coil spring retainer nut removal question?

[92 green sport]

I am doing a 2" suspension lift on my 92 sport. I did the rear leafs already and they were cake but now I am a little stuck on the front springs. I don't have a wrench big enough to fit the spring retainer nut and don't know the best way to go about getting to it. Can someone:

1. Let me know what size this nut is so I can buy a wrench big enough?

2. Let me know the best tool to use? Wrench or socket?

Thanks in advance

 

[RangerX]

If you're talking about the nut that's inside the coil at the bottom, it's 1 1/8". Use a socket with enough extensions to clear the top of the coil. You'll probably need a cheater pipe on the rachet handle! Use alot of PB Blaster.

 

[Darrman]

I bought a socket just for it, I was suprised to find that there is a different size nut between 2wd and 4wd, but they do sell them at parts stores, they are sold as axle nut sockets.

 

[LBarr2002]

I had to use several shorter extensions and feed them in the top of the coil one at a time, then connect them, instead of using one long extension. Just a heads up.

 

[92 green sport]

You did this without a jack under the spring so it was as sprung as possible right?

How did you get the socket inside the spring?

 

[ld50]

I used the box end of a wrench and a hammer to break my nuts (on the coils). then used another wrench as a cheater to loosen.
Mines not a sport but if I could do it I think you could, there was just enough room to get a bite on them (my nuts).

 

[92 green sport]

thanks!
any other ideas?

 

[LBarr2002]

I dropped the socket down from the top of the spring.

 

[Jason94sport]

I did that too. With 2 extensions then a 4 foot breaker bar. Lots of PB blaster(which didn't do much) It was a big PITA! I refuse to do it ever again. Took about 30 min for each side to come loose. My hands & wrists were killing me for days. Never ever again!.

 

[Darrman]

Wow, I feel lucky, mine came off with two extensions, regular rachet with a 1 1/2 foot cheater, and minimal PB. Of course I had to make three trips to the parts store to get the right size socket (dammit).

 

[LBarr2002]

Mine wasn't that difficult to get off. I had help too though, so I turned one side and he did the other. It'd be a lot easier now that I have a body lift, more room on top of the spring to get the ratchet up there.

 

[92 green sport]

Where did you all fit the socket in. Between the coils of the spring?
I thought that I think that the top opening of the spring is not accessible.

 

[ld50]

Jason raises a good point, before taking it apart soak your nuts with some kind of penetrating fluid. I think I started soaking mine like a week in advance, you don`t want to break anything or strip the nuts.

 

[410Fortune]

you drop the socket in from the top of the coil bucket
you have to assemble to extensions onto the socket because the fender liner is in the way of putting one long one down the coil

Jacking up the truck from the frame and letting the beam hang is a good idea, it takes tension off the radius arm/beam connection.

use a 1/2" or 3/4" drive and a breaker bar, they will come off, or should. The longer the breaker bar the more leverage you have in your favor.

You can also fit a wrench in there through the coil, especially if you let the beam hang.

 

[92 green sport]

Thanks for all of the help! I'm going to get back into it on sunday. I'll let you all know.

 

[Darrman]

I looked at mine today, its a 29mm Axle nut Socket, heavy duty peice.

 

[Dre]

Open end wrench or box end wrench - 1 and 1/8 inch... before wrenching though use a MAPP gas torch... propane might work as well... MAPP burns at higher temps.

*** secure truck on jack stands - drop axle before wrenching - this will give you more room.

I did those and axle/torsion bar bolts this way... once you heat it up it's a walk in the park. Otherwise with all the PB blasters and WD40s you will still have hard time. FORD used thread lockers on those bolts... got to brake them loose before wrenching

 

[ExporeRanger]

use a biiig open end wrench..and pb blaster..soak it and give it 24 hours soaking..should be pretty easy..it will take a lil more effort to turn it and then refit it and turn it..but thats the best way..went easy for me and i live on the shore..and in good snow..so salts pretyt bad

 

[92 green sport]

I soaked it in PB for a day. I used an open end wrench and it came right off. It just needed to be soaked for a while and I had to get at it at the right angle since I didn't have enough extensions to use the wratchet. All in all I must say that this lift kit was easy to install. I took my time and cleaned every nut and bolt, used a whire wheel on every rusted piece of metal under the truck and painted and undercoated everything to prevent rust. It looks really clean now. I am going to post pics of everything soon. Thanks for all of the help!

 

[Dre]

another job well done