Front Coil Spring Alignment
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 65
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From: Houston TX
Front Coil Spring Alignment
I'm looking for a way to align my springs without releasing the lower arm. My front rides about 1-2" high and I just discovered the springs are not seated properly in the lower arm.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I had to do the same to mine a few months ago.
Turned out it wasn't just the location of the springs, the PO had added rubber spacers (surprise!!)
Remove the wheel and take the shock out let the lower arm hang
Get a 2-hook spring compressor (with the threaded rod up the center) and remove the upper hooks
Drop the threaded center rod down from the upper shock mount (add a washer or two)
With some fiddling around you can snake the hooks up inside the spring from the bottom and then thread the rod back in, try to grab about 2-3 coils up form the bottom
From the top, tighten the spring enough to just take the pressure off. (remember your pulling it into the frame at the top so if you tighten it to remove pressure at the bottom, your increasing pressure at the top
(here's where I found the rubber spacers, tighten the compressor all the way, cut the rubber into small chunks and pull out through the bottom hole)
I stuck a screwdriver up into the drain hole at the bottom (to prevent going too far) and used two medium pry bars to "step" the spring around (lift, pivot, drop, repeat)
Took a couple of hours (most of the afternoon but that included figuring this out) and at least two brand new swear words
Probably easier to drop the control arm but this did work
Good luck
Mooser
Turned out it wasn't just the location of the springs, the PO had added rubber spacers (surprise!!)
Remove the wheel and take the shock out let the lower arm hang
Get a 2-hook spring compressor (with the threaded rod up the center) and remove the upper hooks
Drop the threaded center rod down from the upper shock mount (add a washer or two)
With some fiddling around you can snake the hooks up inside the spring from the bottom and then thread the rod back in, try to grab about 2-3 coils up form the bottom
From the top, tighten the spring enough to just take the pressure off. (remember your pulling it into the frame at the top so if you tighten it to remove pressure at the bottom, your increasing pressure at the top
(here's where I found the rubber spacers, tighten the compressor all the way, cut the rubber into small chunks and pull out through the bottom hole)
I stuck a screwdriver up into the drain hole at the bottom (to prevent going too far) and used two medium pry bars to "step" the spring around (lift, pivot, drop, repeat)
Took a couple of hours (most of the afternoon but that included figuring this out) and at least two brand new swear words
Probably easier to drop the control arm but this did work
Good luck
Mooser
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
You could also try the spring compressors that clamp onto the outside of the springs...one on each of the spring. These squeeze the spring coils together and shorten the spring a bit. They might taken enough of the pressure off, so you could rotate the spring to the seats.
Available at all auto parts store for about $10.
Just do NOT put fingers between the coils at any time.!!!
Available at all auto parts store for about $10.
Just do NOT put fingers between the coils at any time.!!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I've never used this type of compressor before but if it will fit, it wouldn't load the top of the spring and would make it easier to turn
Good Idea
And I triple agree on the finger warning, with all the prying and pushing it's entirely possible the compressor could let go.
