removing springs

[Not Happy Jan]

Is it possible to remove the springs from a front end that is off the car. 

[Rusty_T]

 

You can take them out, however you must be very careful as they are still under load. You can use a spring compressing tool as well. I did it with the ute front end, carefully, and it worked, no damage to the front or me.

Rusty

[CraigA]

Go to Bunnings and buy some threaded rod, some nuts and big washers.

Pull the shock out and put the rod in it's place, tighten it up so it holds the spring tension. Remove upper and lower stub axle/king pin assy bolts and then back off the nuts on your threaded rod.

Safe easy and cheap - and is a good way to put them back in.

[jack_fc]

Great idea, Craig!

(miles ahead of my bush mechanics dumb fishermans idea of using rope...  )

[Not Happy Jan]

thanks ill give it a try

[mcl1959]

This is agricultural but it does work quite well and is quite safe. However it does need two people.
Place the front end about 500 mm from a wooden fence so that you can place an approx 3m long piece of framing timber below the bottom rail of the fence and above the shocker top bolt in a lever fashion. You will find that you can easily compress the spring this way. Hold the spring compressed and have a friend undo the top bolt. Then slowly let the timber up and the spring will expand.

Ken

[mickusmickus]

I will 100% vouch for the threaded rod method.  I spent the best part of 2 days using a set of spring compressors to get my springs out, had about 20 slip offs and almost lost an eye, finger and every other body part that was within 5 meters of the bloody thing.

After going through that ordeal I was about to go to a suspension shop to get them to put it all back together but decided to throw a post up on this forum first.  Threaded rod was recommended, gave it a crack, had it all back together in about 20 minutes.

Cheapest and easiest solution EVER!  "Where there is a Willy, There is a way!"

MICK

[57effie]

blessed are those that are born with a willy   

threaded rod or long 5/8 bots are the only way to go. I've had the same experience as Mick

[FCRB26]

or if you are going to use lowered springs gently pursade the old ones out with an oxy torch...