Coil Springs - Rear Pair

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear coil springs on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 4WD with the 5.0L Coyote engine, including proper suspension disassembly and compressed spring handling.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear coil spring (left) × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent heavy-duty aftermarket
• Rear coil spring (right) × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent heavy-duty aftermarket
• Coil spring isolator pads (upper and lower per side) × 4 — Replace if cracked or deteriorated

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake. Chock front wheels securely.
2. If fasteners show corrosion, spray all rear suspension mounting bolts, shock bolts, and U-bolt nuts with penetrating oil and allow to soak for several hours or overnight.
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground.
4. Lift rear of vehicle using floor jack at rear differential housing or frame rails, then support vehicle with jack stands under frame rails just forward of rear axle. Ensure stands are rated for vehicle weight and positioned on solid frame sections.
5. Remove both rear wheels completely and set aside.
6. Visually inspect rear suspension for damaged or corroded components. Replacement of worn shocks, bushings, or hardware should be done during this service.
7. Position floor jack under rear differential housing with a block of wood to protect housing. Jack should be positioned to support axle weight but not lifting vehicle.

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect rear sway bar links
   Locate the rear sway bar links connecting the sway bar to the axle housing. Using a wrench to hold the hex shaft of the link stud, remove the upper nuts securing each link to the sway bar. Allow links to hang from axle mounts. This provides clearance for axle lowering.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove rear shock absorber lower bolts
   Locate the lower shock absorber mounting bolts at the rear axle mounting brackets. Remove the bolts securing both rear shocks to the axle housing. Support shocks with safety wire or zip ties to frame to prevent damage to shock bodies or brake lines. Do not allow shocks to hang freely and hyperextend.
   Torque spec

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

   Disconnect rear ABS sensor wiring (if equipped)
   Locate the rear ABS wheel speed sensor wiring along the axle housing and trailing arms. Disconnect any electrical connectors and release wiring clips securing harness to axle or suspension components. Secure wiring up and away from work area to prevent damage during axle lowering. Note routing for reassembly.
4. 4

   Carefully lower rear axle assembly
   Using the floor jack positioned under the differential housing, slowly and carefully lower the rear axle assembly. Lower approximately 6-8 inches or until coil springs are loose in their seats but still contained by spring perches. Monitor brake hoses and ABS wiring to ensure they are not being stretched or damaged. Stop immediately if any component becomes tight or strained. The springs will still have some tension at this point.
   ⚠Do not lower axle beyond the point where brake hoses or wiring become taut. Excessive lowering can damage brake lines or ABS components.
5. 5

   Install spring compressor on driver side spring
   With axle lowered, install heavy-duty coil spring compressor according to manufacturer instructions on the driver side spring. Install compressor hooks on opposite sides of spring (180 degrees apart) with at least 3-4 coils between upper and lower hooks for safety. Verify hooks are fully seated in coil windows and cannot slip. Tighten compressor evenly, alternating sides, until spring is compressed enough to remove all tension from upper and lower spring seats. Spring should be free to move in perches.
   ⚠️Verify spring compressor is rated for vehicle coil springs and is in good condition with no damaged threads, hooks, or structural components. Never use undersized or damaged compressors.
   ⚠️Compress spring slowly and evenly. Check hook engagement frequently. If hooks slip or show signs of bending, stop immediately and reposition.
6. 6

   Remove driver side coil spring
   With spring fully compressed and free from load, carefully guide the spring out of the upper and lower spring perches. Tilt and maneuver spring assembly as needed to clear axle housing and frame mounting points. Keep hands and body clear of compressed spring path. Set compressed spring in safe area away from work zone. Remove and inspect upper and lower spring isolator pads from frame and axle perches, replacing if torn, compressed flat, or deteriorated.
7. 7

   Remove passenger side coil spring
   Repeat spring compression and removal process on passenger side. Install spring compressor with hooks properly seated in coil windows on opposite sides of spring. Compress evenly until spring is free from perch load. Remove spring from vehicle and set in safe area. Remove and inspect spring isolator pads from both upper and lower seats.
   ⚠️Do not position yourself directly in line with compressed spring axis. Stand to the side during compression and removal.
8. 8

   Clean spring perches and inspect components
   With springs removed, use wire brush to clean upper frame spring perches and lower axle spring seats. Remove rust, dirt, and debris. Inspect perches for cracks or damage. Check shock mounts, axle brackets, and trailing arm bushings for wear or damage. Address any issues before installing new springs.
9. 9

   Install new spring isolators
   Install new or reusable spring isolator pads in upper frame perches and lower axle seats. Upper isolators typically have a locating tab or shaped profile to fit frame pocket. Lower isolators seat in formed axle perch. Ensure isolators are fully seated and properly oriented before spring installation.
10. 10

    Compress and install new passenger side spring
    Install spring compressor on new passenger side coil spring. Compress spring enough to safely handle and install into vehicle (typically 3-4 inches of compression). Carefully position compressed spring into place, aligning bottom coil with lower axle perch and top coil with upper frame pocket. Ensure spring end coils are properly seated against isolator tabs or stops per Ford specification (spring ends have formed pigtails that must locate correctly). Verify proper spring orientation before decompressing.
    ⚠New springs may have directional installation requirements. Verify coil end positioning matches OEM configuration with pigtail ends properly seated in perch stops.
11. 11

    Decompress passenger side spring
    Using floor jack, carefully raise rear axle slightly to begin loading spring. As axle rises, slowly and evenly release spring compressor tension, alternating sides to decompress uniformly. Monitor spring seating in both upper and lower perches. Continue raising axle and releasing compressor until spring is fully seated and loaded in perches with no side load or binding. Remove spring compressor completely once spring is under vehicle load.
12. 12

    Install new driver side spring
    Repeat compression and installation process for driver side spring. Compress new spring with spring compressor, position in vehicle with proper coil end orientation in upper and lower perches, then carefully raise axle while releasing compressor tension. Verify spring seats properly in both perches before fully decompressing and removing compressor.
13. 13

    Raise axle to ride height and reconnect shocks
    With both springs installed and compressors removed, use floor jack to raise rear axle to approximately normal ride height (suspension in neutral position, not extended or compressed). Align shock absorber lower mounting holes with axle brackets and install lower shock bolts. Do not fully torque at this time.
    Torque spec

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

    Reconnect sway bar links and ABS wiring
    With axle at ride height, align sway bar link studs with sway bar mounting holes. Install upper sway bar link nuts and tighten while holding link shaft hex with wrench to prevent spinning. Reconnect ABS wheel speed sensor connectors and secure wiring in original clips along axle and suspension. Verify routing does not interfere with moving suspension components.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Install wheels and lower vehicle for final torque
    Install both rear wheels and thread lug nuts by hand. Lower vehicle partially so tires contact ground but jack stands still support majority of weight. Torque wheel lug nuts in star pattern. Remove jack stands and lower vehicle completely to ground. With vehicle weight on suspension, torque shock lower mounting bolts to specification. Rock vehicle side to side several times to settle suspension, then recheck all fastener torque values.
    ℹ️Shock mounting bolts must be torqued with vehicle at normal ride height and weight on suspension to prevent bushing bind and premature wear.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

    Strut Bolts144 Nm (106 lb-ft)

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. All fasteners must be torqued to specification with vehicle weight on suspension at normal ride height.
2. Spring isolator pads must be replaced if damaged and properly seated in perches before spring installation.
3. Verify ABS wiring and brake hoses have adequate slack and are secured in original routing positions.
4. After initial test drive, recheck all suspension fastener torque values after 50-100 miles of driving.

Verification

• Perform visual inspection of all spring and shock mounting points to verify proper seating and no gaps between components.
• Bounce each corner of vehicle to verify suspension operates smoothly with no binding, clunking, or unusual noises.
• Test drive vehicle at moderate speeds over various road surfaces. Suspension should operate normally without harshness, bottoming, or noise.
• Check for proper vehicle ride height comparing side-to-side. Heights should be equal within 1/2 inch.
• Verify no ABS warning lights are illuminated after test drive if sensors were disconnected.
• Recheck all torque specifications after test drive, particularly shock bolts and sway bar links.

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