how to compress drop springs??? Need help badly.

[riz]

I have McGaughy drop springs and I can't get them compressed enough to install into my POL tubular lower control arms.... I tried using a compressor with the pickle fork looking part but it won't fit fully into the dropped tighter coils....so it won't align in the middle of the coil.......... is there a different type of compressor? I'm thinking of making my own somehow but not sure how.


The reason I need to get these in ASAP is that I need to get the truck as a roller so I can get it out of the garage by June 9th for my daughter's grad party..... I really need to get these installed fast.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[bilfman]

Have you tried using the weight of the vehicle? That was an old school technique, hyper extend the suspension, stuff the spring in place and slowly use the weight of the vehicle to compress it enough to assemble everything.

[riz]

its just a bare frame right now so I'm sure that's part of the problem......not sure how to compress it enough to try that???

[bdiamond]

Use a ratchet strap or two and do it the way bilfman was talking.

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by riz

I have McGaughy drop springs and I can't get them compressed enough to install into my POL tubular lower control arms.... I tried using a compressor with the pickle fork looking part but it won't fit fully into the dropped tighter coils....so it won't align in the middle of the coil.......... is there a different type of compressor? I'm thinking of making my own somehow but not sure how.


The reason I need to get these in ASAP is that I need to get the truck as a roller so I can get it out of the garage by June 9th for my daughter's grad party..... I really need to get these installed fast.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

This was the battle I had, especially using stock height springs. None of those type of spring compressors would work. I finally found one that did work, but it isn't cheap! But it worked perfectly. I'd lend you mine but you're about 1500 miles away.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Palf70Step]

I used my 10-ton press. Large plate, then compressed them...held them together with ratchet straps. until the spindles/ball-joints were secured.

[Tom]

I always just pushed down on the a-arm while pushing in the spring. Using a lowered spring it shouldn't be a problem at all.

[wahl4m]

sometimes a chain can be attached to a floor jack -under the lower "a" frame & looped up over the upper "a " frame ?or hook the chain somewhere on the frame & that will hole the vehicle -while you jack the lower arm up?? watch for flying parts if something comes loose ?? its should be relative easy ?? good luck !

[truckin 79]

Use a standard coil spring compressor but take one of the ends off. Feed the threaded end through the shock tower upper mount and other end with fingers to spring. Of course you would use a bolt with some washers on shock mounted side. Slowly tighten bolt and compress spring, it worked for a guy who was working with on a Trans AM

[truckin 79]

Opps I just forgot a TA and truck shocks mount different

[calvin78612]

Worked fine for me

[riz]

I'm trying to compress the drop spring so I can install it.

[calvin78612]

That's what the Jack does

[calvin78612]

This is with no weight on wheels. Disconnect lower ball joint, set spring in pocket. Use strap setup and jack to compress spring.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by riz

I'm trying to compress the drop spring so I can install it.

That's the confusing part. Every drop spring on multiple trucks that I've installed were shorter then oem and so didn't need any compression to be installed. You literally push down on lower a arm slightly and set spring in.

[riz]

I keep hearing that but the springs still won't go in as I do just that. They keep sliding out of the lower control arm pockets.