Broken front coil-HELP

Thanks rockmup. I was going to just get rid of my coil overs all together and thought that this preloaded strut/spring combo for a six inch lift could replace the works (why couldn’t they?…forgive my ignorance) I think the issue that I think that I’ve figured out now is that the spring drops off the bottom, once the cup is taken off (not sure if it is threaded or what but I’m assuming it turns off to drop the spring vs. Unthreading the top to take off the spring.) Again, any info helps and forgive my naïveté as I’m learning as I go here. Much appreciated. I’ll post a couple pics of what I’m referring to.

 

Once the 12 point bolt is taken out at the top it doesn’t seem like that top cap comes off plus the warning there. But it looks like the bottom may come off instead via making use of the two holes on either side for (unthreading?). Any insight? Thanks again.

 

I thought those were real coilovers, they aren't, they are struts. Those will not use the same springs as Fox, Kings, etc.
The pressure they are talking about is spring pressure, DO NOT take it apart any more. You need a real spring compressor to do so.

Take a look on EBAY for some takeoffs. I wouldn't buy the ones you linked without seeing the top mount and making sure you can return them

 

I have access to a real spring compressor (and had them locked into it when taking them apart) just seems the top did not want to come off (even with the load off of it) so was wondering if it is instead the bottom that comes off via leverage on those two holes to turn it off. If it’s the top (when I take the 12 point bolt out) is it that top cap that needs a bar ran through it to turn it off thus accessing the two large adjustment rings to be removed with a c-spanner or the like?

 

Also, unless I am misunderstanding something, are these not coil overs? They are most certainly adjustable up and down the threads on the strut via a c-spanner on the rings.

 

No, they are struts. When I saw them on my phone I didn't look too close and assumed, didn't even know Procomp made struts like that. I wouldn't even bother taking them apart

Compress the spring, remove the 12 point and that whole top should come then remove the two spanner nuts while the spring is compressed.
Be really careful, all spring compressors are not the same

 

Taking that apart still doesn’t allow the two spanner nuts to come off as that top hat still stops them. Does that unthread? I worry that that releases the gas/fluid in the shock (hence the warning…though it was said on here the “pressure” it refers to is the force on the spring. I understand it needs to go in a spring compressor I’m just looking at what allows me access to remove the spring from there. Is it the bottom that comes off instead? I’ll try to contact pro comp again but in the past they couldn’t even give me spring specs on these as they were “assembled off site”… who knows…‍♂️‍♂️‍♂️

 

Note, it’s in a vice but I am NOT working on it without being in wall mounted spring compressor of buddy’s. I’ve only removed the 1/2” 12 point bolt to show what I’m left with from there.

 

Why do you want to take it apart ? No point if you can't find springs.

I'll say it again, I've never taken one apart but makes sense that the hat is threaded. The two nuts are what hold the spring in place.

 

You have coilovers. It’s a coil spring wrapped around a gas charged & oil filled shock. The spring and shock work in tandem. Not sure what the previous poster meant by “struts” but that’s typically a term applied to a different setup. There’s a stickied post in the suspension sub forum that can flesh out more nuance for you.

I believe you’re also correct in your concern about removing the top hat and purging the nitrogen charge/leaking oil. I would imagine it screws off the top of that shock body which would allow removal/replacement of the spring, but I have no idea how you’d recharge the N2 upon reassembly since I don’t see a charge port anywhere. Seems doubtful to me that the spring would come off by via removal of the lower spring perch. Someone with more experience may know more.

Though you do have a coil over shock, it may not be serviceable/rebuildable in the normally understood sense. There are plenty on non serviceable (“throw away”) coilovers out there. It doesn’t mean they can’t be rebuilt, it’s just that the time and effort expended to do so isn’t usually justified. I’m not an expert, but I’d say these C/O’s look like the type that weren’t made to be rebuilt easily.

Hope that’s helpful.

 

Thanks all. Marv, that was exactly my understanding as well, thanks for confirming. In terms of finding the springs, I have not done extensive searching as there was not much point in doing so IF I couldn’t reasonably remove the spring in the first place. I kinda thought it was putting the cart in front of the horse in this regard vs first sourcing springs and then seeing if I could even replace them in the first place. Likely just need to go ahead with swapping the c/o’s out completely for a different set up I’m thinking.

 

Yea, unfortunately I think your "best worst option" is to replace the C/O's if you want to keep the lift.

 

The problem with what you have (I'm not going to argue about struts or coilovers) Is you can't service them in that theres no way to charge the N2 like a real coilover and those springs are not the same size as real coilovers.
Those springs do come off but thats a lot of work to find you can't get a replacement and the way my luck runs, the seals would start leaking as soon as I replaced the spring. lol

 

I hear ya rock…my luck runs about the same lol. Swap out seems the least PITA in time and money. Thanks again guys.