How quickly can I put longer springs in the front

[Camaroboi13]

I did 4” Diesel springs plus a half inch spacer on top of my Overland, no compressor needed. Didn’t even loosen the upper control arms or pull the driveshaft like everyone kept telling me I needed to.

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[WILDHOBO]

Piece of cake - with compressor.

Slightly different vehicle................. the Overland springs are pretty long anyway, low spring rate to make a nice ride. Then add much longer springs and it's quite a stretch. The compressor made it a breeze and was "free" after I returned it in good condition.

Old thread revived. I’m doing it probably tomorrow. Similar lift springs, but stronger to hold the front end weight better. Maybe. I’ll see after it’s done. Going from 3” lift springs + 1/2” spacer to 3.5” HD springs. Hopefully I don’t screw up ride quality.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I did 4” Diesel springs plus a half inch spacer on top of my Overland, no compressor needed. Didn’t even loosen the upper control arms or pull the driveshaft like everyone kept telling me I needed to.

Then you messed up, did it wrong and now your upper arm bushings are twisted under constant stress
ALWAYS loosen all control arms, both ends when making a change to ride height and retorque with wheels on ground. Shaft, no, but on the upper bushings, yes, they were dead right

 

[WILDHOBO]

Then you messed up, did it wrong and now your upper arm bushings are twisted under constant stress
ALWAYS loosen all control arms, both ends when making a change to ride height and retorque with wheels on ground. Shaft, no, but on the upper bushings, yes, they were dead right

Correct. There are some exceptions though depending on the control arms. Teraflex Alpine IR control arms do not need to be loosened, and can even be torqued off the ground without issue. The bushing design doesn’t bind like traditional ends. It’s one of the reasons I truly love them. I haven’t needed to loosen them since putting them on. This is only with the IR models, not the regular alpine.

 

[Gizmo]

Slightly different vehicle................. the Overland springs are pretty long anyway, low spring rate to make a nice ride. Then add much longer springs and it's quite a stretch. The compressor made it a breeze and was "free" after I returned it in good condition.

No Shit its a different vehicle but the process isn't different enough to even mention . Once again nit picking as I have been doing this on JTs ,JKs, JLs TJs,XJs Rams. Same process and the differences are minimal as far as the process and time

 

[WILDHOBO]

No Shit its a different vehicle but the process isn't different enough to even mention . Once again nit picking as I have been doing this on JTs ,JKs, JLs TJs,XJs Rams. Same process and the differences are minimal as far as the process and time

Completely unnecessary response. If you think it’s easy, don’t troll. Just ignore it and read another thread.

 

[Gizmo]

Troll because I don't fell obligated to reply to every post . Some times it gets old getting quoted as if your wrong because of something silly . Won't happen again. I thought the man was aking a serious question

 

[WILDHOBO]

Troll because I don't fell obligated to reply to every post . Some times it gets old getting quoted as if your wrong because of something silly . Won't happen again. I thought the man was aking a serious question

The OP was definitely asking a real question so they didn’t get into a point of no return position, as they aren’t as experienced as you. I get that you feel nitpicked, but I think @ShadowsPapa as genuinely trying to help. No reason to lash out is all I’m saying.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Correct. There are some exceptions though depending on the control arms. Teraflex Alpine IR control arms do not need to be loosened, and can even be torqued off the ground without issue. The bushing design doesn’t bind like traditional ends. It’s one of the reasons I truly love them. I haven’t needed to loosen them since putting them on. This is only with the IR models, not the regular alpine.

Yeah, bonded rubber bushings must be released and allowed to turn into new position, then re-torqued in the "new normal". Pivoting bushings like you mention - good point.
I should say stock or like stock with bonded bushings that don't rotate in or on another part.

as far as "others doing it without compressors" - I ran into the maximums on my wheel sensor and brake caliper lines and didn't want to take more parts loose.
I used 3 floor jacks in the whole process and found the taller springs with spacers in my 2020 were taking it to the limit - I could have worked a lot harder and made it, or removed more parts, but the compressor allowed me to leave brakes and wiring alone and simply slip stuff in.
To each their own - you can put 5" springs in without a compressor if you remove enough parts and work hard enough at it.
I was also in a really tight time crunch. I look back at the photo date and time stamps and I had exactly a couple of hours to do the job and get loaded up to go on a trip hauling my car hauler. I couldn't spend a whole afternoon. So I needed to know how fast it could be done.
If I were doing it now, I'd not care if I had to take hours and take a lot more stuff apart.
I was hooking up to leave - on a really tight schedule. I figure the compressor saved me a lot of time not to mention I could leave some stuff connected and actually work less hard.

(I'm not exactly a fit, trim, lean, non-arthritic 20 year old any more.......... and now another freaky thing has doctors baffled and they want to do an ultrasound of my left leg, extreme pain and swelling like something is stopped up and filling with fluid and they are scratching their heads - stairs are a problem, can't kneel, so I'll likely be doing even less for a while)

I've changed a whole lot of springs over the decades and if you ask how fast I can swap springs on a number of other vehicles, I can give you details in what and how and how long, down to the exact tools needed.
I'd done Jeeps before - but took my time - I was in no hurry at all. Did my 2020 - put different springs in after I bought it, took springs out and back to stock to trade it.
But I didn't hurry because there was no need and was looking for tips related exactly to the JT as each has their own quirks, and the Overland is different than a Rubicon which is different from a Mojave. We've compared spring lengths on various JTs and it's interesting to see that the springs on an Overland are actually a touch longer than the front springs on a Mojave. (at least the two versions of each we compared here in the forums a while back)

It's also a very old thread that came back to life and that doesn't always end up well - it's likely why some forums even say "this is an older thread, please start a new one".

Time crunch it was- I had to be absolutely CERTAIN with no doubt at all it could be done in less time than I spent on my other spring swaps. The Synergy springs are also very different springs and are dual rate springs, higher rate AND taller, both, so it was a matter of stiffness and length. Many more coils than stock Jeep springs.

 

[Rusty PW]

The older you get, the slower you get. The aches and pains from getting older. When I did my 4 springs. It took me a day and a half. Took my time. Was in no rush. Didn't want to get hurt. I've seen the damage a spring can do. Back in the day. I could have done this in a half a day.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The older you get, the slower you get. The aches and pains from getting older. When I did my 4 springs. It took me a day and a half. Took my time. Was in no rush. Didn't want to get hurt. I've seen the damage a spring can do. Back in the day. I could have done this in a half a day.

This is also one reason I'd be really reluctant to trade in my current JT for another - not that I'd ever say "never" - but good grief, what I did 2 years ago would take a lot more time today if they were to once again say "put it back to factory stock".
OMG - all that stuff! Hours, days actually, on the plow, spring swaps again, winch, bumper, backup lights, the power steps alone would take a day to unwind. I strap the #$% out of wiring, some of it run through the frame, the connections to the park/turn signals would require fender liner removal, ugh...........
I keep running through my head - would I be better off saying - no, you take it as it sits and I just buy all that stuff all over again?
If I was in some other parts of the country - I'd have a Jeep stripping party - BBQ, drinks, etc. LOL

 

[TheDerb]

The older you get, the slower you get. The aches and pains from getting older. When I did my 4 springs. It took me a day and a half. Took my time. Was in no rush. Didn't want to get hurt. I've seen the damage a spring can do. Back in the day. I could have done this in a half a day.

I just had my first knee “scope” Last Thursday. MCL is level 3 tear, Meniscus was in tatters. I did it by moving a DeWalt Planer from the ground to the bed of my Gladiator. Ill be 40 in August. Sigh. Life is about to get a lot more measured and slower here in the Derby household…

 

[Rusty PW]

I just had my first knee “scope” Last Thursday. MCL is level 3 tear, Meniscus was in tatters. I did it by moving a DeWalt Planer from the ground to the bed of my Gladiator. Ill be 40 in August. Sigh. Life is about to get a lot more measured and slower here in the Derby household…

I've been through 13 surgeries. For a while. I thought my ortho surgeon was my PCP.

 

[KevinM60]

Yeah, bonded rubber bushings must be released and allowed to turn into new position, then re-torqued in the "new normal". Pivoting bushings like you mention - good point.
I should say stock or like stock with bonded bushings that don't rotate in or on another part.

as far as "others doing it without compressors" - I ran into the maximums on my wheel sensor and brake caliper lines and didn't want to take more parts loose.
I used 3 floor jacks in the whole process and found the taller springs with spacers in my 2020 were taking it to the limit - I could have worked a lot harder and made it, or removed more parts, but the compressor allowed me to leave brakes and wiring alone and simply slip stuff in.
To each their own - you can put 5" springs in without a compressor if you remove enough parts and work hard enough at it.
I was also in a really tight time crunch. I look back at the photo date and time stamps and I had exactly a couple of hours to do the job and get loaded up to go on a trip hauling my car hauler. I couldn't spend a whole afternoon. So I needed to know how fast it could be done.
If I were doing it now, I'd not care if I had to take hours and take a lot more stuff apart.
I was hooking up to leave - on a really tight schedule. I figure the compressor saved me a lot of time not to mention I could leave some stuff connected and actually work less hard.

(I'm not exactly a fit, trim, lean, non-arthritic 20 year old any more.......... and now another freaky thing has doctors baffled and they want to do an ultrasound of my left leg, extreme pain and swelling like something is stopped up and filling with fluid and they are scratching their heads - stairs are a problem, can't kneel, so I'll likely be doing even less for a while)

I've changed a whole lot of springs over the decades and if you ask how fast I can swap springs on a number of other vehicles, I can give you details in what and how and how long, down to the exact tools needed.
I'd done Jeeps before - but took my time - I was in no hurry at all. Did my 2020 - put different springs in after I bought it, took springs out and back to stock to trade it.
But I didn't hurry because there was no need and was looking for tips related exactly to the JT as each has their own quirks, and the Overland is different than a Rubicon which is different from a Mojave. We've compared spring lengths on various JTs and it's interesting to see that the springs on an Overland are actually a touch longer than the front springs on a Mojave. (at least the two versions of each we compared here in the forums a while back)

It's also a very old thread that came back to life and that doesn't always end up well - it's likely why some forums even say "this is an older thread, please start a new one".

Time crunch it was- I had to be absolutely CERTAIN with no doubt at all it could be done in less time than I spent on my other spring swaps. The Synergy springs are also very different springs and are dual rate springs, higher rate AND taller, both, so it was a matter of stiffness and length. Many more coils than stock Jeep springs.

When this thread was revived a few days ago I didn’t realize it was from 2022.
Having installed a 2” spacer lift this past weekend I can say that a spring compressor is one of your best friends.
I didn’t borrow one so I rigged a ratchet strap to squeeze them down to get them back in. It worked.

 

[WILDHOBO]

When this thread was revived a few days ago I didn’t realize it was from 2022.
Having installed a 2” spacer lift this past weekend I can say that a spring compressor is one of your best friends.
I didn’t borrow one so I rigged a ratchet strap to squeeze them down to get them back in. It worked.

I just bought a set. I’ve got to swap springs whenever I get a second.

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