coil spring (left) × 1 — GM 23183636 or equivalent
• Front coil spring (right) × 1 — GM 23183636 or equivalent
• Strut mount bearing (if worn) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Upper strut mount (if worn) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Ball joint cotter pins × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Sway bar link (if damaged) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and set parking brake
2. Chock rear wheels securely
3. Loosen wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn while vehicle is on ground
4. Lift front of vehicle and support with jack stands under frame rails behind lower control arms
5. Remove both front wheels completely
6. Spray all suspension fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak 15-20 minutes
7. Inspect spring compressor tools for damage and verify proper operation before use

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link
   Locate the sway bar link connection at the lower control arm. Use an Allen key to hold the shaft while loosening the lower nut with a wrench. Remove the nut completely and detach the sway bar link from the lower control arm. Allow the sway bar to hang freely.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove shock absorber lower mounting
   Locate the lower shock absorber mounting bolt that connects the strut to the lower control arm. Support the strut assembly from above with a bungee cord or wire to prevent it from falling. Remove the lower shock mounting bolt completely. The strut assembly will now be supported only by the upper mount and steering knuckle connection.
   ⚠Support the strut assembly before removing mounting bolts to prevent sudden drop.
   Torque spec

   Strut Bolts144 Nm (106 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate upper ball joint from knuckle
   Locate the upper ball joint nut connecting the upper control arm to the steering knuckle. Remove the cotter pin and discard. Use a breaker bar to loosen and remove the ball joint nut completely. Use a ball joint separator or pickle fork to separate the upper ball joint stud from the knuckle. The knuckle and strut assembly should now be free to pivot downward.
   ⚠Ball joint may release suddenly under spring tension. Keep hands and body clear of pinch points.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove strut tower upper mounting nuts
   Open the hood and locate the three upper strut mount nuts accessible from the engine bay. These are located at the top of the strut tower. Hold the strut assembly from below while removing all three nuts. Carefully lower the complete strut assembly out of the wheel well. Place on a clean work surface.
   ⚠️Strut assembly weighs approximately 25-30 lbs and is awkward to handle. Use proper lifting technique or have assistant support during removal.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Install spring compressor
   Place the strut assembly in a secure vise or on the ground with the spring oriented vertically. Install the spring compressor tool according to manufacturer instructions, ensuring compressor hooks engage at least 3 full coils and are positioned 180 degrees opposite each other. Verify the compressor is seated properly in the spring coils before proceeding.
   ⚠️Spring compressor must be properly seated and rated for this application. Cheap or improperly installed compressors can fail catastrophically.
6. 6

   Compress coil spring
   Slowly and evenly tighten the spring compressor, alternating between sides to maintain even compression. Compress the spring until all tension is removed from the upper strut mount. You should be able to wiggle the mount freely when compression is adequate. This typically requires 3-4 inches of compression.
   ⚠️Compress spring slowly and evenly. Never stand directly over the spring during compression. Wear face protection.
7. 7

   Remove strut shaft nut and disassemble
   Hold the strut shaft with a wrench or socket on the flat surfaces at the top of the shaft. Remove the upper strut shaft nut completely. Carefully remove the upper mount, bearing plate, spring seat, and bumper components. Note the orientation and order of all components for reassembly. Remove the compressed spring from the strut shaft.
   ⚠Keep spring compressed and stable during disassembly. Spring remains under significant tension.
8. 8

   Transfer spring compressor to new spring
   With the old spring still compressed and stable, carefully install the same spring compressor onto the new coil spring in the same orientation. Compress the new spring to the same dimension as the old spring before removing compressor from old spring. Compare old and new springs for correct part number and similar free height.
   ⚠️Never release spring compressor until new spring is fully installed in strut assembly.
9. 9

   Reassemble strut with new spring
   Install the compressed new spring onto the strut shaft with the pigtail end of the spring oriented correctly in the lower spring seat (reference orientation from old assembly). Install the upper spring seat, bearing plate, and upper mount in the exact order removed. Ensure the spring pigtail seats properly in the upper seat recess. Thread the strut shaft nut and tighten to secure the assembly, but do not torque yet.
   ⚠Verify spring orientation matches original configuration. Incorrect orientation can cause noise and premature wear.
10. 10

    Release spring tension
    Slowly and evenly loosen the spring compressor, alternating sides to release tension gradually. Verify that the spring seats properly in both upper and lower spring seats as tension is released. Once fully released, verify the upper mount is secure and remove the spring compressor completely. The strut assembly is now ready for installation.
    ⚠️Release compressor slowly and evenly. Verify spring is seating properly as tension releases. Uneven release can cause spring to shift violently.
11. 11

    Install strut assembly into vehicle
    Lift the assembled strut into position in the wheel well, aligning the upper mount studs with the holes in the strut tower. Install the three upper mount nuts finger-tight from the engine bay. Support the lower end of the strut and align with the steering knuckle and lower mounting points.
    Torque spec

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Connect upper ball joint to knuckle
    Raise the steering knuckle to align with the upper ball joint stud. Install the ball joint nut and tighten to specification. Install a new cotter pin through the castle nut and ball joint stud, bending the pin ends to secure. If the cotter pin holes do not align, tighten the nut further (never loosen) until alignment is achieved.
    ⚠Always use a new cotter pin. Never reuse old cotter pins or substitute with wire.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Install lower shock mounting bolt
    Align the lower strut eye with the lower control arm mounting point. Insert the lower mounting bolt and install the nut. Tighten to specification. Ensure the bolt passes through cleanly without binding.
    Torque spec

    Strut Bolts144 Nm (106 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reconnect sway bar link
    Position the sway bar link into the lower control arm mounting point. Install the nut while holding the shaft with an Allen key to prevent rotation. Tighten to specification. Verify the link moves freely without binding.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Torque upper strut mount nuts
    From the engine bay, torque all three upper strut mount nuts to specification in a star pattern. Verify all nuts are properly seated and torqued.
    Torque spec

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
16. 16

    Repeat for opposite side
    Repeat steps 1 through 15 for the opposite side front coil spring. Ensure all torque specifications and assembly procedures are followed identically on both sides for proper vehicle handling and safety.
17. 17

    Install wheels and lower vehicle
    Install both front wheels and thread lug nuts by hand. Lower vehicle until tires just contact the ground but weight is still on jack stands. Torque lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands. Perform final lug nut torque check with vehicle on ground.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification before operating vehicle
2. Check that all cotter pins are properly installed and secured
3. Ensure no tools or parts were left in wheel well or engine bay
4. Verify spring compressor tools were completely removed from both assemblies

Verification

• Bounce each front corner of the vehicle several times and verify struts compress and rebound smoothly without noise
• Verify no rattling or clunking sounds from front suspension when bouncing
• Check that vehicle sits level side-to-side at normal ride height
• Test drive vehicle at low speed in safe area and verify normal handling and no unusual noises
• CRITICAL: Schedule 4-wheel alignment immediately after completion. Spring replacement affects alignment geometry and tire wear
• Re-torque all suspension fasteners after 50-100 miles of driving
• Inspect upper strut mounts through hood opening for any movement or looseness after test drive

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