hey all, i'm trying to get my damn coil springs out of my front end so that i can drop the k-member for stripping and repainting before i put everything back in. for some unknown (to me) reason, i cannot get that **** (spring) outta' there to save my life. about 4.5 years ago i put those new springs in there, no problems. the right front seems to be cocked in there somehow and will not budge. i've got an internal spring compressor on it, but it doesn't even appear to be compressing it - looks more like it draws the control arm up. now if i unbolt the ball joint, the arm will only drop so far and stop - will not drop all the way down. so... i put a jack on the inboard side, unbolted the two bolts on the control arm, and as soon as the last one popped out, the spring pushed the control arm further into the k-member, so i'm not able to try and drop that side (that was the plan by removing the bolts). so now i have the control arm supported by a jack on the inboard side, and the ball joint on the outboard side. the spring is cocked in there down and inboard, as you look at it from the front of the car. also, the spring compressor has a big plate that keeps it tight to the control arm, so at least it can't come flying out. i haven't even tried the driver side yet, i've been trying to get this one out for 2 damn days now. somebody please help... thanks.

KAM

 

Uh, if the spring compressor plate is below the a-arm, you're never going to get that spring out. You're pulling the spring into the control arm.

See if you can figure out how to get the whole compressor acting only on the spring itself.

 

you are probably SO right. i feel like an idiot now, so thanks. now that i think about the obvious, i'm thinking i installed the tool the wrong way. i'm all cleaned up for tonight, but will be all over it tomorrow, now - thanks!

KAM