Coil Springs - Front Pair

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

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front coil spring (left) × 1 — Use OEM specification for 2WD or 4WD as applicable
• Front coil spring (right) × 1 — Use OEM specification for 2WD or 4WD as applicable
• Strut mount bearing assembly (left, if worn) × 1 — Inspect during disassembly
• Strut mount bearing assembly (right, if worn) × 1 — Inspect during disassembly
• Strut bumper and dust boot (if damaged) × 2 — Inspect during disassembly

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on solid, level surface and engage parking brake. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels.
2. Apply penetrating oil to all fasteners that will be removed (strut tower nuts, strut bolts, sway bar links) and allow 15-30 minutes to soak.
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on ground.
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at manufacturer-recommended lift point (front crossmember).
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed under frame rails behind lower control arms. Verify stability by gently rocking vehicle.
6. Remove both front wheels completely.
7. Photograph or mark orientation of spring seats and top mounts for correct reassembly.

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar links
   Locate the sway bar end links connecting the sway bar to the lower control arms. Hold the ball stud shaft with an Allen key to prevent spinning, then remove the lower sway bar link nuts on both sides. Disconnect links from lower control arms and swing sway bar upward out of the way.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove strut lower mounting bolts (driver side)
   Working on the driver side first, locate the two bolts securing the bottom of the strut to the steering knuckle. Support the lower control arm with a floor jack to prevent it from dropping. Remove both strut-to-knuckle bolts completely. The strut will now be free at the bottom but still attached at the top.
   ⚠Support the lower control arm with a jack before removing strut bolts to prevent sudden dropping and potential component damage.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove strut tower mounting nuts (driver side)
   Open the hood and locate the three strut tower mounting nuts at the top of the strut assembly in the engine bay (driver side). Remove all three nuts while supporting the strut assembly from below. Carefully lower the strut assembly down and out through the wheel well. You may need to angle it to clear surrounding components.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Compress the coil spring (driver side)
   Mount the strut assembly securely in a vise or holding fixture. Install the spring compressor tool on opposite sides of the coil spring (180 degrees apart). Begin compressing the spring gradually, alternating between compression points frequently to maintain even compression. Continue until the spring tension is completely relieved from the upper mount (you should be able to wiggle the mount freely).
   ⚠️Compress spring slowly and evenly. Never compress only one side. Ensure compressor tools are properly seated in spring coils and rated for this spring's load. Wear face protection.
5. 5

   Disassemble strut assembly (driver side)
   With the spring fully compressed, use a strut rod holding tool or Allen key to hold the strut shaft from rotating. Remove the strut shaft nut at the top. Carefully remove the upper mount assembly, bearing plate, and spring seat. Note the orientation of all components. Remove the compressed spring from the strut, keeping the compressors installed.
   ⚠️Do not remove strut shaft nut unless spring is fully compressed and tension is relieved. Verify mount moves freely before proceeding.
6. 6

   Transfer spring compressors to new spring (driver side)
   Inspect the strut bumper, dust boot, and upper mount bearing for wear or damage. Replace if necessary. Position the new coil spring next to the old spring and note orientation (top and bottom are different). Carefully transfer one spring compressor at a time from the old spring to the new spring, maintaining compression. Alternatively, install compressors on the new spring and compress it to match the old spring's compressed length.
   ⚠️When releasing compression from old spring, do so slowly and evenly. Keep hands and body clear of spring path.
7. 7

   Reassemble strut with new spring (driver side)
   Install the compressed new spring onto the strut shaft with correct orientation (check spring seat alignment marks). Install the spring seat, bearing plate, and upper mount assembly in their original orientation. Thread on the strut shaft nut and hold the shaft with the holding tool. Tighten the nut to secure the assembly, but do not torque yet. Slowly and evenly release the spring compressors, alternating between sides. Once spring tension is fully on the seats, remove compressor tools completely. Now torque the strut shaft nut to manufacturer specification (typically 55 Nm / 41 lb-ft, though not in provided list - follow vehicle-specific manual).
8. 8

   Install driver side strut assembly
   Guide the strut assembly up through the wheel well and into position. Align the upper mount studs with the strut tower holes. Install the three strut tower nuts finger-tight. Raise the lower control arm with the floor jack and align the strut with the steering knuckle mounting holes. Install both strut-to-knuckle bolts and torque to specification.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)

   Strut Bolts144 Nm (106 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Repeat for passenger side
   Repeat steps 2 through 8 for the passenger side front strut and spring assembly. Follow the same safety precautions with spring compression and ensure proper orientation of all components.
   ⚠️Apply the same spring compression safety procedures as used on the driver side. Do not rush this process.
10. 10

    Reconnect sway bar links
    Reconnect both sway bar end links to the lower control arms. Hold the ball stud shaft with an Allen key and install the nuts. Torque the sway bar link nuts to specification.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install wheels and lower vehicle
    Install both front wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle carefully until wheels contact the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Final torque verification
    With the vehicle weight now on the wheels, perform a final verification of all torque specifications. Re-torque the strut tower nuts to specification through the engine bay. Bounce each front corner of the vehicle several times to settle the suspension, then verify all fasteners remain tight.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification with vehicle weight on suspension as noted.
2. Verify spring compressor tools have been completely removed before driving vehicle.
3. Check that upper strut mounts are properly seated in strut towers with no gap.
4. Confirm sway bar links are reconnected on both sides.

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area. Listen for any clunking, rattling, or unusual noises from front suspension.
• Verify ride height appears even side-to-side and matches original height.
• Check for proper steering response and verify vehicle tracks straight with no pulling.
• After 50-100 miles, re-torque all suspension fasteners and wheel lug nuts to specification.
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment as suspension geometry has been disturbed. Alignment is essential after this repair.

More procedures for this vehicle