Front Spring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Long Island New York
Front Spring
Ok. So I thought I was in the home stretch getting my front suspension back together until i went to torque the lower control arm bolts. I did the drivers side first by putting a jack underneath the control arm and raising in till the car just about lifted of the jack stand, torqued it no problem. Now the passenger side I went to do the same thing but there was no movement in the spring. One pump and the car was lifting off the jackstand. I seperated the shock from the lower arm and the arm moves freely and the shock compressed with no problem. After scratching my head I realized the spring was not returning to the arch position like it was before I raised it to install the shock. Any reason why this would happen? Improperly installed? It was fine before i dissasembled over the winter and fine before I compressed it to install the shock. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
I've pulled the front spring a few times on a couple of different c4s the only time I could not get the spring compressed enough to attach the balljoint was on a 92 with the engine removed. We ended up chaining the cross member to the lift and then jacking the lower control arm . But I don't know the details of your dilemma. what happens when you continue to pump the jack does the car keep going up or does the spring start to compress?
Was the spring centered and spring mounts tight before you installed the other side?
Mike
Was the spring centered and spring mounts tight before you installed the other side?
Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
I'd guess the spring has slipped off a mount in the center or off a rubber mount block.
Without seeing it, my guess would be that you should undo whats been reconnected, and drop the center mount and see if you can spot the problem, then assemble from the passenger side then the drivers...
its probably slipped, so its got to be re-centered and cinched.
Without seeing it, my guess would be that you should undo whats been reconnected, and drop the center mount and see if you can spot the problem, then assemble from the passenger side then the drivers...
its probably slipped, so its got to be re-centered and cinched.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
I've pulled the front spring a few times on a couple of different c4s the only time I could not get the spring compressed enough to attach the balljoint was on a 92 with the engine removed. We ended up chaining the cross member to the lift and then jacking the lower control arm . But I don't know the details of your dilemma. what happens when you continue to pump the jack does the car keep going up or does the spring start to compress?
Was the spring centered and spring mounts tight before you installed the other side?
Mike
Was the spring centered and spring mounts tight before you installed the other side?
Mike
I'd guess the spring has slipped off a mount in the center or off a rubber mount block.
Without seeing it, my guess would be that you should undo whats been reconnected, and drop the center mount and see if you can spot the problem, then assemble from the passenger side then the drivers...
its probably slipped, so its got to be re-centered and cinched.
Without seeing it, my guess would be that you should undo whats been reconnected, and drop the center mount and see if you can spot the problem, then assemble from the passenger side then the drivers...
its probably slipped, so its got to be re-centered and cinched.
Cellkid, Was the spring centered and spring mounts tight before you installed the other side?
If he cut the rubber or removed the rubber and installed wedges without trimming the brackets it will slip again.
Last edited by aboatguy; May 5, 2013 at 04:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Long Island New York
I did cut the rubber and install lowering wedges while I had it apart and I did trim the brackets. When I reinstalled the spring I snugged up both sides evenly and then tightened. I was messing around last night and checked the spring and it is still securely seated in the brackets on both sides.While out there I was experimenting and have come to the conclusion that the shock is causing the issue. With the shock off the car the lower control arm and spring travel without issue. Could overtightening the top shock bolt causing binding in the shock assembly itself?
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: VIR
I just replaced my shocks and lower and upper control arms. I am not clear on what issue you are having but I had to raise my lower control arms with a jack until the chassis was off the jack stands on the corner I was working on before the lower shock mount was in close enough bolt up, (just a few threads on shock top showing). Once in place there was only a very slight deflection down of the control arms when the jack was removed; I didn't measure it but I'd say maybe an inch or two - if that. Took it out for a drive, everything seems great and way better than what I had before.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Long Island New York
Sleeve is clear. It compresses now but very slow which is probably normal since I am using an FHA spring and Bilstein extreme shocks from VBP. I found that my torque wrench is out of calibration and I think I way over torqued the top nut. The driver side compresses a little easier but im not going to sweat it now im going to get the car on the ground drive it let everything settle and the check everything again