I pulled both front and rear springs out to install coil overs and can't see any need for special tools.
Transverse Spring Compressor?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 13
From: West Deptford NJ
Transverse Spring Compressor?
Is the J-33432-A spring compressor tool necessary for tranverse spring removal and installation?
I have already removed my rear FE1 spring, without using the spring comressor tool, to swap in a FE4 spring. The raised notch of the spring pad is slightly off from the recessed notch in the bracket. Would the spring compressor tool help align it correctly?
I have already removed my rear FE1 spring, without using the spring comressor tool, to swap in a FE4 spring. The raised notch of the spring pad is slightly off from the recessed notch in the bracket. Would the spring compressor tool help align it correctly?
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
I didn't use any special tools to remove my front or rear springs and don't see why you would need any... just seems like a waste of money/time to me
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 13
From: West Deptford NJ
Thanks for all the replies.
I just started the rear FE4 spring swap and noticed the support blocks on the spring do not fit exactly into the brackets. Question is would the spring compressor help align correctly?
Another forum member suggested dropping the car and use the weight of the vehicle to help align the spring and then torque the brackets.
Maybe coilovers next time!
I just started the rear FE4 spring swap and noticed the support blocks on the spring do not fit exactly into the brackets. Question is would the spring compressor help align correctly?
Another forum member suggested dropping the car and use the weight of the vehicle to help align the spring and then torque the brackets.
Maybe coilovers next time!
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
do you have a set of ramps?... I would get the spring installed where it needs to be and leave the brackets off, make sure the rest of the suspension is reattached and then set the front or rear of the car (whichever one you're working on) down on ramps to put the weight on the suspension and then tighten the brackets as suggested... if you lower the car on the ground it will be difficult to get under the car to tighten the brackets up
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
There is a MUCH simpler way to remove and re-install the front spring compared to the LS1Howto guide. Pulling the suspension all apart on both sides is a waste of time. Once the car is on jack stands with one of the front wheels off just do the following.
1. Mark the lower a-arm cam bolts on one side.
2. Jack the spring in the Y of the arm to take the tension off the a-arm.
3. Remove the lower a-arm bolts.
4. Lower the jack as you work the suspension to get the a-arm above the end of the spring.
5. Move the jack to the end of the spring and jack it up again.
6. Remove the spring retaining plates.
7. Lower the jack and remove the spring.
8. Reverse the procedure to re-install.
You mark the washers on the cam bolts so you can get them back in the same position and not screw-up the alignment.
Disconnecting the bottom of the shock and the sway bar end link is not necessary but it does make it easier to get the a-arm past the end of the spring. I have removed the front spring by only removing the 2x a-arm and 4x retainer plate bolts.
You want the car about 18-20" above the ground at the frame to ensure the jack can lower enough you will be able to get the tension off the spring and get the spring out. If you have the car too low then put the spring back with the retaining plates and jack the car up higher and try again.
If the new spring is off center as you you jack it into place, just lower the jack and try again.
Don't worry about the blocks being centered in the bracket locations. Just get the spring centered in the car and put it together and it will be fine.
1. Mark the lower a-arm cam bolts on one side.
2. Jack the spring in the Y of the arm to take the tension off the a-arm.
3. Remove the lower a-arm bolts.
4. Lower the jack as you work the suspension to get the a-arm above the end of the spring.
5. Move the jack to the end of the spring and jack it up again.
6. Remove the spring retaining plates.
7. Lower the jack and remove the spring.
8. Reverse the procedure to re-install.
You mark the washers on the cam bolts so you can get them back in the same position and not screw-up the alignment.
Disconnecting the bottom of the shock and the sway bar end link is not necessary but it does make it easier to get the a-arm past the end of the spring. I have removed the front spring by only removing the 2x a-arm and 4x retainer plate bolts.
You want the car about 18-20" above the ground at the frame to ensure the jack can lower enough you will be able to get the tension off the spring and get the spring out. If you have the car too low then put the spring back with the retaining plates and jack the car up higher and try again.
If the new spring is off center as you you jack it into place, just lower the jack and try again.
Don't worry about the blocks being centered in the bracket locations. Just get the spring centered in the car and put it together and it will be fine.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Jan 8, 2015 at 02:35 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 13
From: West Deptford NJ
There is a MUCH simpler way to remove and re-install the front spring compared to the LS1Howto guide. Pulling the suspension all apart on both sides is a waste of time. Once the car is on jack stands with one of the front wheels off just do the following.
1. Mark the lower a-arm cam bolts on one side.
2. Jack the spring in the Y of the arm to take the tension off the a-arm.
3. Remove the lower a-arm bolts.
4. Lower the jack as you work the suspension to get the a-arm above the end of the spring.
5. Move the jack to the end of the spring and jack it up again.
6. Remove the spring retaining plates.
7. Lower the jack and remove the spring.
8. Reverse the procedure to re-install.
You mark the washers on the cam bolts so you can get them back in the same position and not screw-up the alignment.
Disconnecting the bottom of the shock and the sway bar end link is not necessary but it does make it easier to get the a-arm past the end of the spring. I have removed the front spring by only removing the 2x a-arm and 4x retainer plate bolts.
You want the car about 18-20" above the ground at the frame to ensure the jack can lower enough you will be able to get the tension off the spring and get the spring out. If you have the car too low then put the spring back with the retaining plates and jack the car up higher and try again.
If the new spring is off center as you you jack it into place, just lower the jack and try again.
Don't worry about the blocks being centered in the bracket locations. Just get the spring centered in the car and put it together and it will be fine.
1. Mark the lower a-arm cam bolts on one side.
2. Jack the spring in the Y of the arm to take the tension off the a-arm.
3. Remove the lower a-arm bolts.
4. Lower the jack as you work the suspension to get the a-arm above the end of the spring.
5. Move the jack to the end of the spring and jack it up again.
6. Remove the spring retaining plates.
7. Lower the jack and remove the spring.
8. Reverse the procedure to re-install.
You mark the washers on the cam bolts so you can get them back in the same position and not screw-up the alignment.
Disconnecting the bottom of the shock and the sway bar end link is not necessary but it does make it easier to get the a-arm past the end of the spring. I have removed the front spring by only removing the 2x a-arm and 4x retainer plate bolts.
You want the car about 18-20" above the ground at the frame to ensure the jack can lower enough you will be able to get the tension off the spring and get the spring out. If you have the car too low then put the spring back with the retaining plates and jack the car up higher and try again.
If the new spring is off center as you you jack it into place, just lower the jack and try again.
Don't worry about the blocks being centered in the bracket locations. Just get the spring centered in the car and put it together and it will be fine.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 13
From: West Deptford NJ
do you have a set of ramps?... I would get the spring installed where it needs to be and leave the brackets off, make sure the rest of the suspension is reattached and then set the front or rear of the car (whichever one you're working on) down on ramps to put the weight on the suspension and then tighten the brackets as suggested... if you lower the car on the ground it will be difficult to get under the car to tighten the brackets up