Rear spring retainer position

[wpavlis]

Does this look correct? The FSM says to have the end of the spring inside the notch, but it keeps shifting into this position when I tighten the bolt down. I suspect it's ok.

Bottom mount to control arm:



Top mount to frame:


Thanks!

[wpavlis]

Anyone?

[zicc1835]

Ive done these a few times and the same thing happens havent lost one yet

[notsolo]

Yes That's about as good as it gets. Capture as much of the spring as you can on both top and bottom.

[Gromit]

The repair manual does call for installing both upper and lower bolts and spring retainers loosely first, and torqueing the upper nut first; so it looks like that is what you correctly did.

I've only done this install once but I did notice how the springs want to move relative to the lower spring retainer when raising the control arm - in my opinion this is hard to avoid because the arm hits the spring at such an angle.

If yours are new springs maybe it would be worse at first and once the spring has settled a bit after driving 10K or I would raise the vehicle and slightly loosen the lower clamp and see if I could pry the spring further beneath the lower spring clamp - but I agree the way you have it doesn't look unsafe.

One suggestion would be to put a vacuum cap filled with anti-seize or a vinyl cap over the exposed threads so the bolts will be easier to remove next time.

My lower (exposed potion of) spring clamp bolts were trimmed shorter for air bags so I just used nylon nuts and thread sealant for this.

[bigmac73]

I had the same issue a month or so ago, and no one seemed to concerned on here. My repair manual said get the spring ends into the locking tabs/grooves, but they would not engage, so I fit the cups into the springs in the best natural way to get the most surface area engaged. I figure I when I can get it back on the road I will drive it and do a torque after that to double check the have not slipped or moved.