HELP! HELP! W/Springs!

[Fatstang]

I'm in a panic :eek: I recieved my 4cyl fox body front springs and fox body V8 rears today. Well, i tried to install at least one front spring tonight, 3 hours later, no progress what so ever. I need help bad, i need help installing my front springs. I just can't get them in at all, I have the strut disconnected at the spindle and had the tie-rod disconnected as well. i have an Autozone rented spring compressor that has a hook on the top and a fork like hook on the bottom which kinda compress the spring on an angle (U-shape). I tried everything, my muscles are sore from trying so hard to shove that sucker in it's perches. I'm so frustrated i just wanna kick the car! I ran out of ideas. i'm desperate right now, i need some help. Is there any local fellow stangers that can help me? Please? I have beer and fine whiskey :beer:

[BlackLX]

It should be fairly easy...You may not even need the compressor, I never did.

Just make sure to put the top of the spring in 1st, then jack up the control arm to where the bottom the the spring will sit on it.

Next...Use a BIG ASS pry bar on the front of the bottom of the spring and the control arm, forcing the pry bar torwds the fender the spring should then slide into the perch, the only thing you should watch for is how the spring is sitting in the perch.

This has always worked for me.

Good luck.

[Fatstang]

I just can't get the back end of the bottom of the spring into the perch. I tried prying it, but no luck. I rest the spring in it's perch on the top, but can only move the spring half way on the bottom, not able to move it more than that. I have to get the car back together! What am i going to do? It seems inpossible, but i know so many do-it-your-selfers done it.

[Kirk]

Steve,

I would drop by tomorrow & help but I'm heading North for the night.

[MAT88GT]

the problem lies with the compressor...see if they have another type

you can get a compressor with a solid end and a [ shape that hugs a coil of the spring...then there's another section with two swinging arms...aka an inside coil spring compressor. The outside type compressors will work, but they're a total pita

there's another way to do it w/o a compressor, but its pretty dangerous in most peoples opinions..though I've had good luck with it

[quietflow]

Do you have the sway bar disconected? If not take it off of both sides, this will let the control arm drop down all the way. This should give you the room you need to get the spring in its pearch, then put a floor jack under the control arm, hold the spring in with a pry bar, and slowly jack the control arm up into place. Then conect the sturt. Make sure the sway bar link kit is coming through the control arm. Good Luck :shifter:

[Fatstang]

Do you have the sway bar disconected? If not take it off of both sides, this will let the control arm drop down all the way. This should give you the room you need to get the spring in its pearch, then put a floor jack under the control arm, hold the spring in with a pry bar, and slowly jack the control arm up into place. Then conect the sturt. Make sure the sway bar link kit is coming through the control arm. Good Luck :shifter:

I removed the sway bar permenatly off my car.

[Fatstang]

the problem lies with the compressor...see if they have another type

you can get a compressor with a solid end and a [ shape that hugs a coil of the spring...then there's another section with two swinging arms...aka an inside coil spring compressor. The outside type compressors will work, but they're a total pita

there's another way to do it w/o a compressor, but its pretty dangerous in most peoples opinions..though I've had good luck with it

What kind of compressor should i get? Autozone has a strut/spring compressor that is two seperate compressor you put on the opposite sides of each other on the outside of the spring, should i use that one? On a inside coil spring compressor, how do you get the compressor out once it's inside the spring sitting in it's perches? Thanx

[Fatstang]

I use the kind that Mat described, the inside one. Works like a charm, IF you have an impact wrench. Just tighten the hell out of it, it will compress quite a ways, more than enough to get it in there. Then you loosen it through the hole in the bottom of the A arm and kinda wiggle it out the bottom, should fit through. Much easier than the prybar method, takes about 30 seconds if you get it tight enough, it falls right in.

I actually feel pretty stupid right now :HittingHe I read the back of the box the compressor came in and it said to slide the compressor thru the center(inside) of spring! Well ****, i wish i knew that before i wasted my night :mad: But it might be a little snug getting it out once it's in the car. Maybe i'll just drive around with the compressor laying in between the spring if i can't get it out :hehe: I give it another try tonight, thanx guys.

[Fatstang]

Yeah, you might hafta fight a little with it to get it out. Stick your hand in there, hold the fingers together upward, and guide it right outta there. Good Luck!

Once the spring is in it's perch, should i first jack the a-arm up to connect the strut to the spindle then decompress the spring, or decompress the spring first?

[MAT88GT]

decompress it afterward...that way the spring doesn't have a chance of flying out at ya ;)

Dan is right on, everything should workout just fine!

[Fatstang]

I just got back from Autozone and returned the spring compressor, the top was too big to fit through the hole in the a-arm. I told the guy i was changing the springs on a Mustang so he said i need the MacPherson Strut/Spring compressor. So now i'll try it tonight. The tool likes like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11704&item=4309066666&rd=1

[greenlxconv]

Those are the ones I used I just put one on each side of the spring so it compressed evenly and it went in pretty easily

[Fatstang]

Got one spring in so far :thud: It's taking a lot of muscle to get them in. I don't understand, i was fighting with the driver side front for a 1/2 hour, then got up to answer the phone, got back to the spring, and with the first try, it all of sudden just sat into it's perch's with no effort and no pushing?! So that went well and it's all back together on the driver side. I couldn't get the passenger side front in last night, but i gave up quickly since it was getting late. Round 3 tonight, hope i can get this damn thing in, i got the spring compressed pretty good so far.