I have a coil sprint removal that looks like this guy here:
I've used it on other cars but it doesn't seem to work for the corvette. I cant get the hooks to attach to the spring high enough up on the spring and the fork/spoon low enough to compress the spring enough. I'm aware of the alternative of making my own using allthread but since I have this tool I'd like to use it. I feel like placing the spoon below the lower control arm (like in the pic below) should work fine. Just compress the spring from below the control arm, remove the spindle, decompress the spring and remove. Any thoughts?

Also, if anyone has any insight on how to get this thing to work as designed i'm all ears as well. Thanks.

Brian

 

When I use a spring compressor it looks like the one you link to except I don't use that spoon part and I bring it down from the top through the shock upper hole, hook those two j-hooks onto the spring as low as I can and then pull the spring up into the tower. works without issue.
Much easier to hook the spring down where you can see it rather than trying to get them hooked up inside the pocket where you can't see.
M

 

I agree. This will work fine. If the bottom of the spring doesn't align when putting it back together use a ratchet strap to pull it over into place.

 

Seconding the agree.

 

I've changed out lots of springs and rebuilt the a-arms at the shop and at home on my own stuff. Time is money especially now at the hourly rates shops charge. I've tried different spring compressors over the years and found them to be a waste of time.

Safety is always first. Big long big block springs are the worst. I used the shock or just a stick of rebar in the middle as a safety device. You take off just the bottom or the top nuts off the shock and leave it in place. With the vette frame on stands, place a floor jack about a 1/4 inch from the bottom of the a-arm. Loosen or even remove the castle nut from the upper ball joint, whack the side of the spindle with a Big Hammer next to the tapered ball joint. The spring will slam the a-arm down is why you have the floor jack close. Then you lower the a-arm with the jack. remove the jack. Long springs stay in the pockets even with the a-arm all the way down. With a shock or a piece of rebar down the middle I use a crow bar to pop the spring out. I've had them blow across the floor without a piece of rebar or the shock inside. If you are rebuilding the a-arms another removal method is to leave the jack under the a-arm when the ball joint pops out and unbolt the a-arm from the frame and lower it away and the spring will fall out.

Don't waste your time with spring compressors!

 

I think i'll try to use the tool I have an go through the top. If it starts to feel sketchy I'll try gkull's idea. I'll make sure i chain the spring to the frame to save my life and almost as important is my Impala that lives right next to the corvette

 

Hopefully someone still reads this thread. Dont have a corvette so sry to bother yall but I'm replacing my wife's 2001 lincoln town car rear air suspension with coil springs. This is the tool autozone recommended to me to use. But every picture I've seen on the internet has been of it being used on the front springs. Did I get a bad recommendation from autozone or can this tool be used on rear springs too? Thank you in advance

 

I'd love to find a cheap low-mile 2011 TC.
I've owned three TCs. I DIY swapped the air bags for springs in each.
Never used a spring compressor on them; did use a floor jack.

Perhaps only another TC owner might appreciate this tidbit:
I told my pro mechanic buddy that my 2001 TC had just thrown a rod yesterday; as you can see, I've already got 'er back together & she's running smooth as silk.
Now, he knows I'm handy, but also knows that's just some stupid quick BS. Chuckling, I pulled the bad air bag Air Compressor Pump from a sack & showed it (and its tiny snapped cast rod) to him; I think he bought lunch.

 

So when you jacked it high enough and disconnected the shocks, the springs fit? And thank you for replying. I'm going to attempt this tmw. Rainy today and doing it outside

 

Yes, they fit. Perhaps I also loosened something else; I do Not recall. But nothing heroic; I can assure you. I faintly recall having some difficulty getting top of OE shock/bag loose from chassis mount. One of mine had served as taxi in Chicago; EVERYTHING was rusty !
I do Not recall coil spring P/Ns but do recall I purchased new MOOG brand coil springs

 

The sketchier the better! I wore a football helmet while doing mine…

 

Pretty much people find what works and goes with that. I ABSOLUTELY HATE DEALING WITH COIL SPRINGS! When I removed the springs out of my 81 I used the 2 fingers from a coil spring compressor and made a plate that goes across the bottom of the A-arm. Once the ball joint is free I SLOWLY loosen the compressor until the tension is off the spring. Don't forget the strap the spring done with some chain. If it happens to get loose I imagine the last thing you'll see is a bright flash.😳 The coils in this car were heavy duty so that made the pucker a little intense.

 

I use a piece of 1/2" all thread ran through the shock tower to compress/release tension on the spring. I cut superstrut to the proper length and ran the all thread through it to sit against the lower control arm and shock tower top. I wrap a couple of tie straps around the spring and frame as a safety measure in case the all thread breaks. Simple, cheap and effective.

 

Just be careful that it does not get loose while compressed.
They have 1000# of load in them.

My buddies shop had a hole in the concrete block wall where one got loose!
Luck no one got hurt, or worse.

Letting the 6" of compression or pressure off gradually is important.

 

Is there any other way? That's the way I use my spring compressor.

 

Here's how I did it. A threaded rod and a tie down strap.