Front Spring Compressor
+4
thatfnthing
brownbomber77
bracketchev1221
1973 454 MONTE
8 posters
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Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:26 am
Got started on the suspension updates yesterday morning and got everything apart after a small fire and a bruise or two. Started getting things put back on and found that I did not have the Outer tie rod ends and adjusters. Had to go pick them up. Also found out that the spring compressors I had would not work for the front.
Made a trip all the way back town and picked some up. Got all the way back and found out that they gave me the wrong ones again. Anyone have pics of front spring compressors? I have lost the thread where we went over some of this before. What were the tricks for getting the front springs back in? These springs are quite a bit taller than the ones that were removed. I hope that this is a good sign that the front end will not be too low.
Hope to finish tonight. All tips and pics are appreciated.
Made a trip all the way back town and picked some up. Got all the way back and found out that they gave me the wrong ones again. Anyone have pics of front spring compressors? I have lost the thread where we went over some of this before. What were the tricks for getting the front springs back in? These springs are quite a bit taller than the ones that were removed. I hope that this is a good sign that the front end will not be too low.
Hope to finish tonight. All tips and pics are appreciated.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:36 am
New springs are always taller than the old ones (unless they are lowering springs) I have my compresser right here but have no way to post pics right now because i'm at work.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by Brainstain Sat Oct 19, 2013 9:12 am
Are you installing the lowering springs you mentioned in the other thread?
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:13 pm
I think he was putting stock springs with drop spindles on the front and lowering springs on the rear if i remember correctly.Brainstain wrote:Are you installing the lowering springs you mentioned in the other thread?
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Sat Oct 19, 2013 1:27 pm
Rears are 1 inch drop. front are stock with 2 inch drop spindle.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:19 pm
Took three hours to get the passenger front spring in. My uncle almost broke one of his fingers by forgetting to put impact in reverse when trying to decompress the spring. I hope to get it back on its own wheels after church tomorrow. Wish me luck and better yet say a prayer!
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:38 am
three hours...well now you know how to do it, the second should not take more than 1 1/2 hours. Good luck.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by thatfnthing Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:50 pm
The second one always goes faster! Good luck!
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:40 pm
Front suspension done!!! The two inch drop with HD springs ended up being more like 1/2 to 1 inch lift! She's riding a little higher in the front than I wanted for sure. I wonder if it will settle any at all?
Anyway it handles better than I could have expected. Corners like a dream! No more bouncing for an eighth mile after a small bump. The back end doesn't sink on take launch like it fell into a hole. Just got get that stance a little more where I want it. Pics hopefully to come tomorrow.
Anyway it handles better than I could have expected. Corners like a dream! No more bouncing for an eighth mile after a small bump. The back end doesn't sink on take launch like it fell into a hole. Just got get that stance a little more where I want it. Pics hopefully to come tomorrow.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:52 pm
The springs will settle and drop a little. Don't do anything for at least a month. We cut the "to high" new springs on my buddys '80 trans am and within a month it was borderline to low.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by bracketchev1221 Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:18 pm
I forget, did you change any of the control arm bushings? If you did, make sure you set the car on the ground before tightening any of them.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:27 pm
This is a very good point. Sway bar bushings can also do this, act like a torsion bar and hold the car up if tightened with the suspension hanging.bracketchev1221 wrote:I forget, did you change any of the control arm bushings? If you did, make sure you set the car on the ground before tightening any of them.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:27 am
I bought the control arm bushings but did not change them as I do not have a press and we were pressed for time Plus they looked really good except one which wasn't really bad. Here is what we did change.
Sway bar bushings and end links.
Inner/Outer tie rod ends and adjusters.
Centerlink
Idler arm
2 inch drop spindle
Shocks
Springs
I think that was is, but it seemed like a lot more. I hope it comes down some in the front. I just can't believe it is sitting as high as it is with a 2 inch drop spindle. My uncle thinks they gave me BB springs. I have no idea!
Please drop a little more in the front car!!!
Sway bar bushings and end links.
Inner/Outer tie rod ends and adjusters.
Centerlink
Idler arm
2 inch drop spindle
Shocks
Springs
I think that was is, but it seemed like a lot more. I hope it comes down some in the front. I just can't believe it is sitting as high as it is with a 2 inch drop spindle. My uncle thinks they gave me BB springs. I have no idea!
Please drop a little more in the front car!!!
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:41 am
Did you tighten the sway bar bushings with the front end hanging? If you did loosen them set the car on the ground and tighten them with the weight on the suspension, and see if it drops any.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:50 am
I will try that. I did tighten them with it hanging. You are talking about the end links right?
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Mon Oct 21, 2013 9:07 am
The frame bushings, the links probably would not do it.,
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by Brainstain Mon Oct 21, 2013 10:12 am
I bought a 76 Laguna with BB springs in it last summer . It had an SBC in it and looked like it had no engine at all and rode like an empty dump truck. With what you said about the springs being taller than factory, I would call and see if they can provide a part number or something.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by Joe73 Mon Oct 21, 2013 11:22 am
I wouldnt be too concerned with free standing height. You need to look at the Moog chart and look at spring rates, free height and installed height to make a comparison and correct choice for you application.
www.moogproblemsolver.com/moog/.../MOOG_Coil_Springs_Spec.pdf
For instance. I have a 73 SS with 350, no p/s, no a/c and battery in trunk. I've always ran BB springs in the car. My BB springs I just took out are Moogs (dont recall the number) and they were for a BB with a/c and heavy duty. They currently stand 17 inches tall on the ground. I thought they rode nice and firm. My new set of springs I have are Moog 8002 which are for a 350, heavy duty, no a/c. I just took them out of the box and they stand 16 inches tall.
www.moogproblemsolver.com/moog/.../MOOG_Coil_Springs_Spec.pdf
For instance. I have a 73 SS with 350, no p/s, no a/c and battery in trunk. I've always ran BB springs in the car. My BB springs I just took out are Moogs (dont recall the number) and they were for a BB with a/c and heavy duty. They currently stand 17 inches tall on the ground. I thought they rode nice and firm. My new set of springs I have are Moog 8002 which are for a 350, heavy duty, no a/c. I just took them out of the box and they stand 16 inches tall.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Mon Oct 21, 2013 1:12 pm
These are the bushings you are referring to dynchel?
Not the bushings I used in the pic!
Not the bushings I used in the pic!
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:40 am
Would that hold it at an awkward angle?
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by dynchel Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:43 am
It could hold the car up kind of the same way a torsion bar holds up a front end.
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Re: Front Spring Compressor
by driveit Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:50 am
It's raining today, but when it clears up I will loosen it a bit on both side and see what happens. I think you said it did not have to come all the way off. Is that right?
I have a feeling it is just the springs though. We had to compress them all the way until almost no gap between the coils to just get them in. I did measure them before they went in. The old ones had about 1 whole coil broke off.
I have a feeling it is just the springs though. We had to compress them all the way until almost no gap between the coils to just get them in. I did measure them before they went in. The old ones had about 1 whole coil broke off.
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