Lowering front problem pics
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma
Lowering front problem pics
Ok I have read three different articles. Lowerd the back...piece of cake...The front I have jacked up on jack stands and then placed a jack on the spring to relieve tension. When I place the jack under spring to relieve tension the whole car lifts off the jack stands...I am turning counter clockwise with a 10mm wrench. I have sprayed pb blaster and let soak a few hours...from what I understand...it should turn by hand....no luck even with a wrench...what am I doing wrong?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: Las vegas Nevada
No, you are not doing anything wrong, its just stuck from being there so long. You need a long wrench to get more leverage ... I sprayed the 10mm with PB blaster and worked it back and forth. If you need to ... disconnect the shock and you can get a 10mm ratchet on there then and use a cheater bar to help.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 16
From: Anchorage Alaska
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I'm not too clear on where the rubber is stuck, but I've heard of some guys using a putty knife to wedge between the rubber stopper and the surface it's stuck to. I'd suggest that, if your problem would allow this trick to be performed.
Also, be careful on that 10mm bolt... it's easy to round off the edges if you're not careful. Ask me how I know...
Also, be careful on that 10mm bolt... it's easy to round off the edges if you're not careful. Ask me how I know...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 5
From: DFW/BCS Texas
u r doing it wrong. not enough pressure is off the bolt/spring. turn counter clock wise to lower. the leaf is visibly supposed to be raised off the lower a arm. pb blaster is not needed. it literally can be turned by hand after loosened.
J
J
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma
I did not take off the shock. Will that just help with accessibility or should it come off to relieve pressure. I had mine like your last pic. where I believe the problem is where i am using a jack to raise the spring like where your bottle jack is and using the piece of wood is when I raise the jack the whole car lifts totally off the jack stands, but does not relieve pressure. I raised it about a foot off the jack stands and I got nervous that the car would fall down if my jack decided to go out.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
You should not have to unbolt the shock or sway bar if both sides are hanging down. Put the jack as far out to the end of the spring as possible. The bushing is sticking if the a-arm moves up as you jack. You should be able to see the bushing lift up off the a-arm.
It's possible the bolts are just seized in the spring. The previous owner used vise grips on my bolts and chewed them up pretty badly. I ended up pulling the spring, cutting the top of the bolts off even with the spring and then turning the bolt out with a small pipe wrench on the bushing end. I cleaned up and greased the holes and then put lowering bolts in instead.
Peter
It's possible the bolts are just seized in the spring. The previous owner used vise grips on my bolts and chewed them up pretty badly. I ended up pulling the spring, cutting the top of the bolts off even with the spring and then turning the bolt out with a small pipe wrench on the bushing end. I cleaned up and greased the holes and then put lowering bolts in instead.
Peter
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma
thanks guys for all the info and pewtvett for the nice detailed pics. Unfortunately I gave up and took it to 3 different alignment shops. I was doing it correctly... but the front bolts were rusted on there real good..All three shops said they would have to be cut out and replaced...maybe this will help someone else down the road.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,699
Likes: 16
From: Sun City- Menifee Calif.
In this pic. The floor jack under the A arm should be lifting the car at the jacking point [where the pucks go] so the suspension will hang down, then the small bottle jack will lift the end of the spring with the lowering bolt off the lower a arm. 
