Changing front torsion springs - alignment required after?

Another JR · November 25, 2021

Hi All,

I ordered my 2021 3500hd SRW gas truck with the heavy duty camper spring option (5600 FGAWR rather than the base 5200). I don’t need them for my pop-up camper, which weighs just under a ton fully loaded for travel and literally only puts 100 lbs of weight on the front axle. I had thought I might someday get a heavier hardsided camper, so I ordered camper springs, but have already decided we won’t ever do that. I’d prefer the front suspension be a little softer.

So I’m interested in changing the springs to the standard 5200 lbs part number as a DIY job, and I’m trying to scope the work and price. The bars cost $220 each. Two questions:

1) Has anyone done this job on one of these trucks, and if so do you think a person who typically does light to medium mechanical work should attempt the job (I pulled engines and transmissions on simple smaller cars as a teenager, but wouldn’t attempt that today). I have the equipment to safely raise and support the truck indoors, and I have a strong son to help with lifting the heavy bars.

2) If I take careful measurements to restore the same height after the swap can I avoid having to do an alignment, or should I plan to have a height adjustment and alignment done by the dealer after the change?

Thanks

Dunn · November 26, 2021

its not horribly tough to do, check out some youtube videos but probably would need to align......almost anytime you mess with a suspension componet it should be aligned or checked......maybe the dealer can swap them when you pick up the truck idk......

i have bought 2020 and 2022 silverado 2500s and both pull to the right from the factory, lol..

Lifesgood · November 26, 2021

Always get it checked when messing with suspension components.

NEVER get a dealership to do your alignment. Dealerships always do terrible alignments. Find an alignment shop. Ive always had dealerships tell me my alignments “within spec” when i have issues. Then i go to a shop with REAL mechanics and get my issues fixed, and they show me exactly how far off the alignment was.

Edited November 26, 2021 by Lifesgood

Another JR · November 26, 2021

Just to clarify, I’ve had the truck since last April.

Understood about not having the dealer do an alignment. It tracks nicely as delivered. I’ll have to research doing the height adjustment, but I’m assuming I can take measurements before and match them after.