1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

Ok Ive been trying to get the left front spring out for 2 days now. Ive used 3 compressors with no luck. car is on jack stands and i have lifted the control arm up to compress the spring a bit while i use the compressor. The spring gets a little loose when compressed but when i lower the control arm it seems to be getting stuck on top in the well where its at and the very end of the bottom part is also stuck. i tapped lightly with a hammer and the compressor broke loose and scared the Heck out of me. i know thats very dangerous but i have no ides what else to do. it seems like the bottom of the spring is welded in or something. I was thinking of getting out the cutting torch and cutting it with the LCA completely lowered. there is NOTHING else connected to the LCA. it drops down pretty far but im afraid to push it all the way down thinkin that spring might come flying out at me. so im thinking maybe cutting it with just a bit of tension on the LCA with my jack. that way it kinda keeps it in place even though ill be cutting it in two. Te LCA is NOT bent on the bottom or anything. Any Suggestions besides removing the two LCA bolts? thanks

gregsz-28

iTrader: (1)

Did you disconnect the ball joint and sway bar? Before you do that, place a jack under the spring perch on the a-arm, then when the sway bar and ball joint are disconnected, lower the jack and the a-arm will should come down far enough for the spring to fall out.
You also have to consider putting the spring back in. If you can't get it out without cutting it, you won't be able to get it back in, in one piece either.

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

yes i disconnected both sway bar and ball joint. im actually trying to put eibach pro kit in. but i just cant seems to get the old ones out. So basically it is (SAFE?) to push that lower control arm all the way down until they come out? and could i put the new spring back in pretty easily as the other falls out?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I always recommend looping a chain through the a-arm and spring for safety's sake. The lowering spring will go back in easier than the OE.

Here's the compressor/pipe nipple you need:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...s-dsc00195.jpg

JamesC

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

thank you i will use your idea with the chain and all. You guys/gals are awesome!!!

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

A CHAIN OR STRAP IS A MUST!!!!!! Cant stress that enough. But if you strap it in, and drop the a-arm down as far as you can, the spring wont have much tension left in it. It will make a small pop when you pry it off the a-arm...but it wont be nearly as bad as when the compressor let go on ya...hence my distaste for compressors. Once you do one, it gets easier.

Also as someone mentioned...the lowering springs will be easier to put back in.

J.

jnich005

is that a kd tool spring compressor?

5678TA

chain the spring to keep it from flying out of the car and use a prybar.. just make sure the area is clear.. i broke a spring compressor with sportline springs.. and did to same to remove both the sportlines and stock springs

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Sorry, I don't recall. It was something I picked up at a swap meet.

JamesC

86irocterror

i use a KD compressor. i added some washers to it and cut the threaded rod shorter and use it on the front springs. works great

zride91

I had the same problem with my springs. The trick is compressing the springs enough. You can rent the correct compressor at Advance Auto with just a deposit that you get 100% refunded when you bring it back, but the threaded part is way too long. I went to Home Depot and got 3 or 4 black pipe conectors (female thread both sides). I forget which size I used, they were just big enough in diameter to slide over the threaded shaft without the threads binding. The pipe connectors can be used as spacers which allow you to compress the spring enough. I can try to get pictures for you tomorrow.

Definately chain the spring! I've heard stories before that had me pretty intimadated while doing this job.

I did basically what 86irocterror did w/o cutting the threaded rod, the spacers shortened it up the same way.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Check my pic above.

JamesC

zride91

Sorry 'bout that, that is exaclty what i did (except I use more pieces), the one piece is deffinately a cleaner example though.

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

FINALLY SPRINGS ARE IN AND DONE!!! i used a 4 inch piece of pipe on the compressor like you guys suggested. It worked EXCELLENT> Thank you again for the awesome advice.