Front coil spring removal

[cobra0478]

OK people I am off my but working on my car finally, and I need some help.
I did the frame rack this A.M. just to be safe & all is well there,now trying to tear down the frontend for rebuild,but having problems with coil springs.
I have two different designed compressor tools & neither will work.One is supposed to be inserted through the controle arm & attached to the spring from the inside,it is to large to pass throw the hole,tryed to slide it through the coils ,still dosen't work.Second tool is the type that attaches to the coil from out side,there is not enough room between the controle arm& the crossmember to operate this tool.
The car is on jack stands at the frame with the suspension hanging,I am not sure of the length of the spring,so I am leary about trying to jack it out,by this I mean supporting the controle arm with a jack & separating it from the spindle then lowering the jack untill the spring looses tension.
Suggestions, or tool name&part #? PLEASE
I don"t want to get crazy with this, that spring can be deadly if it gets away.
Thanks for any help.
Don

[SVOeric]

when I took mine off, I put the jack under the control arm, and just let it go down slowly.

There is plenty of travel to let the slack off the spring, but I still don't ever stand in front of it while doing this. I do it with the floor jack, and stand at the front of the car.

the fun part is getting them back in. the spring compressors I used were really cheap, basically just 2 hooks on the end of a long threaded rod. You can really only get 2 coils in it, but that is all you really need..

[SVO4PWR2]

The way i do the springs is jack up the car high enough to swing the lower control arm down by unbolting the 2 bushings and letting the jack down slowly.. NOT by the balljoint. its also easier to put back together i think. GOOD LUCK -RICH-

[cobra0478]

Eric,
Thanks I thought this might work I have did it on chevy trucks before,just was concerned about wheather the springs would unload before the controle arm broke over all the way,I will try it in the morning.
Don

[cobra0478]

Rich,
Thanks,I do have two sides to remove I will try both ways.
Don

[svono50]

I will throw in my $0.02. Rich's way does work, if you don't plan on removing the ball joint from the spindle. If you do plan on removing the ball joint from the spindle, here is another method.

- Jack the car up enough for the a-arm to swing down.
- Loosen the two a-arm bushing bolts and leave the nut on the bolts (this will allow the a-arm bushings to rotate).
- Place your jack under the ball joint.
- Remove the ball joint nut.
- Slowly lower the jack to relieve the spring pressure.
- The spring will completely unload and just fall out.
- When assembling everything back together, don't tighten the a-arm bushing bolts until you have weight back on the suspension otherwise you will end up pre-loading the bushings (not a good thing).

My friends and I discovered this method after many trial and error attempts during our former spring cutting days. Good luck.

[gbeaird]

Ahhh, falltime in Texas when it is finally cool enough to work outside on your car! :-)

Just for grins, Don, and for safety's sake, get a length of chain with a couple of hooks on the ends. Wrap the chain around the spring and then look it around the K member so should the spring decide to pop out, it won't go far.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texas

[ediii]

I also use Genes method of securing the spring but I wrap the chain around the spring and something else substantial and padlock or bolt it. My chains don't have dem fancy hooks like Genes. Good Luck.
ED

[cobra0478]

Thank's everyone for the input.Now all I need is a chance to get to it,as usual I got a call out just as I got involved in the project,I am beganing to think my company has installed a monitor in my garage when I start to work on the SVO the phone rings & I have to go to work.
Gene is right about the weather, this is usually my favorite time of the year,altho today is kinda extreme,must be low 50s maby high 40s outside today.
I hope to get back to the car during the holidays,will let you know how it goes,will also post some photo updates.
Don

[gbeaird]

I tried working on repairing the power seat switch on my Dad's 79 Town Car. I would go out to work on it yesterday, and it would start raining. I would stop, dry everything off, button it up and to inside. It would stop raining. I would go out, and it would start raining again. Sheesh! It was also too windy to do the oil change. It may not be calm enough to do that until after Thanksgiving. Hopefully, it will not rain this afternoon.

If it doesn't rain, I will hopefully get time to pull the corded Kuhmo's off our SVO (wore them out at the last Evolution driving school a couple of weeks ago) and put the street tires on so we (the SVO and I) can go enjoy this extreme weather.

Don, put a hat on, so they won't recognize you on the 'company webcam' so you can work on your car! :-)

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texas

[cobra0478]

The hat may be the problem,I always wear it.
Maby if I take it off the reflection from my beautiful bald head will blind whoever is monitoring me.LOL.
Don