'79 L-82, Well, I think I see what to do with it but... I purchased a rebuild kit from VanSteel along with new shocks, springs and other little goodies. So, to be on the safer side, I was told to use spring compressors when removing the springs. I use a floor jack and put under the bottom A-arm. So, after removing the top A-arm, I put on the spring compressors, yes? Both of them or just one? (these things look like a long threaded rod with molded hooks on it) Then, using a floor jack, release the lower A-arm, slowly until the spring comes out, yes? Ok, now I have a spring with a compressor on it. Do I just turn the nut and release the compressor to get it off? What do I do when putting in the new spring? I was told that the spring compressor cant be used to actually compress the spring to put it in. It is only built to hold the spring. Is it that the new spring will hold in the pockets enough so that by using the floor jack it wont fly out? Guidance please oh wise ones.

 

IMO spring compressors are a stupid waste of time. I've written how to do this in the past so I'm not typing it out again.

But just think about this. If the shock is still in place can the spring come flying out and get you when the upper ball joint pops loose and the a-arm drops only a 1/2 inch to a waiting floor jack used as a stop?

 

Yep, your right. I will do some searches on your name to find those posts. Thanks.

 

Hey George - did your car come from the factory with the gymkhana suspension package? Mine did.

I can't speak from experience, because I've only ever had to deal with the 460-550# springs (which don't require a compressor at all), but the 300# springs are supposedly much longer and won't easily come out without the use of a compressor.

 

Shoot me an e-mail and I'll send you a pdf file on how to remove the front suspension.

vansteel@vansteel.com

 

Steve, when do you want to come over? I will give you my wimpy 550 pound vette brakes springs and KBY gas adjust front shocks

I've done some old sloppy less than 300# long stock spring jobs.

It seems to me like the shock extended all the way and was holding the removal up. Even though the a-arm can go way down, so you might have to pull the shock. But the spring wasn't even hardly compressed and the a-arm goes way down

 

I can't imagine pulling the spring without removing the shock.

I'm happy with my 550#/Bilstein Sports, but I do need to come by and visit again. I just won't take that stuff home with me.

 

You got me wrong. I leave the spring in as the safety device when the a-arm pops down on the floor jack as you let the floor jack down and the spring has lost it's tension you safely remove the shock and then the spring. So make sure that the floor jack does not cover the shock removal

As to the 550# i did not know that you already had 550#

 

Cool, GKull. This was what I was looking for. Thanks a million.

 

You won't need spring compressor to get them out . . . just be sure to safety chain the spring in case it wants to come flying out. If you are installing 550# springs, then you will not need spring compressor for those either since they are shorter than stock.

 

Unless your car came with 550# springs, then they should be close to identical.

 

Howdy,

Getting them out is easy. You don't need the compressors, and in particular, the outside clamp type you mention. They tend to slip off, then kapow. Springs fly off and break things.


Jack up the front of car and put it on jack stands, as high as you can get it.

Remove the shock, and replace it with a 3' long piece of 5/8" threaded rod. Put a couple of nuts on each end, so the rod can move freely up and down but can't come out.

This will retain the spring in case anything goes wrong.

Remove the wheel, caliper and rotor. Hang the caliper on the upper a-arm with a wire hanger.

Place your floor jack under the lower a-arm. Pump it up a couple of times to compress the spring. Raise it maybe 2 inches.

Back off the nut retaining the upper balljoint, but leave it on the stud. Just make it loose. Using a ball joint stud remover, Pop the upper ball joint loose. It will go POING! and scare the crap out of you as the spring pops everything loose. Now all the spring pressure is on the floor jack.

Remove the ball joint stud nut.

Now you can SLOWLY lower the lower a-arm with the floor jack until it comes all the way down.

The spring should just flop down. Remove the threaded rod, and bingo. Your'e ready to install the new ones.

If as the other posters note, your new springs are shorter than the old ones, then you don't heed a compressor. Just be safe and put the threaded rod in the shock holes like before.

If your springs are LONG, and need to be compressed to be installed, let me know and I'll send you a photo of my threaded-rod spring compressor which compresss the spring from the inside, not from the outside like yours.

It costs about $15.00 to make from stuff you can get at the local hardware store.

 

I found it really easy to use the spring compressor and seemed relatively safe.

Got to autozone and rent the tool for free. Should have a flat foot and 2 swinging arms with a threaded hole. Remove the shock. put the swinging arms in and thread the rod down through the upper shock mount. Draw the spring up and when it's loose take off the inside lower 3 bolts that hold the lower a-arm to the frame. Swing the a-arm out of the way. Install is reverse and may need slight persuasion (rubber mallet) to get the spring seated just right as the compressor unwinds.