C1 front spring removal.

[Jerry Gollnick (8575)]

I am in the process of rebuilding the front end on my 61. I am at the stage that I need to remove the front springs. Following the direction in the service manual I placed a floor jack under the lower A arm inner shaft and loosened the bolts. Nothing happens. I'm a little leary of puting a pry bar in there and banging away. Any tricks you folks know of or should I just keep hitting it until it moves? Jerry

[Kent Keech (6201)]

Re: C1 front spring removal.

Jerry,

I suggest you use a spring compresser available for rent at your local FLAPS. Secure those springs with something STRONG so they don't pop out doing you or someone else great harm. Then lower the A-arm after the spring is compressed sufficiently to be removed.

Others with more experience should chime in.

Kent

[Jim Kennedy (34763)]

Re: C1 front spring removal.

Jerry I did this a couple of years back and I remember doing it per the ST-12. If I remember correctly, I had to tap the bolts and the lowwer inner a-arm to get it to pop. with a floor jack just shy of snug under it, it will give it just a bit of room to move. you can run a chain through the spring and bolt it to something under there to be sure it doesn't get away from you, but it shouldn't. once it pops, you can lower it down with out too much pressure from the spring. Think about loosening up all the bushings before you take it all apart, while you have the leverage, just a crack, not fractions of a turn. The shock may even want to stay installed to help hold it all together... I don't fully recall without looking at it. Good luck!!!
Jim

[Jim Kennedy (34763)]

Re: C1 front spring removal.

Sorry, I meant to respond to your post. I just took a look and I'm pretty sure it will work as I stated earlier. The spring is outbound and the inner lower a-arm is in bound where the jack will be, I may have loostened the lower bolts and got the nut part way over the bolt and then hit the nut with a hammer to get it to pop. I still think you can leave the shock installed to capture the spring if it tries to get away, but I don't think it was an issue; then again, never take chances with springs...
Jim

[Christopher Ritchie (238)]

Re: C1 front spring removal.

There is a huge amount of energy stored in that spring. When you let it go, you better be prepared to control it.

When I did mine, I used a 1/2" threaded rod with nuts, big washers, and pipe flanges. The threaded rod went where the shock was. The nuts and washers went under the lower "A"-arm and on top of the suspension saddle - where the shock nuts were.

Sounds to me that the lower inner shaft is stuck to the saddle. When you break that bond, make sure the floor jack is positioned to handle the impact. I used the floor jack and the threaded rod because I wanted redundancy there.

[Dennis Ambrose (32228)]

Re: C1 front spring removal.

I used the spring compressor as a safety measure and never really had to use it to collapse the spring once the A arm is dropped. Be sure to use a safety catch what ever you do...

[Don Yesacavage (34599)]

Re: C1 front spring removal.

I did mine the same as Chris. Large piece of all thread through the shock mount. Works liks a charm. Make sure you have a long enough piece so the spring can fully decompress. I used a stack of greased washers on the ends to take the friction easier.