Front Coil Spring Removal?
- Thread starter Looter
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This is a big dangerous job. Various special tools are required and even then the possibility of real significant personal injury is ever present. That said, it is possible to do it in your driveway as long as you are very safety conscious and use the right tools. Have you done a search on this site? Lots of good info here. The first thing you will need is an inside coil spring compression tool. Add a 3 ton floor jack. Add a tie rod removal tool. Add a ball joint removal tool. Add a shock shaft holding tool. How is the rest of your front end? Ball joints? Control arm bushings? Tie rods? This job quickly grows when you start taking things apart. For example, if the ball joints have many years and miles on them, new springs may push them over the edge with catastrophic results. Lots to consider here. So to answer your question- the lower ball joint, shock, tie rod end, and maybe the lower control arm, all need to come apart. The trick is to accomplish that without the spring getting loose and taking your head off. So search some, and let us know what you learn. The guys here will guide you if you decide to go ahead. EDIT: here is just one discussion- https://gbodyforum.com/threads/front-end-do-myself-or-let-mechanic.44097/
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Here is a good video series that will show you what is involved working on the front end......
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...IH3sYI&usg=AFQjCNG7WQfdT7ht0LmV_UWWuSxKxaOIlw
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...IH3sYI&usg=AFQjCNG7WQfdT7ht0LmV_UWWuSxKxaOIlw
One word of caution for disassembly. Make sure to keep your shocks inside the springs while disconnecting your ball joint. They will keep the springs in place when things let loose. The potential energy in those springs is enough to take your head off. Some guys use chains.
For re-assembly I couldn't find a spring compressor tool that would fit so I did what most others do and use the weight of the car. To make this easier, you will want the engine in the car. I've done this job a handful of times and I still hate it.
For re-assembly I couldn't find a spring compressor tool that would fit so I did what most others do and use the weight of the car. To make this easier, you will want the engine in the car. I've done this job a handful of times and I still hate it.
I remove the shock and use a heavy duty chain and run it through the spring and secure it on disassembly and I also had to cut down the threaded bar on my inner spring compressor to work well for a Gbody, it would always hit up top before I got full compression.
Some use a jack on the lower control arm and a coil compressor. But that's if you have enough weight on the car. I had to do it on my bare frame with a seat belt and a long breaker bar to loosen the lower ball joint so I won't be in the way just in case the coil goes flying. Back yard hacks lol.
I was taught at a young age from my dad who is a 40+ year veteran mechanic. I've always used a jack on the lower control arm and spring compressor and SLOWLY lower the jack until enough tension is released. Sometimes a persuasion tool (pry bar) is necessary to unseat the spring.
The job gets even more adventurous when you are running drop springs like myself which are stiffer than stock....damn things can shoot out like a rocket in a heartbeat!
As others have said, get the right tools (you can rent them at local auto parts stores), take your time and be safe!!! Follow the steps and the process will be uneventful.
The job gets even more adventurous when you are running drop springs like myself which are stiffer than stock....damn things can shoot out like a rocket in a heartbeat!
As others have said, get the right tools (you can rent them at local auto parts stores), take your time and be safe!!! Follow the steps and the process will be uneventful.
I've done it multiple times on a multiple B & G bodies. I remove the shock first. Then position my floor jack right underneath the lower control arm, literally touching the lower control arm w/o applying pressure. Unbolt the lower balljoint and the lower control arm, then slowly lower the jack. Install is the reverse of removal; easy and painless, takes less than 30 min per side.
To the OP- see? Lots of opinions. I've done it many times, many ways, and I still dread the job. I don't trust the jack-under-the-A-arm method because I've seen it slip and fail. I've also seen an inside compressor tool fail. I have even used an acetylene torch to cut coils until they just fell out. Using a safety chain to secure the spring to the frame is a must. If a spring gets loose- you will poop your pants- and be thankful if that's all. I guess the biggest factor is your personal skill level. You must be brutally honest about that- better safe than sorry.
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