Coil Spring Install tool
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I have never dorked around with a coil spring compressor on my 79 Vette.
You just put two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
You just put two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
Last edited by gkull; Mar 13, 2007 at 09:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Yerington NV
Damn Tight
I couldn't get the teeth of the loaner tool to go high & low enough to compress the spring enough .... I think that the drilled dual steel plate idea with the threaded pipe would probably work best ....
How about some dimensions to I can make one that I know will be safe/strong enough????
How about some dimensions to I can make one that I know will be safe/strong enough????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 2
From: McDonough Georgia
I have never dorked around with a coil spring compressor on my 79 Vette.
You just put a two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
You just put a two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
Same here on my 76.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
I have never dorked around with a coil spring compressor on my 79 Vette.
You just put a two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
You just put a two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
As long as your engine is still in...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
get a 36 inch section of threaded rod (not pipe) from your home supply store. i used 3/4 inch. get several washers (three on each end with grease applied-you're going to have a lot of friction when you compress that spring) and nuts for both ends. i used a double thickness of 2X4 wood for the bottom side under the A arm. remove the shock, measure the length of rod and cut, and replace with the threaded rod. assemble with washers and nuts, and you're ready to go-i recommend a safety chain, also.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I couldn't get the teeth of the loaner tool to go high & low enough to compress the spring enough .... I think that the drilled dual steel plate idea with the threaded pipe would probably work best ....
How about some dimensions to I can make one that I know will be safe/strong enough????
How about some dimensions to I can make one that I know will be safe/strong enough????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
I seem to recall about a 3 foot rod, 3/4" thread. I used steel plates from a spare basement jack post. First, I removed the shock then assembled the unit through the center of the coil, one plate going on top of upper a-arm and the other plate below the lower a-arm.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
I have never dorked around with a coil spring compressor on my 79 Vette.
You just put two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
You just put two jack stands up front. Remove both front wheels. Put a floor jack under the A-Arm and remove the shock/sway/steering arm......blah blah blah lower the floor jack and the spring falls out. Put the new spring in place in the a-arm slot while jacking the a-arm up.................... Probably 15 minute job per side with air tools.
The tapered steering joints come appart with a few good whacks from a hammer on the side.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Well at one time I had my 79 l-82 stock springs. The VB&P 550 inch pounds are one inch shorter. But I have also had to use up to 1 inch spacers with small diameter front tires for ground clearance and now 3/8th spacer for tire/fender clearance with tall 17 inch wheels and tires
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
Well at one time I had my 79 l-82 stock springs. The VB&P 550 inch pounds are one inch shorter. But I have also had to use up to 1 inch spacers with small diameter front tires for ground clearance and now 3/8th spacer for tire/fender clearance with tall 17 inch wheels and tires
Spring compressors can be difficult to work with as you may have to re-postion them several times before the whole system works. Most of the guys I know use the threaded rod solution.
mudbone64
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
Yes. I had my front suspension completely disassembled for repainting. From what I remember (this was a couple of years ago) the spring extended below the shock-absorber opening on the lower control arm. Because of the spring length ther was no way to "swing" the control arm under the spring. I believe I have the factory installed springs in my car as they still had the identification tape still attached.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
The quick fix for you is: Cutting torch! Then get some real springs like the 550's to support the BBC. I almost wonder if along the line some Bubba just installed some El Camino springs.
Then get some real springs like the 550's to support the BBC. I almost wonder if along the line some Bubba just installed some El Camino springs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
Last edited by mudbone64; Mar 13, 2007 at 04:59 PM. Reason: added a word