Front Suspension

[73stinger]

i got two questions.
first, what kind of spring compressor is the easiest to use of a 73 corvette.
My coil springs were put in wrong and the car sits too high. If i readjust the springs so they sit right will i need a new wheel alinement?

thanks alot

 

[SG4206]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to tackle a job that you may not have any experience with. This job can put the hurt on you if you're not carefull.
I know auto parts stores rent compressors ; but I personally do not like to use them. A floor jack under the lower a-arm can control the release and insertion of the spring. You have to have the front end up high enough to allow enough travel of the lower A-arm after separating the top ball joint.
I think you 'll find you need to change the spring with one that has a lower static height ; or cut coils off the existing spring until the ride height you want is reached. This possibly means assembly and dis-assembly a couple of times.
Yes , the front end will need aligned again.

 

[Chuck-75]

Im 1/2 way through the Ft. rebuild of my 75, I have the car on jack stands and after removing the shocks and spindels,and with a jack under the lower A arms (and lowering the jack slowly), the springs were lose enough to come out with no problems..I have aftermarket 550Lbs new springs and they are shorter and Ive read other posts about this. and hope i dont runinto height problems?, but it will be anoughter month before I find out about this...

and yes you always have to do a realignment. go to a good shop that knows Vettes and they had better know that they have to do the Ft. then the rear then the Ft. again to get it just right... (well that was what I was told how to do it correctly?). good luck.

 

[GTR1999]

You can also make a compressor from threaded rod and a plate. Got the idea from the other forum so I can't take credit for it. It works well. Use acme threaded rod though instead of the "all thread" the acme thread is the type used on the sissor jacks and support the load better then the 60* v thread of the all thread rod. The rod fits up into the upper shock mount hole through the spring and the plate can be used under the lower arm or through the spring. Weld a nut to the top of the rod and use it to compress the spring. Just a thought.

I have an internal compressor and couldn't get it to work safely for me.

 

[TWINRAY]

Without using a spring compressor and just using a floor jack, I've found the easiest way to insert the new spring as follows:

1. put the top of the spring into the tower
2. put the bottom of the spring into the lower control arm but not into the recess where it will eventially end up - it will be close to the lower ball joint
3. jack the LCA just enough so the spring stays in place without you having to hold it
4. VERY IMPORTANT - the spring has to be put in correctly in order that the top begining of the coil and the bottom beginning of the coil end up being positioned correctly in the recessed portion of the shock tower & on the LCA - position the spring correctly before you start pumping on the floor jack
5. I then wrap a steel cable (I happen to have one about 3/8" thick between the coil and around the LCA so if the spring goes flying, it won't do damage
6. Start pumping the jack. The spring may start slipping out under the pressure and you will probably have to position it a couple/few times. Once you realize how far you can go before it slips out again, insert a crowbar (or similar device) so that you can push the bottom of the spring into position on the LCA.

I've found this easier than starting the spring on the LCA and trying to get it into the shock tower. It can also be done that way with a crowbar trying to pop the spring into the shock tower. I've seem to have better luck starting the spring on the LCA.

Just a side note. Careful when trying to get the spring out. Once when I thought all tension was off the spring and the jack was completly lowered, I tugged on the spring and found out it still had some life in it. It wacked me in the elbow and fortunitely, didn't do any damage. Springs are always a fun job:bang