Front coil springs install !!!

[Chester]

Spent the last 2-3 days struggling with these @^*?/!*% springs!!! Once again--easy to get out, impossible to get back in. One book show all you have to do is compress the spring to the lower A-Arm and pop it into the frame hole. Yah right! Need about 2-3 more inches to squeeze them in. I've tried to slide the compressed spring into the frame then attach the 3 bolts of the lower A-arm in place- worked, but the internal spring compressor tool got hung up on the frame. This ones going to the shop($150) unless anyone out there has done this with any success.

[William C.]

Re: Front coil springs install !!!

This is not too hard if you make a spring compressor out of a piece of allthread. (Hardware store item) use 1/2 inch thread, and a 1/4 inch plate for the bottom, about 4 inches square. with the plate on the bottom of the "a" frame, run the allthread up through the top shock mount hole, use a washer & nut & you can crank the spring colsed. I also use a shorter piece of allthread to locate the lower a-arm crossshaft into the correct position. If you want to get fancy, you can use a nylon or bronze bushing between two washers under the nut on top to smoth out the process. Remember to grease the allthread well also. Works like a charm, cost-about $10.00 for everything needed.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Front coil springs install !!!

I actually just used your generic old spring compressor, but did not try to compress the outer two "revolutions" as you can't remove the end "grabber" pieces of the compressor then. When the spring is compressed so that the coils are together or nearly so, you can then attach the A-arm to the spindle after sliding the coil up in the frame hole. I had the A-arm already attached to the frame as I did this. Then take the lower coil "grabber" and slowly work on spinning it up through the coils until free. Do the same for the upper, but spin it down and out. It's a pain, but possible.

You'll likely have to adjust the locations that you are "grabbing" onto the coil with the compressor once or twice in order to make it easier to remove the "grabber" portions. It's sort of a happy medium between compressing the spring enough and being able to easily slide out the grabbers. I used a hammer and screwdriver to help tap them, and spin them out.

Hope this helps.

[Chester]

Re: Response !!!!!! Read

I think what I was doing wrong--correct me if this is right or not--was I had the lower grappers not on the coil but on the bottom side of the lower A-Arm--which pulled the coil to the A-Arm, not the coil compressed to it's self. The coil is ???supposed to be compressed to it's self and then pushed up into the frame hole and then attach the upper and lower a-arms to the spindle..Right?? Then decompress the spring/coil between the two A-arms while you adjust it in to the sockets---Do I Have It??? The other way sounds good also. Thanks

[Lou R]

Re: Front coil springs install !!!

I have used Bill's method to remove the springs on my 66 several times. I feel it is safer and easier than a compressor. Put the threaded rod through then replace the three bolts that mount the lower A arm to the frame with longer bolts or threaded rod. Compress the spring then lossen the bolts holding the A arm to the frame. This will cause the lower A arm to shift. Loosen the center rod slowly. To install the spring reverse the proceedure. This allows you to position the spring in the correct position in the lower A arm as well as on the frame as you compress the spring.

[Patrick H.]

You're On the Right Track

You've got it!

Squish the spring, jam it up in the frame, attach the A-arm to the spindle, and remove the compressor.

OK, so that's the quick-and-dirty description, but you get the idea.

If you try to squish it to the A-arm, it will not be at the right angle to enter the hole in the frame, thus become frustrating. As mentioned above, you can also squish it up into the frame hole and then release it onto the fully attached A-frame. Again, be careful not to put the grabbers on one of the last two coils, or you won't get them out.

PH