spring removal
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,467
Likes: 43
From: Auburn MA
spring removal
I just started a coil-over conversion and I have all of the shocks removed and I am wondering cant I just sawzall the front spring to remove it, In my opinion the thing is junk and I am just going to throw it away so I am not looking to remove it cleanly. Can I safely sawzall it in 3 spots and remove it without having to break down the front ball joints. Anyone ever do this or is it too dangerous to attempt
Last edited by Impala Balko; May 4, 2013 at 06:05 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I just started a coil-over conversion and I have all of the shocks removed and I am wondering cant I just sawzall the front spring to remove it, In my opinion the thing is junk and I am just going to throw it away so I am not looking to remove it cleanly. Can I safely sawzall it in 3 spots and remove it without having to break down the front ball joints. Anyone ever do this or is it too dangerous to attempt
The spring is under a lot of tension do not cut it in the car or you can injure yourself.
It is easy to remove the spring as long as you put the car up high enough on stands, you need to disconnect the sway bar mount on the lower control arm. Then undo the ball joint nut but not all the way, crack the ball joint from the steering control arm with the correct tool. (or whack it with a hammer while holding a hammer on the opposite side not so nice on the forged aluminum)
Now put a trolley jack under the lower control arm near the ball joint and put upward pressure on the lower control arm, then you can loosen the nut by hand and slowly drop the lower control arm down.
You will need to pry the spring from the lower control arm and pull the arm down 90 degrees. Do the same to the other side, then undo the bolts mounting the spring to the cross member and remove it via the passenger side. The spring will look like a giant horse shoe when removed.
Then refit the lower control arm ball joint to the steering control arm and fit the coil overs.
You will never have to go thru that again, so easy to change the coil over spring ride height from now on. No need to get under the car to do that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 568
From: Conroe Texas
I don't think I would take a sawzall to it while the spring is in compression. raise the car so that the wheels are off the ground and remove the wheels. pull the cotter pin out of the castle nut on the top ball joint and loosen the nut so the castle portion is at the end of the ball joint threads. do the other side. then either use a ball joint separator to separate or use a piece of brass or aluminum as a medium and hit with a large hammer. this will separate the ball joint from the knuckle. then you can put a jack under the lower control arm to take the pressure off the ball joint, remove the nut, pull the knuckle down and out of the way. spring is free and clear to unbolt out of the cradle.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 568
From: Conroe Texas
that's easier than the front. put car on jack stands, remove wheels/tires. pull cotter pin. place one of the dogs of your floor jack under the metal end piece of the spring and lift till the tension is off the rubber insulator. remove the nut, washer, insulator and pull bolt from the top. GENTLY lower jack. one side done.
