I am swapping a C4 corvette suspension into a 55 chevy pick up. I have the cradle removed front the donor car and need to remove lower control arms. Is the spring still loaded with pressure? What is the best way to remove the transverse spring? Thanks for your help...

 

It depends on the spring rate; when the knuckle is disconnected, the spring may sit freely above the lower control arm, or it might exert pressure. The easiest way is to just remove the bolts holding the lower control arms in. There may be a small release of tension, but as long as your finger isn't right there, it will be ok. You can also remove the mounts in the center of the spring, and that will release the tension.

 

Using a jack and a 2x4 lift up the spring on one side next to the through bolt. This will relieve spring pressure on the bolt. Remove the nut on the bottom of the bolt (need to hold the bolt from above). Slowly lower the jack. Do the same with the other side.

 

I think s/he may be referring to the front end. If so, then, yes, there is still pressure. Relieve the pressure by jacking under the spring before it goes over the control arm. Normally there are braces that need to be removed because they prevent the removal of the lower control arm bolt. Not sure if it applies in this case.

 

I presume it is the front as the rear spring is just bolted to the diff/carrier, and the bolts from the spring to the knuckle.
That is the easy one.

The front springs to remove depending on year 84-87, have an adapter plate on the lower control arm that the shock absorber and sway bar bolt to. the later 88-96 do not have this.

To remove the spring, jack the car up enough to allow the lower control arm to swing down 90 degrees from ball joint.
Support car and remove shock absorber, sway bar mounting and the plate they mount to.

Now support the lower control arm,tie the brakes so they do not put tension on the brake hoses and remove lower ball joint split pin and unscrew nut several turns but leave it on the thread. Now you have to crack the ball joint loose (use the tool for the job that slips around the knuckle and screws down on the top of the lower ball joint thread). Or if you do not mind marks on the forged aluminum knuckles, you can do it the old fashioned way with two hammers one on each side of the knuckle the ball joint goes thru. Hold one hammer on one side and swing the other onto the knuckle that should pop it loose, hence we leave the nut on the thread so the spring does not slam the lower control arm down.
Now support the lower control arm with a trolley jack preferably and raise it slightly to enable you to remove the ball joint nut, now slowly lower the control arm and when all tension is released pry the spring from the lower control arm (carefully so as not to damage the rubber). Do that on both sides and remember the spring will be in quite a horse shoe shape and will only come out on one side of the cross member. there are four bolts and several shims in the cross member holding the spring.

Assembly is the reverse fit the spring then raise the lower control arms and fit the spring in the lower control arm, then raise with a trolley jack and fit the ball joint screw when it is in the steering knuckle. then assemble everything else in the order you removed it.
its a straight forward enough job but be scarey if the suspension and cross member has been removed from car, there is a lot of tension there. There is a special spring removal tool that lets you remove the control arms while spring is in place, that will be your best bet if the cross member is removed from a car.

 

Here's a link to a thread that's a year old but it has very good images and the tool #'s for the proper and maybe desired removal with the suspension member removed from the car. You don't mention your location? Could be important. There could be a tool near you!

A creative soul could fabricate pretty easily.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...ompressor.html

 

You're right, I don't read very well.