Mine have to come out this weekend for my LCA work.

I have read a lot about getting them back in sucking a lot.

I was thinking of putting the compressor on the spring BEFORE I even undo the a-arm so that it stays the same exact size when I take it out.
So in theory it should go back in nicely.

Add that to the chain and it should be completely safe too as it won't try to jump out.

any input to my "theory" ?
Any reasons NOT to try it this way?

Thanks.

 

The only way to actually compress the spring is to go from the bottom of the A-arm and suck the spring down onto the A-arm. So no, that idea won't work because the compressor will be holding the spring to the A-arm that you are swapping out.

 

Should work with an internal-type compressor. Make sure you use a pipe nipple (the one in the pic is 5 1/2") to take up the slack.

JamesC

 

Done it myself several times. A stack of heavy duty washers can take the place of the nipple to take up slack in the compressor so the end doesn't try to poke thru the top perch.

 

Cool - I am not actually replacing the a-arm just bushings so I don't mind if I am compressing the spring TO the a-arm

 

I've never used a spring compressor on my car... just used the jack below a-arm / jack stand below the k-member method. I lower the jack slower till all the pressure is off the spring and the wiggle it out. Just requires the right combination of finesse and caution.

 

Getting it out doesn't seem to be the "fun"tho, it's getting it back in.

So what did you do?
Just pry it in and it was short enough to fit anyway?

 

Getting it in is the harder part for sure. I had to hold the spring to make sure it was both in the groove in the control arm and in the correct position in the K-member and work the jack to press the control up to hold the spring....all at the same time. Probably not the best way to do it, and using the compressor may be easier, but it is possible lol

 

You can borrow the compressor from Autozone, O'reillys or one of the others. Install the compressor with the suspension loaded, compress the spring a little then slowly lower the a-arm-making sure the compressor holds the spring tightly. Should pop right back in easily.

I've done the a-arm-jack thing and wouldn't recommend that pita to anyone, no offense.

 

No offense taken. I was just in a hurry the first time I did it and didn't have time to drive to town and get it. I don't plan on having the control arm off for a while, but next time I do, I'm getting the compressor.

 

Cool - that is exactly what I was planning to do, thanks

 

This is how I do it every time... It's a breeze! The only time it's difficult is when I have the engine out, so there's NO weight in there. Gotta get some fat friends to sit on the k-member to help me compress the spring.
I use moog 5664 springs (STIFF) and it works fine with a 350 in the bay.

I think 'safety' is a bit of coddling for this job. Gasp, there, I said it! lynch me now! I mean, I wear goggles and earplugs with my angle grinder and all that, but I don't use any chain for this.

The spring "pocket" in the k-member (car side) is VERY deep. When the spring has some force on it, it's stuck in that pocket. It's not going ANYWHERE. Once it actually can get out, you've already released all the compression from it, and it's got nothing left. I don't really think this is a very dangerous job, unless your floor jack slips out from under the a-arm while jacking it, but that's dangerous no matter what... ie. car falling on you...

 

I am glad I m putting the old springs back in, should make it even easier as they are softened from years of use

As for safety I think an internal compressor AND a chain on the spring should make this as safe as it will ever get LOL
I am not taking any chances with springs!!!

By having it partially compressed to go back in means less work for the jack too, and less chance of slipping (and it should be on stands anyway so it should only drop maybe an inch if it does slip out)

 

I have learned the hard way too many times that you might as well GET THE RIGHT TOOLS - and especially as u can rent most for free I think it is foolish not to (for a job u have never done before at least, like this one for me).

30 mins or whatever going to Autozone for a tool beats 2,3,4 hrs trying to macgyver it which is always gonna be less safe too.

Although I have to respect the pics on here with the piece of wood mounted from the car frame to the ceiling to hold the car down, that is awesome LMAO

 

Where do u place the jack stand on the k-member?
Do u use three stands or just not have one behind the oppostite front wheel?

 

I didn't mean K-member. Well, I meant it, but I wasn't thinking right. I use the jack points under the car. The beefy part of the front sub frame.

 

cool, threw me off for a second then LOL

Also wondering if there are any tips for what to use to support the a-arm "fingers" while pressing the bushings in and out?
I have seen blocks of metal slid in there but I don't really have the luxury of being able to cut a piece to fit.
Anyone find anything that just happened to fit?

 

Since there are no shops in Belgium that rent such tools, I have to do it this way. But it's not going smoothly at all.
Problem is that when I'm jacking the LCA up it is very difficult to just get it into place so the bolts can be installed. It always slips just a little bit to the right or left and at that point the tension is to hard to correct it.
Any tips ?

 

If you have the bolts out of the arm and are trying to install the bolts with the spring compressed, you might want to take out the spring, install the bolts in the arm (with the nuts on, but not torqued down all the way), and then install the spring and jack it into place, and then tighten the bolts to the correct torque.

 

in regards to safety which i believe is important in this case, renting a spring compressor that is in good shape is always good. Using your dad's from harbor frieght may not be so good as I had it break before I even relieved the pressure off the a-arm(I'm greatful it happened then rather than later). Even so that built up pressure managed to mar the end of my 1/2" drive ratchet in the asphalt and left me with a sore palm for a few days and I didn't even hit anything with my hand. Just a word of caution. These things deserve respect.

 

Hey 91_5.7_TPI, thanks for the tip. In the meantime I managed to install them with 2 jacks for better handling. But your way should word fine too.
As mentioned here by many, safety is of great imprtance so I installed a metal pry bar through the spring and LCA so that it could not go anywhere.
And offcourse the concrete has been tested too