Switching to 550# coils
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 545
Likes: 2
From: Peoplez Republik (communist portland) Orygun
Switching to 550# coils
So, this season I am switching to heavier 550# coils (from VBP).
This is a swap I've never done before, any advice & or tips to give a "spring-swap-virgin" before I tear into it?
Thanks in advance
Oh, yes. The spring clamp/spreader tool. I'll get that.
This is a swap I've never done before, any advice & or tips to give a "spring-swap-virgin" before I tear into it?
Thanks in advance
Oh, yes. The spring clamp/spreader tool. I'll get that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
You certainly need two tools : a suitable inside spring compressor and something to loosen the balljoints with. The rest is just plain mechanical skills.
Oh and make sure that they don't jump out or you could get injured.
Oh and make sure that they don't jump out or you could get injured.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
If you are taking out stock coild then a spring compressor is needed. When you put the 550s back in you do not need a compressoer. The springs are short enough tha tyou can put them in and raise the control arm. A ball joint spreader makes it much easier. You might rip the boots on the ball joints so it might be wise to have 2 boots on hand.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
Most spring compressors have 2 arms that pull down from the near-top of the spring and 2 arms that pull up from the near-bottom of the spring from inside the spring. Using it that way can be very frustrating and more dangerous than using a hybrid technique.
Make or buy yourself a THICK washer or stack of washers (1/4" or more) that fits under the lower A-arm with a center hole big enough for the main spring compressor bolt. Put the upper compressor arms as high inside the spring as you can get. Grease the compressor bolt well. Run the compressor bolt with the washer or washer stack up through the lower A-arm to the compressor arms you have hanging inside the spring. The lower compressor arms don't grab onto anything. They just press against the bottom of the washer stack under the lower A-arm.
As you turn the compressor bolt, the upper arms will compress the spring downward to the lower A-arm. You can put a safety chain around the spring and A-arm just to be sure the spring doesn't get out of the compressor's grasp. Once you get the ball joints off, you can drop the lower A-arm down and release the compression on the spring.
Reverse the operation to put the new springs on: Compress, chain, tilt up, ball joints, unchain, decompress.
Make or buy yourself a THICK washer or stack of washers (1/4" or more) that fits under the lower A-arm with a center hole big enough for the main spring compressor bolt. Put the upper compressor arms as high inside the spring as you can get. Grease the compressor bolt well. Run the compressor bolt with the washer or washer stack up through the lower A-arm to the compressor arms you have hanging inside the spring. The lower compressor arms don't grab onto anything. They just press against the bottom of the washer stack under the lower A-arm.
As you turn the compressor bolt, the upper arms will compress the spring downward to the lower A-arm. You can put a safety chain around the spring and A-arm just to be sure the spring doesn't get out of the compressor's grasp. Once you get the ball joints off, you can drop the lower A-arm down and release the compression on the spring.
Reverse the operation to put the new springs on: Compress, chain, tilt up, ball joints, unchain, decompress.
