front spring install help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
front spring install help
Is it really that hard to get the front springs back in? Have a coil spring compressor thru the shock mount hole with a 1/2" steel plate against the the bottom a arm and cant seem to get the spring compressed enough to swing the a-arm up and spring thru the upper hole. Just how much can you safely compress the spring? This is the stock spring with 1/3 coil cut off not compressed length 15 1/2" long. Im getting pretty nervous with this. Have done rear spring,trailling arms ect. but these front springs are really getting to me. HELP
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
alot of folks are gonna dissagree but ive done this alot. ive lowered tons of cars and trucks. stock length springs are the hardest to get back in but i never use any compressors of any kind, unless its got a strut in it. after you do it a few times you lose your fear. sometimes if i think a spring has lots of pressure on it ill use a chain for safety. for putting back in i just get the spring in the pocket and jack it up slowly. a cut spring goes in with little or no effort. but theres nothing wrong with using compressors, and you can compress it just about all the way with out any damage i would guesstimate. just dont heat or cut a spring with a torch. this removes the temper from the spring steel and leaves you with a limp noodle
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
It's a lot easier if you start with the top. Insert the spring in the upper pocket, make sure it's seated correctly in there and then compress it to get the lower A-arm up....
Honestly ? The 550lbs springs are on sale somewhere for $59... one of the vendors will have them on sale, even if you have to pay the regular price ($79) I'd buy these instead.....
If you want it 'soft' get the 460lbs springs and cut 1/2 coil off to get the height correct....
After all the work you've done you want to re-install old, worn springs ?
Just my 2cents....
Honestly ? The 550lbs springs are on sale somewhere for $59... one of the vendors will have them on sale, even if you have to pay the regular price ($79) I'd buy these instead.....
If you want it 'soft' get the 460lbs springs and cut 1/2 coil off to get the height correct....
After all the work you've done you want to re-install old, worn springs ?
Just my 2cents....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
redbad: i have no problem ordering new springs if they will go in easier. I would like front to sit about 28",would i still have to cut the 460s? My problem with gettin the old springs in is even compressing them and putting up in the pocket first is i couldnt get the a-arm up even close enough to think abought bolting the balljoints in even with a floor jack under the a-arm. It would lift the whole car up and then the fact i couldnt get the compressor out.
Thanks for all your help and please let me know and what you think about the 460s (if needed cut to get 28" ride hgt.)
Thanks for all your help and please let me know and what you think about the 460s (if needed cut to get 28" ride hgt.)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
rec3; didnt ignore your relpy, i have changed springs with out the use of a compressor without problems,thats why this one is driving me nuts. maybe these are not even the correct springs as there is no way i can even get the a-arm to start over the spring without it being compressed alot? Then when i try jacking it up to bolt the balljoint it wont get even close before it lifts the car off the jack stands?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
you got the engine out of that thing? maybe you should check if your not jacking on the compressor. even my 550's went up easily. and you can pull the upper arm down to meet the spindle and get your nuts on, once youve jacked the lower arm up some. dont know whats going on here. the hardest part of this is always getting the spring over the shock mount bump in the lower arm and into the pocket. after that its like pie.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
Only thing out of car is the front springs, upper arm is all the way down and when i started to jack with the floorjack it caused the compessor to come loose, and wasnt caught on the compressor.??????????????
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Just did mine with the engine out. The car would come up off the jacks before I could get the spindel on the ball joint. So I took a piece of 1/2 inch threaded rod, a plate with a 1/2 inch hole for the lower shock mount hole and a large washer for the top shock mount hole, Two 1/2 inch nuts on the rod and wrenched it up into place.
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Verdad Gallardo
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 223
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From: South MS
I did my front end a little while back, I thought I would never get the stock springs back in, it's a b*tch.
The hardest part i think, was getting the compressor to come out of the spring after it was back in the car.
The hardest part i think, was getting the compressor to come out of the spring after it was back in the car.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Buy new "stock" SB springs if you have a SB. $48 at Advance Auto Parts. Thicker wire to make the spring but shorter overall. Here's a picture of the difference. They go in without a compressor. Make sure it's seated in the groove in the upper socket as stated previously.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by john1977
redbad: i have no problem ordering new springs if they will go in easier. I would like front to sit about 28",would i still have to cut the 460s? My problem with gettin the old springs in is even compressing them and putting up in the pocket first is i couldnt get the a-arm up even close enough to think abought bolting the balljoints in even with a floor jack under the a-arm. It would lift the whole car up and then the fact i couldnt get the compressor out.
Thanks for all your help and please let me know and what you think about the 460s (if needed cut to get 28" ride hgt.)
Thanks for all your help and please let me know and what you think about the 460s (if needed cut to get 28" ride hgt.)
These and the 550s are shorter than stock springs, they look like the spring on the photo that Jughead posted, no compressor required...
The 550s don't need to be cut, but they are a little harsh. My 460s are a little too soft for me, but everyone will have a different "taste" when it comes to springs..... do a search and get some more info, there are many threads about this subject....
