Help with coilovers

[Fatstang]

I'm in the middle of installing my coilovers and i'm having no luck
Not sure how to make them fit correctly. i have the `87-`93 Strange struts. i was told to get the Fox body ones since the car sat low with the QA1 K-member, comparing the stock strut to the new one is only a .25-.5" difference. I have the sleeve on the strut, the lower spring perch on it along with the jam nut thingy. i rest the 14" coil onto the strut, put the upper coil perch on top, with this small washer and nipple that goes on top of it. It seems i have to have the lower perch on the very bottom of the sleeve to get enough thread to be exposed Also, not sure if this one part is needed, i think its the part off the Steeda CC plates, its a brass sleeve, maybe an inch long that fits into the cc plate from underneath, do i need that???? Also I can't get the spindle off the stock a-arms to transfer them to the D&D a-arms, I have the nut removed, but i can't seperate the spindle from the a-arm. :shrug: Can anyone lead me in the right directions? i appreciate guys Suspension isn't my strongest subject when i comes down to wrenching.

[Fatstang]

Do i need a spring compressor?

[quietflow]

Steve if you mean you cant get the balljoint seperated from the a-arm, the take a hammer and hit the side of the a-arm where the balljoint goes through it, dont hit the alljoint threads though. Good Luck

[Fatstang]

Steve if you mean you cant get the balljoint seperated from the a-arm, the take a hammer and hit the side of the a-arm where the balljoint goes through it, dont hit the alljoint threads though. Good Luck
Thanx Adam. so i should NOT hit the top of the ball joint, trying to drive out of the spindle, but strike the a-arm itself in the side by the ball joint? just want to make sure i'm understanding you clearly. I'm not trying to removing the ball joint out off the a-arm, but seperate the spindle assembly from the a-arm/ball joint.

[quietflow]

You want to hit where the balljoint goes through and the nut pulls it tight in the taper. Dont hit the balljoint. On my car the balljoint is pressed into the control arm, and the spindle slides over the balljoint and the nut goes on top of that. If yours is the same you want to hit the side of the spindle where the balljoint goes through. Hope thats more clear for you.

[Fatstang]

You want to hit where the balljoint goes through and the nut pulls it tight in the taper. Dont hit the balljoint. On my car the balljoint is pressed into the control arm, and the spindle slides over the balljoint and the nut goes on top of that. If yours is the same you want to hit the side of the spindle where the balljoint goes through. Hope thats more clear for you.

:thumbs_up

[MAT88GT]

Also, not sure if this one part is needed, i think its the part off the Steeda CC plates, its a brass sleeve, maybe an inch long that fits into the cc plate from underneath, do i need that????

i think that brass sleeve goes into the sphericle bearing on the cc plates...if thats true, you definately need it.

Leave the lower spring seat all the way down on the threaded adjustment sleeve (on the strut) then mount the entire assembly and install it into your cc plate...once you have the strut rod bolted into the cc plate bearing you can adjust the spring up as needed

do you have the 3 bolt steeda's or new 4 bolt versions?

Also I can't get the spindle off the stock a-arms to transfer them to the D&D a-arms, I have the nut removed, but i can't seperate the spindle from the a-arm

this sounds stupid but it will save a ton of time if you ever do this again....
let the a arm hang with the strut still mounted to the cc plate, remove the spindle nut, then hit the side of the a arm...its much easier to do with the a arm hanging from the strut. My entire K assembly is laying on the floor...getting the spindles off should be fun! lol

[Fatstang]

[QUOTE=MAT88GT]i think that brass sleeve goes into the sphericle bearing on the cc plates...if thats true, you definately need it.

Leave the lower spring seat all the way down on the threaded adjustment sleeve (on the strut) then mount the entire assembly and install it into your cc plate...once you have the strut rod bolted into the cc plate bearing you can adjust the spring up as needed

do you have the 3 bolt steeda's or new 4 bolt versions? QUOTE]
I have the 3 bolt version (steel). I already have the new arms in. the stock arms are laying on the floor with the spindle attached. i hope i can get those spindles seperated tonight :thud:

[BBATCO1]

Use a little heat on the spindle, then you can put the nut on the ball joint upsidedown a few threads from being flush. Whack the top of the nut and if it doest come out get a balljoint seperator...

[Fatstang]

I'll give it a try, thanx Bob

[Fatstang]

Ok the spindle problem is solved, (thanx Joel), but he's my big issue now:
I have a 14" coil with 175 rate, fox body struts. So far my progress isn't much. i have the spindles transfered to the D&D arms, and now the a-arms are connected to the k-member. i started the strut install on the passenger side by bolting the strut at spindle and using the floor jack to pass it thru the strut tower. i thought for sure i would have no problems, but now i'm at a dead stop. Started jacking up the car from the a-arm, the sleeve is on the strut and the coil is at it's lowest position, while jacking the arm up, the strut is feed into the CC plate and is going good until the coil won't compress anymore, (the coils are NOT touching), and the car is now lifting off the jack stand! WTF!!!!!!!!!!! What am i doing so wrong, some one help me please

[Fatstang]

Ok the spindle problem is solved, (thanx Joel), but he's my big issue now:
I have a 14" coil with 175 rate, fox body struts. So far my progress isn't much. i have the spindles transfered to the D&D arms, and now the a-arms are connected to the k-member. i started the strut install on the passenger side by bolting the strut at spindle and using the floor jack to pass it thru the strut tower. i thought for sure i would have no problems, but now i'm at a dead stop. Started jacking up the car from the a-arm, the sleeve is on the strut and the coil is at it's lowest position, while jacking the arm up, the strut is feed into the CC plate and is going good until the coil won't compress anymore, (the coils are NOT touching), and the car is now lifting off the jack stand! WTF!!!!!!!!!!! What am i doing so wrong, some one help me please
Anyone?