Front spring replacement?

**William P.** · February 23, 2012, 06:43 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Changing springs can be dangerous for a do it your selfer if you have no expierence in this area . Be sure you know what you are doing or have someone else do it .
Bill

**James B.** · February 23, 2012, 07:19 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

I've replaced springs on cars in the past, just never a Corvette, I've read the manual, viewed the step by steps on line, in books etc......and from life experience, believe me, I know it can be dangerous, I've actually seen the resulting loss of life that can occur from poor planning prior to working on a vehicle, what I'm looking for is someone who has replaced the front springs on their C3, in their garage, using their basic middle class guy tools, and gotten the job done without becoming a headline in the paper. Someone who, can say "this...........is the way I did it, it might not be the way the manual says - but it was basically safe and it worked". As for have someone else do it - that would go against the do it your selfer code - As I say "If you own it - drive it like you stole it - if you stole it -wreck it - thats why we have insurance"

**Thomas H.** · February 23, 2012, 08:08 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

I have done this on several cars in my garage with standard back yard mechanic tools. Done methodically it is a very easy job.

Support the car with GOOD STABLE jackstands. Remove the brakes, rotor and steering linkage. Support the outer end of the lower control arm with a jack. Remove the shock.

Put a chain through the spring and the lower control arm. Secure the chain together to form a loop through the spring and the lower control arm. Make sure the loop is a bit loose to allow for spring expansion.

Separate the upper ball joint from the upper control arm. SLOWLY lower the jack. Once the spring has expanded enough, remove the jack, undo the chain and remove the spring.

This is the way I have done it for many years with no trouble. Others may have different and/or better methods. Whatever method you choose, just make sure you secure the spring to the lower control arm.

Tom

**James B.** · February 23, 2012, 08:27 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Thanks, Sounds much the same as all the others I've done. The main reason I was curious and looking for some sort of verification, is some "Professionals" have been saying I need to remove the springs fron the inboard from under the car, sounds like a lot of trouble to do it that way, Thanks again!........Any more ideas are also welcome

**Russ S.** · February 23, 2012, 08:34 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

A better method than useing a chain is to get a half inch length of redi rod(threaded from end to end) and get a piece of flat iron such as 1/2 inch by 1-1/2 or 2 inches wide and about 4-5 inches long. Drill a hole in the center of it for the redi rod to go thru. Put nuts and washers on both ends,and run it thru the spring with the top end thru the shock absorber hole. Put the nut and washer on the top end. On the bottom, run the rod thru the flat iron, washer and nut. Tighten nuts up till you take some or nearly all tension off of the spring. Remove the lower A arm bolts and preferably the lower ball joint and then back off the top nut until the spring no longer has tension on it. (You will need to have your redi rod long enough that it can be put thru the shock hole and the nut screwed on far enough that you have room to back it off without running out of thread before the spring gets loose.

**James B.** · February 23, 2012, 08:51 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Hmmm..very nifty idea Russ, any thoughts on the ready rod length, I'd hate to do to much irresponsible guess work and not find out it's to short until it's to late, Maybe a combo of both methods is the way to go, for safety. I work a lot in steel and may just have some suitable threaded stock in the shop, you think galvanized, or grade 8, or grade 5?

**Russ S.** · February 23, 2012, 09:01 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Originally posted by James Bundshuh (44138)

Hmmm..very nifty idea Russ, any thoughts on the ready rod length, I'd hate to do to much irresponsible guess work and not find out it's to short until it's to late, Maybe a combo of both methods is the way to go, for safety. I work a lot in steel and may just have some suitable threaded stock in the shop, you think galvanized, or grade 8, or grade 5?

James, Mine is 24 inches long. Another thought (for safety) is it would be a good idea to double nut the bottom so there is no chance of the rod turning and causing the bottom nut to come off before your spring gets relaxed.

**Russ S.** · February 23, 2012, 09:03 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Originally posted by James Bundshuh (44138)

Hmmm..very nifty idea Russ, any thoughts on the ready rod length, I'd hate to do to much irresponsible guess work and not find out it's to short until it's to late, Maybe a combo of both methods is the way to go, for safety. I work a lot in steel and may just have some suitable threaded stock in the shop, you think galvanized, or grade 8, or grade 5?

Grade 5 or galvanized would be fine. No need for grade 8

**James B.** · February 23, 2012, 09:10 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Do you think a little grease on the threads to insure no binding is a good idea? You should submit this design to Snap-on or Mac or something?

**Thomas H.** · February 23, 2012, 09:11 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Originally posted by Russ Steinhaus (5540)

A better method than useing a chain is to get a half inch length of redi rod(threaded from end to end) and get a piece of flat iron such as 1/2 inch by 1-1/2 or 2 inches wide and about 4-5 inches long. Drill a hole in the center of it for the redi rod to go thru. Put nuts and washers on both ends,and run it thru the spring with the top end thru the shock absorber hole. Put the nut and washer on the top end. On the bottom, run the rod thru the flat iron, washer and nut. Tighten nuts up till you take some or nearly all tension off of the spring. Remove the lower A arm bolts and preferably the lower ball joint and then back off the top nut until the spring no longer has tension on it. (You will need to have your redi rod long enough that it can be put thru the shock hole and the nut screwed on far enough that you have room to back it off without running out of thread before the spring gets loose.

I used this method when I did the springs in my 60. Another method that works well.

Tom

**Thomas H.** · February 23, 2012, 09:11 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Don't forget to orient the spring properly when you reinstall it...................

Tom

**Russ S.** · February 23, 2012, 09:12 PM

Re: Front spring replacement?

Yes, I had intended to mention lubricant and forgot to.

**Tom L.** · February 24, 2012, 07:39 AM

Re: Front spring replacement?

james, I just removed the springs on my '72 454 last week and used the threaded rod method. The only difference is I used 5/8" rod.

Just curious, are you putting in replacement springs? If so I'd be interested in the results. I may have to replace mine and exact repro's aren't availible so it would be nice to hear from someone who has had experience wirth repro's. Good luck!!

**Steve L.** · February 24, 2012, 09:27 AM

Re: Front spring replacement?

I used a grade 8 rod from Fastenal, I didn't want to risk shearing threads. Also I used a bearing from a trailer wheel on the top under the nuts. It takes a lot of torque to compress the new spring. Double nuts top and bottom. Maybe be overkill, but I used the chain loop as well.

Also, you probably know this, but make sure the new spring end is lined up correctly with the hole.

Front spring replacement?

Front spring replacement?

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