I have the typical 2 arm springcompressor tool, which I've used for ages. But it seems it wont work on our cars, so what do you guys use?

Or do you take off the whole A-arm?

It seems it's either too long, or... well, there's not enough room for my tool no matter how I place it..

Mine is identical to this one:




How is one supposed to get the front springs off?

 

you use what is called an internal coil spring compressor. works from inside the spring. i rented one from autozone last time i needed one.

 

Does anyone have a picture of the internal spring compressor? I just installed my front end and couldn't find a spring compressor that would work. I was working with my father and we had no access to the proper tools.

We used a piece of 3"x1" timber with a thick piece of rubber on the end to protect the paint and nailed it to the beam. It was lined up with the chassis rail next to the strut tower. We then attached the strut/spindle/a arm, installed the spring and jacked up under the a arm into the k member. This isn't the most ideal way of doing it but its all we had and it worked really well.

If I ever did it again I'd like to have the proper spring compressor.

 

The two-arm or outside compressor is good for strut assemblies, where the coil spring, strut, and mount are assembled in one unit.

A few weeks ago, I just had my car very close to where AUS-IROC had his. I was installing Moog IROC springs and we called around to find the internal spring compressor. Eventually we tried this and it happened to work. I put 2 25lb free weights in the battery box area, and I stood on the K-member and leaned over the strut tower (I'm about 155lbs). With the A-arm bolted to the K-member, my friend was able to jack the A-arm and spindle up far enough for me to start the top strut locknut. The car never left the jackstands.

 

Here is a picture.

 

Thanks for the picture. Ill have to try find someone who sells them this side of the pond.

 

You deserve some kind of prize for that - a case of beer anyway..lol

Seriously though, nice solution to that problem - not the easiest way to do it but most people can't fix things just using what's laying around the garage.

 

With the internal compressor, as shown above, you'll have much better luck also employing a four-inch pipe nipple to shorten the amount you have screw down.

JamesC

 

I used a BBC wrist pin instead of a pipe nipple but it has the same effect.

 

Loaner tool at advance or autozone.

 

Why didn't I see this thread yesterday? I spent forever trying to get the springs in. Went a rented the internal compressor. Then it took forever because the shaft was sticking out the end of the spring so it wouldn't go up in there all the way.

They should start including a piece of pipe or something with the compressor for just this situation.

 

Cheers mate. I was half joking when I suggested that method of installing the springs. After messing around for a couple of hours it was the only way we could do it.

I checked out the internal spring compressors on USA ebay and they are around $30 new. If I can't find one over here I may buy one from ebay and pay the $30 or more for shipping.

 

I called my local GM daler here in Norway, and apparantly what they used to do was just lower the whole control arm to get the spring out. Which is what they reccomended me to do aswell.

I wasnt able to locate any place that sold the compressor pictured further up, bu I did find out mercedes use a similar compressor, and that possibly one for mercedes could be used on our cars.




However, at the price they demanded for it, $1500 I won't hold my breath to check if it actually fits our springs. I'm going for the lowering of A-arm route.

EDIT: I later found a cheaper version for $300, but it's still too much when one dont even know it can be used. Besides, waiting a week to get it hardly makes it a decent deal.

 

Lowering the a-arm will work to remove the spring (make darn sure you use a chain to keep it from jumping out and breaking something on your person). I'd think that the spring would be more difficult on the install without a compressor.

JamesC

 

I've done it JamesC's method. I have yet to hold in my hands a spring compressor, yet i've done the fronts and rears on my car...
I just have the car up on stands, then jack up under the A-arm, remove the inner two pivot bolts, and lower the jack. Let the arm pivot down via the balljoint. Then pull the spring out and replace. It's slightly harder then how I just laid it out, but not by much...

 

Yeah, I struggled with the first spring for 2-3 days. Even bought another springcompressor I had to cut a little, but it still wouldnt out! I got so mad. I couldnt locate my unbrako to take off the caliper, so I had to do it that way. Finally it came. When I got to the other side, I found the unbrako, so then I just screwed out the 2 big bolts until the whole A-arm went BAM! into the floor! Lol.. not reccomended, forgot the jack :/ But it went fast.

But Holy Macaroni, thats some handling now! With the Pro-kit, bilstens, wonderbar, bushings, new 19x11,5, 295/35-19 rear wheels and 19x10, 275/30-19 fronts, it's a brand new car! No, better then a brand new car! Lol, it grabs turns like nothing I've experienced before. Yay!

Now just need to install the subframe connectors.

Didnt lower much though...

 

i use an internal spring compressor like shown above...but i chopped the threaded rod in half so it would fit in our car better. no need for the spacers then. for some reason after seeing high rate springs let loose i dont mess around with springs...lol. i use the compressor and chain the spring to the a arm...lol i hate doing fronts on the third gen.

 

I have never used one.

But I place the jack on the outside of the a arm by the ball joint which results in more leverage to compress the spring vs raising the car.

 

put a jack under the spring perch, jack up untill spring compresses, remove the a-arm to subframe bolts. Carefully lower jack. Then undo large nut on strut tower.
Remove spring.

Its that easy.

I used this method with my 2.8v6 so you shouldnt have any weigth issues.
If you dont have a motor well then it realy doesnt matter what springs you have cause you cant drive it anyways.