Removing air suspension, replacing with coils

[Egan]

Replacing the H2 air suspension with coil springs:

This is actually a really straightforward project and should only take an hour or so. This eliminates the sagging in the rear end when the air system leaks, because, well, there is no more air to leak! The parts can be had from gmpartsdirect.com:

Left coil: 25956182
Right coil: 25956183
Spacers (x4): 15713853



Step 1: Remove the rear wheels (will make your life easier) and get the H2 up in the air. Then support the rear end. You?re going to disconnect the rear end and axle from the suspension so without support it will fall to the floor!

[Egan]

Step 2: Disconnect the shock and swaybar from the axle. For the shocks, remove the bolts at the bottom. For the swaybars, it will be easier to remove the bolt up top.





Step 3: Lift the rest of the truck off the axle and/or lower the axle.

Step 4: Next I went after the air system itself, dropping the compressor and tank, disconnecting the wires, and cutting the airline feeds to both airbags as well as the tire inflator in the bed.





I just taped up the wiring harness and zip-tied it up under the bumper.

[Egan]

Step 5: Now take out the airbags. Simply turn clockwise and they will come free.



You should also remove the spacers the airbags rested on.

Step 6: Install the bottom spacers, install the coil springs with the top spacers on them, and then lower the H2/raise the axle.




Step 7: Reconnect the shock and swaybar bolts. 77 ft-lbs for the lower shock bolt, 53 ft-lbs for the swaybar bolt.

[Egan]

Finished product:





Once it settles in, I may have to raise the front end at the keys to level it out.

[HummerJim]

Nice write-up!! Well done!!

[VegasGuy]

I agree. Great write up and excellent pics, Egan. Kudos!