Replacing Recoil Spring On Stock Glock Guide Rod Assembly

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Usual disclaimer, etc. etc.,….make sure gun is unloaded.

Remove slide from receiver and remove stock guide rod assembly from slide.

From the muzzle end of the stock guide rod assembly, compress stock recoil spring  about 1/3 of the way down the guide rod.  Keep spring compressed with a small C-Clamp or locking pliers.

There is a small plastic retaining plug in the muzzle end of the stock guide rod.   This plug is what holds the spring on the guide rod.  Take a small knife blade and carefully pry this plastic retaining pin out of the guide rod.  Note:  I usually do this inside a 2 gallon clear ziplock bag as that retaining plug will “launch” and be gone forever.  Trust me on this.

Once plastic retaining pin has been removed from rod.  Remove C-clamp or locking pliers from stock rod and remove stock recoil spring.  Replace recoil spring with one of your choosing.  Once again, compress new spring 1/3 of the way down the rod and reinstall C-clamp or locking pliers.  Press plastic retaining plug back into the end of the stock guide rod; remove clamp/pliers, and allow spring to slowly expand back into position against the plastic retaining plug.  Confirm plastic plug will remain in guide rod to retain spring.

You can usually perform this replacement procedure 2 or 3 times before the weight of the recoil spring overcomes the plastic plug’s ability to stay in the guide rod due to repeated removals/installations.