Front Spring Install - Help!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Front Spring Install - Help!
I have 90% of the chassis back together before picking up the body from the paint shop to reinstall it. The problem I'm having is getting the front springs back in. They're vettebrakes springs so they're shorter that factory (which helps), but I can't seem to be able to compress the springs and get them to sit in the upper and lower spring pockets. I've done it before without any trouble. What am I missing?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by 69L71
I have 90% of the chassis back together before picking up the body from the paint shop to reinstall it. The problem I'm having is getting the front springs back in. They're vettebrakes springs so they're shorter that factory (which helps), but I can't seem to be able to compress the springs and get them to sit in the upper and lower spring pockets. I've done it before without any trouble. What am I missing?
comes in rather handy during this process. If you're concerned about it popping out on you then wrap a chain around it and secure it to the frame.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Originally Posted by TheKomoman
I didn't compress them putting them back in. Just seated it and started jacking it back up slowly, making sure it stayed seated properly along the way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by 69L71
I hear ya. That method doesn't work for me though. All I have is a bare chassis with no motor. Jacking just raises the whole frame....
Get a case of beer and invite over a couple of large friends....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by 69L71
Seriously, I COULD install the engine and trans first and use the jack method, but one would think there's a better way...
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
Unless you have the spring compressor that goes inside the coils your going to have a hard tome getting them in w/no weight on the front end. Like TheKomoman said gets some big friends to come over and sit on the front of the frame or get some sand bags.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro NC
Go to home depot or lowes and buy a 2-3 ft section of 1/2 inch all thread rod then buy 4 nuts and and about a 8" piece of flat 1/8' bar stock. Cut the flat stock into two pieces and drill a hole in each, put the rod through the shock mount, place 1 piece of flat steel underneath and one on top thread nuts and start cranking!! It will pull the assy together. Make sure you buy steong enough pieces to with stand the force. Total cost $6 a life time tool!!
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
I borrowed the spring compressor from Autozone. It is a thru the coil type, but isn't long enough to make it all the way down and through the lower control arm. I dropped it down thru the shock mount hole, but when I pull it up, I can compress the spring but I can't get the coils to sit right in the frame AND lower control arm. Either I get the whole thing installed but the upper coild isn't locked in the pocket, or I can't get the coils to fit the control arm pocket.
micks69's suggestion makes the best sense. I might take a look at that tomorrow.
micks69's suggestion makes the best sense. I might take a look at that tomorrow.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 298
From: Midlothian VA
My local NAPA store "loans" the internal spring compressor.
You buy it used for @$100 USD, use it long as you want, and return it for a full refund provided you bring the receipt. No questions asked. Makes quick & safe work of spring installation.
Don't think this is a local NAPA policy as they had a flyer for several tools they handle this way.
You buy it used for @$100 USD, use it long as you want, and return it for a full refund provided you bring the receipt. No questions asked. Makes quick & safe work of spring installation.
Don't think this is a local NAPA policy as they had a flyer for several tools they handle this way.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Well, I got 'er done.
I wound up having to install the engine a trans, and then using a combination of jacking the lower control arm and compressing the spring. Once it got going it was OK, but it was really tough getting the inital load on the spring while keeping the spring in the upper a lower pockets.
I wound up having to install the engine a trans, and then using a combination of jacking the lower control arm and compressing the spring. Once it got going it was OK, but it was really tough getting the inital load on the spring while keeping the spring in the upper a lower pockets.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by micks69
Go to home depot or lowes and buy a 2-3 ft section of 1/2 inch all thread rod then buy 4 nuts and and about a 8" piece of flat 1/8' bar stock. Cut the flat stock into two pieces and drill a hole in each, put the rod through the shock mount, place 1 piece of flat steel underneath and one on top thread nuts and start cranking!! It will pull the assy together. Make sure you buy steong enough pieces to with stand the force. Total cost $6 a life time tool!!
Works great.....
