My first attempt to install my new Moog 5658 coil springs failed. I read past posts (here, here) on different ways to install them. I rented the compressor pictured below. The car is on jack stands. Because the springs are shorter than stock I was hopeful that installation would be easier than stock springs but it didn't work out that way!
First I tried using the compressor as designed. The bottom 'fork' didn't quite sit flat inside the spring... no matter how I oriented it, the pitch of the spring left the fork on an angle & the washers didn't quite sit flat in the pocket on the bottom of the fork. It didn't feel safe but I (carefully) partially compressed to about 2" shorter than stock. With the insulator taped to the top, I set it into the frame, and swung the lower arm up, but the spring was too far forward of the pocket on the lower arm. I wrestled with it for a little while & got it close, and the compressor popped loose (yikes!). Luckily it stayed in place on the lower arm wasn't rotated properly. I pulled it out, & not feeling that this method was safe or possible, decided to try something else.
Next, I ran the compressor screw through the shock hole, set the spring into the frame & used the compressor to pull the spring up into the frame. This felt safe & I thought it might work but the spring wasn't straight vertical... it was at an angle out & away from the lower arm (so, away from the pocket it's supposed to sit in). I could flex it some but not enough to get it into the pocket, so I tore it apart & quit for the day.
I'm considering taking the lower arm bolts out & jacking the spring & lower arm up (a 'spring sandwich'). Some suggest that, but I feel like it'll be a nightmare to get the bushings aligned into the frame & the bolts in, and this doesn't feel safe on jack stands.
I've also considered assembling both arms to the spindle then using the spindle as a hinge & jacking up the spring and arm from the inside (between the bushings). Somebody here also suggested this.
& I could go back to the original method but use the better OTC 7045B compressor that many of you suggest, but it's expensive for one-time use, and I don't think anybody rents it, so this is probably a last resort.
I apologize for the length - figured the more detail, the better. Any advice, am I doing anything wrong, missing something?
First I tried using the compressor as designed. The bottom 'fork' didn't quite sit flat inside the spring... no matter how I oriented it, the pitch of the spring left the fork on an angle & the washers didn't quite sit flat in the pocket on the bottom of the fork. It didn't feel safe but I (carefully) partially compressed to about 2" shorter than stock. With the insulator taped to the top, I set it into the frame, and swung the lower arm up, but the spring was too far forward of the pocket on the lower arm. I wrestled with it for a little while & got it close, and the compressor popped loose (yikes!). Luckily it stayed in place on the lower arm wasn't rotated properly. I pulled it out, & not feeling that this method was safe or possible, decided to try something else.
Next, I ran the compressor screw through the shock hole, set the spring into the frame & used the compressor to pull the spring up into the frame. This felt safe & I thought it might work but the spring wasn't straight vertical... it was at an angle out & away from the lower arm (so, away from the pocket it's supposed to sit in). I could flex it some but not enough to get it into the pocket, so I tore it apart & quit for the day.
I'm considering taking the lower arm bolts out & jacking the spring & lower arm up (a 'spring sandwich'). Some suggest that, but I feel like it'll be a nightmare to get the bushings aligned into the frame & the bolts in, and this doesn't feel safe on jack stands.
I've also considered assembling both arms to the spindle then using the spindle as a hinge & jacking up the spring and arm from the inside (between the bushings). Somebody here also suggested this.
& I could go back to the original method but use the better OTC 7045B compressor that many of you suggest, but it's expensive for one-time use, and I don't think anybody rents it, so this is probably a last resort.
I apologize for the length - figured the more detail, the better. Any advice, am I doing anything wrong, missing something?