- 1). Place the vehicle in park or neutral with the emergency brake set. Use a tape measure to record the distance from each wheel well top to the ground's surface. Determine how many inches you wish to lower the vehicle. Make note of any deviation in the ride height on any wheel.
- 2). Use the floor jack to lift up the front end of the vehicle and place two jack stands under the frame near each wheel -- this will allow the suspension to hang. Place the floor jack under the lower control arm on one side of the vehicle, or under another sturdy part of the suspension, and jack it up until the shock compresses.
- 3). Use a socket and and wrench to remove the top fastening nut on top of the shock. Use the correct socket to remove the bottom shock mount bolts. Remove the shock. Allow the floor jack to drop, letting the suspension hang again.
- 4). Pull the coil spring out by hand. A stock coil spring should remove easily since it has worn with age. Use a pry bar if it remains stuck between its mounts. Give it a twist to aid in removal. Place it on the ground next to the wheel; do not mix up the coil springs or shocks; you will put them back on their respective sides.
- 5). Switch to the other side of the front end and place the floor jack under the suspension. Remove the shock and coil spring in the same fashion you removed the first one.
- 6). Move to the rear of the vehicle and place the floor jack under the outer edge of the rear axle. Lift up the suspension to collapse the shock. Use the socket and wrench to remove the top shock mount nut. Use the socket and wrench to remove the bottom shock mount bolts. Release the tension on the floor jack to let the suspension fully hang. Pull or pry the coil spring out of its mount. Repeat the same process for the other side.
- 7). Make a chalk mark on the spring where you intend to cut it from the top portion. Mark all the coil springs with the same measurement (keep them in order). Don safety goggles. Use a drill motor with a cutting disk attached, to cut off your measured segment of the coil spring. Place the coil spring flat on the ground and stabilize it to make the cut. Cut all the springs to the same length.
- 8). Take the coil spring and set it inside its mount cradle. Lift up the suspension with the floor jack on the front end as you did for the removal. Guide the coil spring as you lift the suspension, as it will be shorter now. Lift the suspension high enough so the coil spring seats.
- 9). Align the shock with its mounting holes and screw on the top shock nut and tighten it. Replace the bottom shock mount bolts and tighten them. Repeat the procedure for the other front coil spring.
- 10
Move to the rear of the vehicle and place one coil spring in its mounting cradle. Use the floor jack to raise the axle high enough to seat the coil spring in its top mount. Push the shock up into its top mount hole and fasten the nut to the top shaft. Tighten with a socket and wrench. - 11
Align and screw in the bottom shock mount bolts. Tighten them securely with the socket and wrench. Remove the floor jack and switch to the other side of the axle. Repeat the installation of the coil spring in the same fashion. - 12
Use the floor jack to remove all of the jack stands and lower the vehicle. Check your ride height at each of the wheel wells. Test drive.
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