Coilovers are just a tad too long to install! Recommendations?

[ccbruin]

So my coilovers are about an inch or 2 too long to fit between the upper mounting point and lower mounting point. I had them bolted to the top and just hanging down fully extended. Any recommendations on how to get it to fit in there? I am thinking go rent some spring compressors and use my jack to compress the spring the inch or two, tighten the spring compressors down, then use ratchet straps to shorten the shock it self. Does this sound promising to you guys??
Any other suggestions? or should I just opt for some new coilovers?

[redneck23ms]

will your coilovers bottom out before your bumpstops do? if not then its better for them to be too long than it is to be too short.

[ccbruin]

Bump stops before shocks. They are only temporary until I order some new ones, but I need these to work for now because I have to move next week!

[ILuvtheMountains]

Right below the hub I have two bolts that when I remove them they allow me to detach the entire lower control arm from the spindle assembly and it gave me the extra room to swing the arm down and fit in the coilover. I realize we have different trucks. It maybe it gives you some options/ideas.

[ccbruin]

Yea the lower control arm was free from the spindle and this is where that inch too long is from. It would fit but at a certain point the Coilover hits the frame rail and won't go as far as the mount on the lower control arm

[ILuvtheMountains]

You can mark the cam tab on the frame and the tab then loosen that cam bolt to let the arm swing more freely (once again, this may be different on your truck than mine). The. Just get it back as close to the marks as you can before getting an alignment. If these coils are going to change ride height you will need one anyway.

[ccbruin]

Not worried about the alignment part. Lower arm was fully free. Closest Coilovers can get is 1" too long

[Robert B]

i have not done too many coil springs but i have always had to use spring compressors to get them in since they are always to big to fit in between the upper and lower perches for them ..... that would most likely be the easiest way to do it .... but please dont use the jack to compress the spring .....very bad idea , yours is "safer" since it is bolted into the truck but the jack will move too easily and will put upward pressure on the truck itself which should not be enough to lift it since you only need an inch but still not the best idea and depending on how your shocks are set up i usually just use strength to shove them up and in place :) ( and yes i have high pressure shocks on my truck so it does take some oomph to do it)

[gm4x4lover]

We always slide them in with a big pry bar. The other option is to start disconnecting stuff (knuckle, sway bar, what ever else is holding it up) and let the control arm swing freely.

[ccbruin]

Well I got one in there finally. I think they were just too long, would have only a few inches of bump. So I ordered some new fox coilovers today!