suspension question

[dbrock]

Hello all,

I have inherited a 81 El Camino and need some advice about
Working on its suspension.

The upper front control arms and spindles are off.The shocks and springs
are still on as are the front sway bar and sway bar bushings.

Can anyone recommend a safe way to get the springs out? It was disassemled out of order.

Any advice is appreciated.

Dwayne

 

[79CMC]

Welcome to the site, Dwayne.

You might want to see if you can get this moved to the actual "Suspension" section of the Forum. And maybe see if you can get rid of your double threads haha.

I don't recommend it, but my buddy and I used a pry bar/huge screwdriver to get the springs out. Beers and bravado were involved. If I had to do it over, I'd just go to my local auto parts store and rent a spring compressor. At my store, you pay full price for the tool, keep it indefinitely, and then get all your money back when you return it.

 

[SonOfRDgear]

you can go to any autozone and rent a coil spring compressor... make sure you get one for the front. looks like this:

its pretty simple to use.. i would recommend using an impact wrench to tighten it.... that will get your coil compressed to where you should be able to just pull it right out, especially if your spindles are already removed.

Oh yeah... and don't forget to unbolt those sway bar end links from the control arm... you'll probably want to replace them anyway.

 

[Bonnewagon]

"The upper front control arms and spindles are off.The shocks and springs
are still on as are the front sway bar and sway bar bushings." How the hell can that be? It's sitting on the lower "A" arms and what? Bricks? Anyway, use a spring compressor or just jack up the car until the springs pop out and please chain them to the frame so they don't hit you. If using a spring compressor tool DO NOT use an impact gun- it can break the tool suddenly and I have the stained undies to prove it.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

If the upper control arms are out and it has no spindles then you don't need a spring compressor as there shouldn't be anything holding the springs in place other than maybe the shocks.

The only time I use a spring compressor is to install the springs. Otherwise you can just use a chain or thick steel cable that you wrap through the spring and frame, place your jack under the lower control arm and slowly lower the jack to release the tension in the spring.
You can also reinstall this way as well but the spring compressor does make it easier.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

Heres a video on how to safely remove springs;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1akqSJE0ss
Guy

 

[mr evil]

Yes, at this point it sounds as if only the shocks are keeping them in. DO NOT unbolt those shocks until you have at least a chain and jack in place to keep the springs from flying out of there. I did this on the weekend and even when it seems the springs are unloaded there can still be pressure there, enough to at least leave you with a couple of bingo dabs in your shorts if they fly out.