Moog 5602 front spring question

[UNGN]

I never use a spring compressor:

Unbolt the lower A-arm.
Install spring.
Attach the shock top/bottom.
Put jack under LCA at spring pocket.
Jack up.
Attach spindle to upper and lower balljoints loosely.
Keep jacking up and use large screwdriver to line up LCA bolt holes.
Install LCA bolts.
Tighten all bolts with weight on the tires.

This is basically the method outlined in the factory service manual. Spring is captured by the shock the entire time, so no danger that is present with compressors.

 

[ezstriper]

I do them the same way as above, no compressor as long as the engine is in the car

 

[Hi-Fi]

Starting to think the lower control arm has to be removed. Right now it's in with the rear bolts holding it in and I can either seat the spring in the upper or lower, but the frame gets in the way of doing both.

 

[Hi-Fi]

After fighting with the drivers side for probably 2 or 3 hours, I got it in using the method described above. I had to also install the sway bar end link so when the suspension would compress the inside was more likely to go up, instead of the hub side. Slightly offset the jack to the inside too. What a pain!!!!

Then realized I put the long bolt in the short spot and vice versa.

I'll swap them with the passenger bolts one at a time when I do the other side.

 

[ezstriper]

you do not remove the control arm bolts to frame, just the ball joint at the spindle, remove the sway bar links,shocks, tie rods, sometimes pulling the rotor off makes working on the ball joint easier. with car on jack stands (high) on frame, loosen the ball joint nut about 1/2 way(do not remove) his the side of the spindle with large hammer until spring pressure pops the arm down, jack up arm at end, remove nut and lower are all the way down. spring will come out easy, depending on the spring you need to seat the top in 1st, and then using big pry bars pop the spring into the control arm, make sure the end lines up in the pocket correctly. with it in place jack the arm back up and connect the ball joint nut.

 

[Hi-Fi]

Even using a spring compressor, The spring was too tall to seat it in both the upper perch and lower. When the spring was seated in the upper, the angle the spring had to be at to fit into the lower interfered with the frame, it was one or the other. I did the way UNGN described, but it was a pain. The springs I pulled out, were much shorter than these Moog 5602 springs. Probably 2", free standing.

 

[ezstriper]

never done them any other way so no idea here, sounds like the springs are to tall ?

 

[pontiacgp]

Even using a spring compressor, The spring was too tall to seat it in both the upper perch and lower. When the spring was seated in the upper, the angle the spring had to be at to fit into the lower interfered with the frame, it was one or the other. I did the way UNGN described, but it was a pain. The springs I pulled out, were much shorter than these Moog 5602 springs. Probably 2", free standing.

The 5602 is a G body spring with only 346 lbs spring rate. I don't understand why you say even with a spring compressor it is too tall. You must be doing something wrong. Do you have any friends who have experience to help you out?. I use the spring compressor for the 5660 springs in my GP and have have never had any problems.

 

[Hi-Fi]

The 5602 is a G body spring with only 346 lbs spring rate. I don't understand why you say even with a spring compressor it is too tall. You must be doing something wrong. Do you have any friends who have experience to help you out?. I use the spring compressor for the 5660 springs in my GP and have have never had any problems.

Admittedly every other car I have redone the suspension on has had a strut setup up front, I have swapped suspension on probably 10-12 cars and never had issues outside of this one. The only way the spring will compress enough is if every coil is basically collapsed (Since you can't clamp the end coil on the tip or bottom). Not a fan of completely compressing a coil as that's a recipe for disaster, a lot of stored energy for a simple tool to hold.

Like I said, I did the method described above and got it in.

 

[pontiacgp]

Admittedly every other car I have redone the suspension on has had a strut setup up front, I have swapped suspension on probably 10-12 cars and never had issues outside of this one. The only way the spring will compress enough is if every coil is basically collapsed (Since you can't clamp the end coil on the tip or bottom). Not a fan of completely compressing a coil as that's a recipe for disaster, a lot of stored energy for a simple tool to hold.

Like I said, I did the method described above and got it in.

Like with many tools it's not a recipe for disaster if done correctly, I've been using a simple spring compressor for longer than I want to remember. When we raced metrics we used an 1100 lbs spring at one of the tracks on the right hand front which was installed and and removed with the simple compressor tool....