Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

[Paul B.]

I searched all the archives, but I'm still not 100% clear on the best technique for replacing the front coils on my '62?
I first put the front up on stands, then Pull the shocks, put a length of all-thread through with a nut and washer on each end, and then put a floor jack under the outer end of the lower A arm.
Now the part where I'm not sure; do I remove the nuts at the inner or outer end of the A arm? Is it better to use the jack or the all-thread to decompress the spring? The coils in there now are so tall/rigid, that it's on the upper bump stops even under full load!
Once I make sure the new coil is sitting correctly in the A arm, is there a special trick to getting it back together?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

[Rob M.]

Re: Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

I did the same thing using the all-thread through rod (100cm, 12mm). I didn't need the jack though. After compressing the spring I removed the spindle support and unwind the nuts to remov the tension. Then I was able to remove the inner bushings (the spring wasn't under tension in my case). In your case I recon you can still ermove the inner bushings since the thread should be able to provide you a controlled manner to remove the remaining tension of the spring...

PS Why do you think you need to replease the springs? I just painted them and put them back.
PPS repro springs often are not of the correct tension or ride hight, so double check yours!!!

greetings,
Rob.

[Rob M.]

Re: Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

Picture:

[Terry D.]

Re: Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

Paul

The service manual (ST-12) covers this quite well. If you don't have one I suggest you purchase one through the NCRS store. It is a very valuable tool in keeping your car in shape.
Terry

[Paul B.]

Re: Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

Thanks for the responses guys. I have to replace them because they are not the correct coils, the car sits way high and the upper arms are actually against the upper bump stops!
No ST-12 manual yet (it's on the list), but I was hoping to change the coils this weekend.
Thanks,
Paul

[Chuck R.]

Re: Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

On my C-3 I bought a Harbor Freight internal coil spring compressor and used only the lower staggared hook unit.

Then I welded two 5/8" nuts butted up against each other on the bottom of a 24" X 5/8" length of thread stock so that they wouldn't accidentally spin off.
Then I next placed two 5/8" flat washers with heavy grease on them and then finally the hook unit.

I positioned the hooks as low on the spring as it would permit and once positioned, I slid two more greased 5/8" flat washers onto the thread stock to rest on the shock tower.

Then, I welded two more 5/8" nuts together making sure that the nuts lined up and wouldn't bind on the thread stock when rotated. It was probably over kill, but I wanted as much thread purchase on the thread stock as I could get.

I was surprised at how easily the coil compressed. The greased washers and greasing the thread stock where I knew the nuts would be working I feel help significantly.

When I got the spring compressed, I loosened the lower spindle ball joint nut a few turns and knocked the ball joint free from the spindle letting it drop onto the loosened nut.

Then I swung the control arm down out of the way and released the tension on the thread stock/spring.

Now on the safety side. I made sure that I was always working from either the side or backside of the potential path of travel if the hooks lost their grip and the spring got loose. I also had a ratchet strap wrapped around a couple of coils and bound off to the opposite side frame rail to hopefully help contain a sudden release.

When I re-installed the coil in the reverse order. What I did notice was that the coil had to be pulled back a tad to allow for the control arm to properly mate back up in the pocket in the lower control arm. The ratchet strap easily handled this by taking a slight pull from the opposite frame rail.

Again, be extemely mindful of all that latent energy that can very easily mash hands and fingers or worse.

Long winded explanation for a fairly straight forward process, but this is one of those "come back to bite you real quick" deals if you go into it half A _ _ed.

The motto on these rides is "Slow and Patiece"

Chuck

[Terry D.]

Re: Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

Paul

If you can't borrow a service manual for this weekend, let me know and I will try to scan those pages and e-mail them to ya
Terry

[Roy B.]

Re: Best/easiest way to change C1 front coils?

I see that so often when people buy repro's , %90 of the time poeple dont even need to change them, they just do it when restoring thier Corvette.