How to Replace a Coil Spring in a Chevy Cobalt

Your Chevy Cobalt suspension includes MacPherson strut assemblies, a shock absorber in the center of a coil spring. These steps will discuss how to overhaul the strut and replace the coil spring.

Instructions

1

Raise your Chevy Cobalt and safely support it on jack stands or ramps, then remove the relevant wheels and take the damaged strut out of the vehicle and insert it in the J 45400 spring compression tool. Make a line of painted marks down each component of the strut to help you align them for reassembly in later steps.

2

Turn the spring compressor forcing screw on the J 45400 spring compression tool until the strut moves freely; this indicates that the coil spring is compressed. Then, use a 45 TORX socket to hold the strut shaft and use a strut rod socket or equivalent to remove the upper strut mount nut.

3

Remove the upper strut mount and coil spring from the spring compression tool, then remove the strut as well. Place the new spring into the spring compression tool and turn the forcing screw until it is compressed.

4

Install the remainder of the strut assembly to the coil spring and install the upper strut mount, loosely tightening the strut retaining nut.

5

Use your 45 TORX socket to hold the strut shaft and a strut rod socket to tighten the upper strut mount nut to 55 foot pounds of torque. Ensure the nut is firmly fastened and that the marks you made in Step 1 are lined up, then remove the strut from the spring compression tool and install it in the vehicle.

6

Replace the wheels and tighten the lug nuts, then lower your vehicle.