New coil spring removal question

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Feb 15, 2002 | 09:25 PM

ORVette

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 752

Likes: 1

From: Springfield Oregon

New coil spring removal question

I've read some old posts on this topic and had a question. Most people say to seperate the top ball joint with a pickle fork, and then take the spring out through the front. Doesn't this tear up the boot? Also, my Haines manual says instead to remove the lower bolts holding the a-arm swivel and take the spring out that way. Sounds easier and less destructive than the ball joint method. I could use some educating on this if possible. Thanks, Troy

Feb 15, 2002 | 09:38 PM

Noel Carboni

Pro

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 534

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From: FL

Re: New coil spring removal question (ORVette)

I plan to tackle this very job tomorrow or Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

In my case the springs and A-arms are being retired though, so I'm not all that concerned about damaging the parts.

-Noel

Feb 15, 2002 | 09:59 PM

Gary79

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Joined: Aug 2000

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From: Quincy IL

Re: New coil spring removal question (Noel Carboni)

it's been five yrs since i re-did my front end,but on most cars you take out the cotter pin on the bottom ball joint nut,loosen the nut,stick a chain thru the spring and a-arm for security reasons.get a jack under the bottom a-arm,put a little pressure on the a-arm,remove the botttom ball joint nut and release the jack very slowly,letting the a-arm drop with you controlling it with the jack. eventually the a-arm will drop all its going to and then you can pull the spring out. in my case there was still a little pressure on the spring,but nothing to be afraid of. on re-assemble,i rented an internal spring compressor from autozone. this gets a little hairy compressing a spring,but it all went back together. the spring compressor takes a little finessing,so that you can get the spring in and the compressor disassembled and out of the spring.

Feb 16, 2002 | 12:37 AM

MotorHead

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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.

Re: New coil spring removal question (ORVette)

I did this job last year and took the two bolts out of the A frame, I have to do it again and would also like to know why the manual says to do it this way, do you damage something doing it the ball joint way ?

[Modified by MotorHead, 10:38 PM 2/15/2002]

Feb 16, 2002 | 09:05 AM

Frank75

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 922

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From: Maine

Re: New coil spring removal question (MotorHead)

You can damage the ball joint boot using a pickle fork. If this is a rebuild, I wouldn't worry about it, just use the pickle fork.

I recently took apart my freshly rebuilt front-end to cut down coil springs and dropped the pivot shaft to remove the springs. I then used a driving bolt/nut combo on the ball joint stud to remove the ball joint (and outer tie rod end), so I could reassesmble the A-arm w/o damaging the boot.

Feb 16, 2002 | 07:43 PM

One GM A Tech

Pro

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 543

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From: nyc ny

Re: New coil spring removal question (Frank75)

the Gm manuals of the era all say to remove the bolts from the rear of the lower control. bottom line is safety for those of u who are not famaliar with this operation I also suggest the spring compressor as an added measure of safety it may take a little longer but it is worth it. for those of u who have been down this path with succses dont become too comfortable because s--t happens to the best of us!!!!!!

:cool: :smash: