Spring Protedtors Missing...........Serious?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington Ohio
Spring Protedtors Missing...........Serious?
Just started into the front suspension rebuild (Ball Joints and Bushings)on my 1995 coupe. I went to remove the spring protectors and.........they're not there! I don't know maintenance history for first 100K miles on this car, but it doesn't look like the front control arms have ever been off (spring also appears OEM). I know it's had at least one brake job. Either that or Bowling Green put the front caliper retaining pins in backwards from the pictures in the FSM. While I don't blindly follow The General on everything I'm thinking there was a reason they were on the car in the first place. Unless someone can suggest otherwise, I'm thinking I need to get a couple of these and install them during reassembly.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington Ohio
No 86, I'm talking about the metal piece that should be bolted to the bottom of the lower control arm, outboard of the spring retainer. I can see the pads you're talking about (I think). They are between the end of the spring and the lower control arm. They are there and the rubber looks well weathered so that's one reason I think the spring is the OEM setup. I just noticed I spelled protector wrong, duh. Oh well, all I can say is the heavy lifting is done for the day and it's Miller time
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington Ohio
Another days work done. Upper left side control arm and spindle off.
- pop tie rod end stud with puller
- support lower arm with floor jack (perpendicular to car so it will roll in as spring unloads)
- lower shock bolts out, remove sway bar end link, unplug ABS lead
- remove lower ball joint nut
- unload spring half way, remove shock, pop lower ball joint stud with puller
- remove upper control arm / spindle assy (ID and bag the shims)
- lower floor jack to unload spring
Later this week the lower arm comes off, too late in the day to get on the creeper. I'm endorsing two great tips from CF. Use a puller not a pickle fork and jack perpendicular to car to unload spring.
Thanks CF
- pop tie rod end stud with puller
- support lower arm with floor jack (perpendicular to car so it will roll in as spring unloads)
- lower shock bolts out, remove sway bar end link, unplug ABS lead
- remove lower ball joint nut
- unload spring half way, remove shock, pop lower ball joint stud with puller
- remove upper control arm / spindle assy (ID and bag the shims)
- lower floor jack to unload spring
Later this week the lower arm comes off, too late in the day to get on the creeper. I'm endorsing two great tips from CF. Use a puller not a pickle fork and jack perpendicular to car to unload spring.
Thanks CF