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I can rent a coil spring compressor like that one at Autozone I think. The threaded shaft length is 11.25". Is that long enough? All the ones I found online to buy state approx. 12" length for the shaft. I did a rough measurement of mine coil spring and shock tower and it appeared that around 13" to 15" would be the length required.
The threaded shaft for my compressor that you see in the photo is just 11.25". Looking at the photo you can see that I'm not close to using the full length. The hook is on 4th coil from the bottom.
1.. Done it several times with 1/2 the spring compressor (lower two hooks) like people have been showing, a little harder to get the spring oriented into the pocket since it's under load but a few tries and it works.
2.. Control arm totally disconnected, steel plate across the bottom with two bolts into the shock holes. Threaded rod up through the tower. Entire arm moves straight up (compared to the spring) unsing a drift to keep it alinged until the ball joint is connected to the spindle and a set of bolts into the lower a-arm shaft
3.. WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT THE EXTRA WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE/TRANS but otherwise works very slick. Connect the spindle and bring the control arm shaft up into place (special tool #5 required) I still drop a threaded rod down through the shock holes as a safety though.
And somewhere there is the jack, chain and kicking with the foot method but I'm less brave than I used to be
M
SUCCESS!!! I rented the coil spring compressor tool from Autozone. It took me about 15 minutes to install the springs. I made sure they are fully seated in the lower pocket. Also.. I used my original shocks just to make sure the coil springs were in correctly. Everything looks good. What I did was install the compressor tool from the top (its the one with 1 set of hooks), I grabbed the spring about 3 down from the top, I tightened it up and it pulled the spring up into the pocket. I made sure it was seated correctly up there and I then raised the lower control arm to where it was just touching the bottom of the spring. I then chained the spring to the cross member just for safety. I then took my foot and I pushed the lower part of the spring into the pocket while raising up the lower control arm with my jack. Piece of cake. It went in very easily. Connected my steering knuckle and SUCCESS!!! Check out the pics. Keep in mind.. the shock I used is my old original shock just to make sure I did it correctly.
SUCCESS!!! I rented the coil spring compressor tool from Autozone. It took me about 15 minutes to install the springs. I made sure they are fully seated in the lower pocket. Also.. I used my original shocks just to make sure the coil springs were in correctly. Everything looks good. What I did was install the compressor tool from the top (its the one with 1 set of hooks), I grabbed the spring about 3 down from the top, I tightened it up and it pulled the spring up into the pocket. I made sure it was seated correctly up there and I then raised the lower control arm to where it was just touching the bottom of the spring. I then chained the spring to the cross member just for safety. I then took my foot and I pushed the lower part of the spring into the pocket while raising up the lower control arm with my jack. Piece of cake. It went in very easily. Connected my steering knuckle and SUCCESS!!! Check out the pics. Keep in mind.. the shock I used is my old original shock just to make sure I did it correctly.
Cool....make sure you drive it around the block to settle in before you tell us how it sits
