Replacing the coil springs on a 2wd S10 pickup?

[AJMBLAZER]

Buddy has a '98 2wd S10 extended cab. Decent truck but somebody neglected/abused the hell out of it. We're restoring it to working order. One issue is the passenger side front coil spring has collapsed.

He's recently done some dog sitting for me and is helping me with my gf's house so I bought him a set of new front springs. (Before anyone thinks I'm a big spender Rock Auto had a hell of a deal on a set.)

So what does one need to do to pull and replace these coil springs? I have a set of coil spring compressors and have done stuff like this before but never on a S10. I have the GM factory service manual and it seems to say I need to take the lower control arm loose from the frame...?

 

[1970worthog]

I did this one my s10 in 2 afternoons(would have been one if not for the balljoint falling out on the lower driver a-arm and the local pnp being closed)

honestly its not too bad if you got the right tools. I put a jack under the lower arm,kept the upper balljoint intact, separated the lower and slowly let pressure off the spring till I felt it was good to move(I vaguely remember it "popping" loose but not shooting out or anything of that nature).
I know theres a few write up on it on S10forum that helped me do it.
good luck

 

[AJMBLAZER]

So you did remove the A arm entirely?

I'm just hoping nothing is bent. I have all sorts of tools including a big air compressor and air tools.

 

[1970worthog]

I had to remove the lower driver side only because the balljoint had fallen out due to the hole being wallered out so i went to pick n pull and got another one with a good balljoint. Otherwise a prybar in the right place will get the spring out once the lower balljoint is seperated from the knuckle.

Like i said its nothing special so you should be golden

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Here in the rust belt just getting a balljoint out of a knuckle can be difficult.

Actually, I'm off to go do that on my vehicle and quietly dreading it.