Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!!
I finally started putting my freshened-up spindles on my '79 last night. The passenger side went on with no problem, however, the driver side is being a major PITA! I installed the A-arms, shocks, and springs. Then bolted the bottom of the spindle to the lower A-arm. Then started jacking under the spring to raise the spindle into place. This worked on the passenger side well enough to get a few threads on the ball joint and lower the spring. But on the driver side, the shock and spring are just too stiff to allow the spindle to raise to its proper position. It lacks about 1/4" of being high enough. The engine is out of the car, so I think the lack of weight in the front could be most of my problem. Any ideas, suggestions... condolences?
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (e3pres)
Do what I did, buy 2 cases of beer, call 4 of your buddies, have 3 stand in the engine compartment, and the other stand on the shock tower and use opposing force against the garage ceiling, worked like a charm...and the beer was good too :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (Mayo_007)
Do what I did, buy 2 cases of beer, call 4 of your buddies, have 3 stand in the engine compartment, and the other stand on the shock tower and use opposing force against the garage ceiling, worked like a charm...and the beer was good too :cheers:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (Mayo_007)
I guess the lack of weight is the problem! 
I'll start making phone calls, and stop by the Party Mart on my way home from work. :D
:cheers:
I'll start making phone calls, and stop by the Party Mart on my way home from work. :D:cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 774
Likes: 0
From: Palatine IL
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (e3pres)
If possible, remove shock and use a spring compressor. You can rent one for free at most parts stores. That's how I installed mine with no engine in the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
Likes: 44
From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (e3pres)
Wrap a length of chain around the jack and loop it up around the frame and secure it. This prevents the jack from lifting the car. I actuall used a length of Kevlar braid rope. Worked like a champ.
Plus if you use this method you can keep the beer all to yourself :cheers:
Stew
Plus if you use this method you can keep the beer all to yourself :cheers:
Stew
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,305
Likes: 9
From: Weston FL
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (Stewart's74)
I have found that that using the right tools, makes repairs easier, faster, and keep them FUN :D . Buy an internal coil spring compressor. I just did the front end on my Z using one of these and it was a piece of cake.
1. Mount spring compressor inside coil.
2. Zap it a few times with the Air wrench
3. drop it in lower control arm
4. swing control arm/spindle up, mount bolts and your done. A jack is hardly needed for the job :D
1. Mount spring compressor inside coil.
2. Zap it a few times with the Air wrench
3. drop it in lower control arm
4. swing control arm/spindle up, mount bolts and your done. A jack is hardly needed for the job :D
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (e3pres)
Another possibility is to buy a long piece of 'ready bolt', a couple of nuts, and flat washers, and remove the shock, then install the ready bolt, washers and nuts, and simply tighten until it pulls the contol arms toghether enough to attach the spindle. The ready bolt installed in this manner also will serve to make sure that the spring won't accidently slip out and do some serious damage to you or the car.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (john's '81 mouse)
That sounds like a really good idea. I was hesitant to remove the shock for safety reasons. I may try that instead.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 1
From: Frankfurt, Taunus Hills
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (e3pres)
What hell of a spring are you using?
Usually you can put the spindle together when you first mount it on the upper A-Arm, then jack up the lower A-Arm.
Worked fine for me all the time!
Ah, but the beer & buddy idea is the best I guess :D
Usually you can put the spindle together when you first mount it on the upper A-Arm, then jack up the lower A-Arm.
Worked fine for me all the time!
Ah, but the beer & buddy idea is the best I guess :D
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Riverview, FL
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (e3pres)
I rented a coil spring compressor from Auto Zone, it was a $50 rental deposit which was fully refunded when I returned the tool. It was the right tool for the job and it makes it safe and fun when you got the right tools!!
Good luck, I must admit I did try the method of having someone stand on it, but my wife only weighs a 115 lbs and I didn't have any beer, so I rented the tool!!
Good luck, I must admit I did try the method of having someone stand on it, but my wife only weighs a 115 lbs and I didn't have any beer, so I rented the tool!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: Front Suspension Reassembly Help!!! (80 Proof)
I got a friend to stand inside the engine compartment. It worked like a charm! Thanks for all the good advice. I'll know what to do next time I do this. So when hell freezes over, :reddevil: I'll be prepared. :D