Ahh!!! My new coil spring just tried to KILL me!!

[chillware]

Let me start of by saying spring compressors SUCK!!!

Talk about almost having a heart attack!! I was compressing the coil spring on my bench and BOOOM the whole thing came flying apart with sparks flying and all. The coil spring flew half way across my bench and the compressor out the other end w/ my impact wrench. I just about crapped myself, LOL! Luckily I didn't get hurt, only a minor nick on my pinky finger.

So now that I just burned up one of my 9 lives, let me ask, what is a good way to install my new drop springs in to my (almost) rolling chassis that has no weight on it?

I recently got a set of new 2" drop coils from ECE, and they are big block springs so they are even more stiff. I went out and rented two different spring compressor tools, one from Kragen and one from Autozone.

Just from looking at them I could tell neither one of the would work. They are the internal hook type but the screw rod seems waaay too long, the rod would be clearly sticking far out the top of the spring when its compressed and wouldn't be able to seat in the upper bucket. And the hooks don't fit well around the coils, hence why it blew up on me..

Do they make these things with shorter screw rods? Also it impossible to fit the hooks in between the coils to get them out once the spring would be installed, nor do they fit through the hole in the lower control arm either. ugh! (It's a tubular lower arm from Performance Online)

I'm at a loss on how to compress these damn springs and get them installed...

Help?!?!

Thanks!!

[terd ferguson]

If jack up the frme just behind the front wheel and allow the control arm to fully droop, you may be able to squeeze the spring in there without a spring compressor. Spring compressors are definately dangerous, be careful. Good luck.

[Hottrucks]

Ummm...BEER.....

get the springs n tell your buddies to come over and have a beer then when they sit on the frame rail slap the ball joint in.......

Yea it's a PIA now have mommy kiss that pink finger pull yourself up by the boot strap and dive back in!!! .........Just be safe!!....LOL I think we have all played with a Boobie trap or 2

[63deluxfleet]

haha niiiice what dont kill ya only makes u broker...

[Corts60]

That's happened to me and my father before too. He was also compressing a spring an a macpherson strut and it blew apart and sent the spring clear accross the shop and shattered a customer's back window. OUCH!

I would do as mentioned above and jack the frame up to allow full swing. When I installed the springs in my Nova I couldn't use compressors because the front spring sits inside the frame so I had to put the spring up in the frame and get one bottom edge into the A-arm and then jack up the A-arm to meet the ball joint. Dangerous as hell, but I worked slow and careful.

Good luck!

[Boomerswany]

Glad you're OK... I'd have to agree with ^^^^^^^ I've done many static lifts and drops, and spring compressors are those with mad skills and big balls! Shouldn't have to work that hard..

Hope it works out - if not, keep cutting coils til it slides in...(kidding)

[markeb01]

I agree as recommended above, but I would also wrap either a chain or length of wire rope through the lower control arm and spring. I normally use chain if it will fit through the coils. If they are too close together, a piece of wire rope will work just as well. Just buy a few feet at the local hardware store and attach it to itself with an equally cheap wire rope u-clamp.

[terd ferguson]

Originally Posted by Corts60

That's happened to me and my father before too. He was also compressing a spring an a macpherson strut and it blew apart and sent the spring clear accross the shop and shattered a customer's back window. OUCH!

I would do as mentioned above and jack the frame up to allow full swing. When I installed the springs in my Nova I couldn't use compressors because the front spring sits inside the frame so I had to put the spring up in the frame and get one bottom edge into the A-arm and then jack up the A-arm to meet the ball joint. Dangerous as hell, but I worked slow and careful.

Good luck!

Instead of wrestling with the ball joints in these old trucks, it may be easier to undo the Ubolts that hold the lower control arm to the frame. That's the way I got the stockers out in mine. I jacked up the front end right behind the front tire like I mentioned above. This allows the control arms to fully droop taking a lot of energy out of the spring. Then I put a floor jack under the control arm right under the spring. Raise it just enough to touch the control arm. I then removed the Ubolts holding the lower control arm (shaft and all) to the frame. Next, lower the floor jack VERY SLOWLY to release the rest of the energy stored in the spring. The spring should fall right out.

Be VERY CAREFUL with this last step. As you already found out, kinetic energy is a beast and there is a lot stored in a compressed spring. Once you have shorter (cut springs or lowering springs) springs installed, you should probably be able to remove them just by jacking the truck up as mentioned above letting the control arms fully droop. The spring should then be loose in between the control arms.

There is one other issue with using the method I'm describing. When re-installing shorter springs with the truck jacked up and control arms fully drooped, the springs will be loose. You have to hold them in place somehow so they will seat correctly on the top and bottom while lowering the truck at the same time. If you just lower the truck with the springs loose in there, they may (probably will) seat crooked. I used a trusted friend to lower the truck while I made sure the spring seated correctly. This is also VERY DANGEROUS. Use proper safety precautions. Two floor jacks can help out a lot when doing this and take away some of the danger/pucker factor.


***EDITED TO ADD***
I should've added that I used heavy duty jack stands whenever jacking up the truck. Safety first.

[Dadsredwagon]

follow Terd answer above was way easy, but On my Jeep I used a strut compressor that goes on the outside of the spring good luck

[terd ferguson]

Originally Posted by Dadsredwagon

follow Terd answer above was way easy, but On my Jeep I used a strut compressor that goes on the outside of the spring good luck

The problem with that is that there's just not much room in between the control arms to get a conventional type spring compressor on the front springs. I heard the horror stories with old ball joints not coming out with pickle forks, heating, etc.. I took a long hard look and figured removing the ubolts on the lower control arm would be waaay easier. And it was. I definately recommend this method unless you need to replace your ball joints too.

[MXmaniac]

I agree with terd's method. When I assembled my front suspension I didn't have the spring seated on top, just like terd said might happen. So I unbolted the u-bolts on the control arm shaft, with a jack under the control arm, then lowered it and got the spring where I needed it.

[BR3W CITY]

if you have a heavy ratchet strap around, you can wrap it around the spring. take up the slack as you crank on that spring comp. It helps with the "oh sh!t" factor alot, and helps to steady the spring if your tool is having problems gripping it.

[bluesfella]

I've done this several times, but I've always been paranoid about it. I used a chain threaded through the spring and a-arms. Keep it loose enough to work, but with only enough room to still keep the spring in there if something breaks loose.

Like Terd says, jack stand under the frame, and a jack under the a-arm.

For an extra layer of protection, I also used a home-made spring compressor. I took a thick length of all-thread, and stuck it down through both a-arms and the spring. I took a 1/4" thick piece of steel, drilled a hole big enough to fit over the bottom end of the all-thread, and put two grade 8 nuts on to hold it in place. Then I did the same on the top side. Then, you crank down on the nuts (the 2nd nut on each side is there just for insurance) to compress the spring. It all happens very SLOWLY, but that's what you want with these things. Compress it enough to un-bolt the a-arm bolts, then alternate between un-cranking the compressor bolts and letting the jack out a little.

I can do this all by myself, and it's quite safe. Here's a crappy drawing to illustrate it. Pay no attention to the fact that the all-thread isn't a straight line!



The drawing doesn't show the length of chain I threaded through for extra security. This way it's three times as safe as those crappy little spring compressors you can rent from tool stores!

But, I think this only works on vehicles that have the shocks inside the springs (like my '55 Chevy car). I actually haven't gotten to the spring on my truck yet, that will happen in a few weeks...

[chris91]

When you use the allthread method be sure to use 2 grade 8 washers like he said. I tried something similar with just a single washer, and the spring caused the nut to pull through. The 1/4 inch plate is also a great idea.

[chillware]

Sweet, I built my own compressor and it's 10x better than the rental ones. I went to Lowes and for less than $25 I got pretty much what you guys have suggested. A 12in length of 5/8in All Thread, a 12in x 4in x 1/4in steel plate and some grade 8 nuts and washers.

I cut the All Thread down to 10in and the steel plate in half, put a 5/8in hole in each half.

Lubed up the All Thread and man that thing compresses fast and easy, no way for the plates to slip off the coils. I think I need to market this thing, it works soo much better than the hook type.

Thanks!