When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I need some advice for the indexing of the lowering springs in the tubular a arm spring pockets. I don't know if I should just leave them where they are at, or just index the spring counter-clockwise so that the spring coil sits in the bottom of the spring perch. I don't necessarily like looking at the spring sitting outside of the spring perch. The indexing tab on the a arm won't work for these springs as the coil is hitting it as shown in the picture. I have tried everything to get the springs to go into the indexing tabs on the a arms. Any thoughts?
You need to get them indexed. I had the same issue until I used a prybar to twist and they popped in. Use a floor jack under the A arm and slowly work it in.
You need to get them indexed. I had the same issue until I used a prybar to twist and they popped in. Use a floor jack under the A arm and slowly work it in.
I have tried. I can't get it to budge anymore. I even rented a spring compressor and still won't turn. I think it is hitting the indexing tab.
Can't be scared to chip some paint. Springs won't slide in on their own. You'll need to jack up the a-arm a bit and then persuade the spring to fall in the pocket using a heavy dead blow hammer, or the backside of a crow bar. Don't use the front side of crowbar or the spring might drag it down with it and re-arrange your arms and face or dent the fender.
Can't be scared to chip some paint. Springs won't slide in on their own. You'll need to jack up the a-arm a bit and then persuade the spring to fall in the pocket using a heavy dead blow hammer, or the backside of a crow bar. Don't use the front side of crowbar or the spring might drag it down with it and re-arrange your arms and face or dent the fender.
Oh trust me, I haven't been scared to mess up the paint. Like I said, I have tried everything. I just think since it's not the stock spring, it doesn't fit correctly in these a arms. I had 0 problems with the stock a arms and these springs. I think even if I get it indexed properly, with the suspension unloaded, the springs still won't sit in the lowest part of the spring perch.
Those UMI A arms are terrible trying to get a spring in and a PITA to work with, you need the OTC 7045B spring compressor. Once you get the spring compressed it needs to go farther back in the spring pocket and then everything will line up right and will go against the index tab correctly. Once the spring is compressed you'll need to put a jack under the a arm and remove the pivot bolts and lower the a arm down a bit and then you can rotate and set the spring in correctly.
I just went through this when I pulled my old 15 yr old springs and put in a set of UMI lowering springs
Those UMI A arms are terrible trying to get a spring in and a PITA to work with, you need the OTC 7045B spring compressor. Once you get the spring compressed it needs to go farther back in the spring pocket and then everything will line up right and will go against the index tab correctly. Once the spring is compressed you'll need to put a jack under the a arm and remove the pivot bolts and lower the a arm down a bit and then you can rotate and set the spring in correctly.
I just went through this when I pulled my old 15 yr old springs and put in a set of UMI lowering springs
I had initially tried that, but the spring kept popping out. I'm going to use some big zip ties to hold it together like the picture and see what it does. It definitely seems that every person that uses the umi a arms complain about the spring install.
