This weekend i plan to swap a rear end from a 87 gta to my 86 iroc. My question is; when lowering the axle do i have to use a spring compressor to compress the spring and then drop out the axle or can i easily lower the axle without the springs flying out?
Thanks

 

Easiest thing to do is, put the car up on four jackstands. Put a jack under the rear axle, and jack it up just enough to disconnect the shocks. and disconnect the lower control arms( dont forget about the brake line though). Then simply lower the jack slowly and the springs will fall right out. Worked like a champ for me.

 

Except, you don't really have to disconnect the LCAs, just the shocks. The springs will fall out anyway.

 

so i dont have to worry about the springs flying out on me, all i have to do is put the jack under the axle, jack it up and slowly let the jack down? What about putting back on the springs?

 

Raise the rear far enough that you can set the springs in there and they won't fall out; then once they're sitting there right, jack the rear up far enough to put the shocks back on.

It's REALLY REALLY REALLY easy. I can change my springs out, by myself, laying on the driveway, in less than 10 minutes. And most of that, is spent in raising the car up and supporting the "frame" on jack stands.

 

Thanks

 

i'd leave the LCA's in place. This keeps the rear balanced so it doesn't go anywhere.
Remember, the rear springs are about 1/4 as strong as the fronts, so you're in no real danger.

Just make sure the car is high enough in the air, that you can lower the rear far enough to get the springs out. If you don't, you have to rejack up the car, and that's annoying. I think mine was near the highest notch on my jackstands.

 

You dont have to disconnect the LCAs to get the springs out but he said he was swapping rearends.