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vegasken34's avatar
vegasken34
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014

HWH kick down jack springs

Has anyone replaced the springs on the older HWH kick down jacks?
The front ones were do able but I can not figure how to do the rear.
It appears you have to replace both of the springs at once.
Above my feeble mind. HELP please!!!!
  • Thanks for all the replies. I have decided that using 2 come a longs is the easiest answer, pulling both springs at once. Wish me luck!!!!
  • mrwizard has it right. use a ratchet strap.
    hook one end of the spring in the foot, then hook one side to the yoke. loop it around the top of the jack. hook the ratchet strap into the end of the second spring. tighten it up to stretch the second spring, long enough to hook it into the other side of the foot. use a hammer on the yoke to move it into correct position. i know you've done this before, so this is for first time dyi folks.
  • When I did the front springs on our previous MH, I used a ratchet strap to pull..extend the spring
    You Might be able to do the same thing with the rear jacks..must be some place under there to attach one end of the strap

    In my case... jacks up retracted attached new spring to top hole first
    Attach ratchet to spring
    Tighten ratchet
    Stretch spring to reach base plate

    Repeat for second spring
  • I was successful in replacing my front kick down jack springs with the help of my nephew and a lot of gur work. Later I planned to replace my rear springs. I analyzed the situation. I developed a method that I was easily able to install my springs by myself with a minimum of effort. With the spring in the stored position I easily installed the inside spring carefully laid the cross bar and hooked the outside spring to the crossbar. Now this is where the effort begins. I used a heavy duty S hook on the base plate end of the spring then I used a pry bar with ( like a crow bar, small) to hook onto the bottom of the outside spring. Carefully watching the upper crossbar and keeping it centered and also watching the inside spring position, I begin to pull or extend the outside spring until it reaches the proper distance to be inserted into the base plate. Now the crowbar is inserted into the heavy duty S hook. This extends the distance that you can pull the outside spring. Then Voula! the spring slips into the base plate slot. Done job. I couldn't believe it how easy it was. And the manual says only to be preformed by qualified professionals. I guess I am now a qualified professional. Good luck. I make no claims or guarantees for anybody elses attempts to install their own jack springs. I am not responsible for any injuries that might or may occur.
  • I have a 2002 chassis and the springs on my rear jacks had to be replaced. The mechanic hung on the base plate and moved it out to the side, replaced both springs and hung on the base plate again and placed the plate back on the ram. The mechanic was about three hundred pounds.