Coil Spring - Front

Removal and replacement of front coil springs on a 1972 Ford F-100 with 302ci V8, including suspension disassembly and spring compression procedures.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front coil spring × 2 — Use OEM specification for load rating
• Upper ball joint castle nut × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pins (1/8" diameter) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Chock rear wheels securely front and rear
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
4. Apply penetrating oil to upper ball joint castle nuts, shock absorber mounting hardware, and radius arm bolts, allow to soak 15-30 minutes
5. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at crossmember center
6. Place jack stands under frame rails behind front suspension crossmember, ensuring stands are rated for vehicle weight and positioned on solid frame sections
7. Lower vehicle onto jack stands and verify stability before proceeding
8. Remove front wheels completely

Procedure

1. 1

   Position jack under lower control arm
   Position hydraulic floor jack directly under the Twin I-Beam axle beam, near the spring seat/pocket area but not touching the spring itself. Raise jack just enough to make contact with the I-beam, but do NOT lift the suspension yet. The jack will support the I-beam as you disassemble components and must remain in place throughout the procedure.
2. 2

   Disconnect shock absorber lower mount
   Locate the lower shock absorber mounting bolt that attaches to the Twin I-Beam axle/lower shock bracket. Using appropriate socket and wrench, remove the lower shock mounting bolt and washer. Swing shock absorber up and out of the way, or remove the upper mount to completely remove shock if access is restricted.
3. 3

   Remove upper ball joint cotter pin and castle nut
   For the Twin I-Beam front suspension, ball joint separation is NOT required for coil spring removal. Instead, the coil spring is released by supporting and lowering the I-beam axle. Verify the correct spring-retention hardware (spring pocket/retainer) for this platform before proceeding.
4. 4

   Separate upper ball joint from spindle
   Using a ball joint separator tool (pickle fork or press type), separate the upper ball joint stud from the steering knuckle. Strike the separator firmly or apply press force until the taper releases. The spindle/knuckle assembly will now be free at the top. Support the brake rotor and spindle assembly to prevent strain on the brake hose.
   ⚠Do not damage brake hose. Ensure spindle assembly has enough slack and is supported properly.
5. 5

   Install spring compressor on coil spring
   With the suspension still supported by the jack under the lower control arm, install the coil spring compressor according to the tool manufacturer's instructions. For internal-style compressors, thread the tool through the center of the spring with hooks engaging multiple coils at top and bottom. For external-style compressors, attach clamps to opposite sides of the spring. Ensure compressor hardware is fully engaged and seated properly on the spring coils before proceeding.
   ⚠️Verify spring compressor is properly installed and all fasteners are tight before applying compression. Improper installation can cause tool failure and violent spring release.
6. 6

   Compress coil spring
   Slowly and evenly compress the coil spring using the spring compressor tool. Compress the spring enough to remove all load from the upper and lower spring seats (approximately 2-3 inches of compression). Periodically stop and verify the compressor hardware remains properly engaged and aligned. The spring should compress evenly without cocking to one side.
   ⚠️Keep hands, face, and body clear of spring during compression. Stop immediately if compressor slips, makes unusual sounds, or spring cocks to one side.
7. 7

   Lower control arm and relieve spring tension
   With spring fully compressed and no longer exerting force on the spring seats, slowly lower the hydraulic jack to allow the I-beam to drop down. The compressed spring should now be loose between the upper and lower spring seats. Carefully guide the I-beam down while watching for any binding or interference.
8. 8

   Remove compressed spring assembly
   Carefully remove the compressed spring with compressor still attached from between the upper and lower spring seats. Tilt and maneuver the spring assembly as needed to clear the I-beam and frame. Place the compressed spring assembly in a safe location away from the work area where it cannot roll or be disturbed.
   ⚠Never place compressed spring where it could fall or be knocked over. Keep away from traffic areas.
9. 9

   Inspect spring seats and components
   Inspect upper spring seat on the frame and lower spring seat on the I-beam for damage, wear, rust, or deformation. Check spring seat insulators/pads if equipped. Wire brush any rust or debris from spring seat surfaces. Inspect radius arm bushings, I-beam pivot bushings, and upper ball joint for wear. Replace any worn or damaged components before installing new springs.
10. 10

    Prepare new spring for installation
    Install spring compressor on new coil spring using same method as removal. Compress the new spring to approximately the same compressed length as the original spring was during removal. Verify spring is compressed evenly and compressor hardware is secure. Check that spring is compressed enough to fit between upper and lower spring seats with clearance.
11. 11

    Install compressed new spring
    Carefully position the compressed new spring between the upper and lower spring seats. Align spring end positioning: the bottom coil end should align with the locating tab or mark on the I-beam spring seat, and the top coil should align properly with the upper frame spring seat. Ensure spring is centered and not cocked at an angle.
12. 12

    Raise lower control arm
    Position hydraulic jack under I-beam near the spring seat. Slowly raise the jack to lift the I-beam upward, compressing the spring between the seats. Continue raising until the upper ball joint stud can be inserted into the steering knuckle/spindle hole. Align spindle to accept ball joint stud.
13. 13

    Connect upper ball joint to spindle
    Insert upper ball joint stud through the hole in the steering knuckle/spindle. Install the castle nut onto the ball joint stud and tighten securely. Continue tightening until the next castle nut slot aligns with the cotter pin hole in the stud, then install new cotter pin and bend ends to secure. The spindle should be firmly seated against the ball joint taper with no play.
14. 14

    Release spring compressor
    With the suspension now supporting the spring, slowly and carefully release tension on the spring compressor tool. As you release the compressor, the spring will expand into its natural position between the seats. Remove the spring compressor tool completely once all tension is released. Verify spring is properly seated top and bottom with ends in correct alignment with locating features.
    ⚠Release spring compressor slowly and evenly. Watch for proper spring seating as tension is released.
15. 15

    Reinstall shock absorber
    Position shock absorber back into mounting position. Install lower shock mounting bolt with washer through the radius arm or I-beam mounting bracket and shock eye. Tighten lower shock bolt 52.0 lb-ft (70.0 Nm). If upper shock mount was removed, reinstall and tighten it as well.
16. 16

    Repeat procedure for opposite side
    Repeat the entire spring removal and installation procedure (steps 1-15) for the opposite side front coil spring. Both springs should be replaced as a matched pair to ensure even ride height and handling characteristics.
17. 17

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Install front wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern. Raise vehicle slightly with floor jack to remove weight from jack stands. Remove jack stands and carefully lower vehicle completely to the ground. Torque wheel lug nuts to 105 ft-lbs in a star pattern for the standard 1/2-20 studs found on most 1/2-ton F-100 five-lug wheels.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification and cotter pins are properly installed
2. Verify shock absorbers are securely mounted top and bottom
3. Check that brake hoses have adequate slack and are not kinked or stretched
4. Bounce front end several times to settle suspension components

Verification

• Visually inspect that both coil springs are properly seated in upper and lower spring seats with correct alignment
• Check for equal ride height side-to-side by measuring from ground to fender lip on both sides
• Verify no suspension components are binding or making contact where they should not
• Test drive vehicle at low speed in safe area to verify suspension operates normally and no unusual noises are present
• Schedule front end alignment immediately - vehicle should not be driven at highway speeds until aligned

More procedures for this vehicle