Front spring swap question

[walls]

When swapping front coil springs on a 66, do I need a special tool to drive out the lower ball stud? That's how it reads in the manual.
Couldn't I remove the 2 brackets from the opposite side of the lower control arm? or isn't there enough play to get the spring out that way?

[rideblue00]

There is a tool for that. Some guys just hammer it out. I made my own tool. I also recommend a spring compressor. Those springs are under alot of pressure. You can unbolt the control arm at the frame side. But the spring may not be able to come out, not sure. The special tool is threaded so you can wedge the studs apart. it may work for the upper and lower. It may be availible to rent at the major chain auto parts stores.

[old cruiser]

Place a jack under A arm with a little clearance , loosen nut on on ball joint but only unwind it a few turns this doing this give you some insurance that nothing will fly out and take your head off. Then you give spindle a few good whacks with a reasonably heavy hammer right where the ball joint stud goes through the spindle. You'll hear it release then remove nut and then slowly let the jack down and spring wil now be able to be removed.
1 more thing I nearly forgot before you let down jack tie up the top A arme so that it doesn't drop and stretch or rip you rubber brake line.
I've done heaps of cars this way with this style suspension and never had a problem. good luck

[brokenspoke]

Originally Posted by old cruiser

Place a jack under A arm with a little clearance , loosen nut on on ball joint but only unwind it a few turns this doing this give you some insurance that nothing will fly out and take your head off. Then you give spindle a few good whacks with a reasonably heavy hammer right where the ball joint stud goes through the spindle. You'll hear it release then remove nut and then slowly let the jack down and spring wil now be able to be removed.
1 more thing I nearly forgot before you let down jack tie up the top A arme so that it doesn't drop and stretch or rip you rubber brake line.
I've done heaps of cars this way with this style suspension and never had a problem. good luck

I second this, the only thing I do differently is I use a long drift pin and hammer the ball joint down from the top, I also place a block under upper the A frame, to keep it raised.....

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by old cruiser

Place a jack under A arm with a little clearance , loosen nut on on ball joint but only unwind it a few turns this doing this give you some insurance that nothing will fly out and take your head off. Then you give spindle a few good whacks with a reasonably heavy hammer right where the ball joint stud goes through the spindle. You'll hear it release then remove nut and then slowly let the jack down and spring wil now be able to be removed.
1 more thing I nearly forgot before you let down jack tie up the top A arme so that it doesn't drop and stretch or rip you rubber brake line.
I've done heaps of cars this way with this style suspension and never had a problem. good luck

I've done this on every front end like this I've done. Works great, and with the jack underneath and the ball joint nut still threaded on the spring won't go anywhere. Just let the jack down slowly and you'll be fine.

[protrash64]

I support all the comments about hammering the balljoint boss on the spindle. Ive done this on three trucks with out issue. Just support the lower a-arm and dont completely remove the castle nuts from the balljoints. After lowering the a-arm the spring will have very little pressure and may need to be pried out.