Easy way to remove front spring?

[94CobraPace]

Like the title says, what is the easy way to remove the front springs on a 69 Mach I?
No motor, front sheet metal on the car. Do I need a spring compressor, looks like I do. Any tricks for removal & installation?
Thanks for any info.

 

[Snail50]

if it's a stock spring, you'll likely need a spring compressor. you can get a cheap one from your local auto parts store; you don't need anything crazy. (about $9, I think) I got the kind that has two separate pieces that clamp onto opposite sides of the spring, then you tighten each side up a bit at a time until the spring has compressed to teh point where you can remove it. If you're putting in lowering springs, you probably won't need a compressor because those can be spun in and out by hand.

 

[Bdharn]

O' Rileys will rent you one for free. you just have to put up a deposit and they refund when you bring the compressor back. it's pretty easy with one of those. just jack up car take the shock out make sure car is all the way up with a arm totally extended. put the compressor in the spring (make sure you start off as high as you can get with the top clamp and the bottom as low as you can get.) you don't have to turn the bolt as much this way. spring just comes right out once it is compressed. and as stated in above post the 620 lowering coils go right in no compressor needed.

 

[hdgapeach]

If you are going to reuse the springs, use a spring compressor to get them out. The way I remove springs that aren't going to be reinstalled is heat them with a torch until they loose their spring tension, then cut them with the torch. They drop out in two pieces and since the temper has been removed with the heat, they don't jump out at you, they just plop out of their place

 

[reenmachine]

The spring compressor is the way to go. It's a little weird to be handling that amount of stored energy when it's compressed. Every time I feel like it's going to sproing back out and violently tear my nuts off or something, but I've done it dozens of times without incident, so I guess I'm just paranoid.

 

[John Z]

The internal sping compressor is better for classic mustangs. I "rented" one from AutoZone under their buy and return policy. Definitely you want to be really careful, you are storing a lot of energy with the springs compressed.
Put the car on jack stands, remove the shock, then jack up the lower control arm. Install and tighten the spring compressor. Lower the lower control arm. This way you minimize the amount of compression that you need to achieve with the compressor. HTH

 

[EL1NOR]

I hate springs and spring compressors. I worked with a mechanic that once used a Snap-On spring compressor and the damn thing broke while under tension and the spring broke his jaw. He had to have major surgery that Snap-On pretty much took care of (along with replacing the tool).

-Tim

 

[94CobraPace]

Thanks for the replys. I got one side out, doing one side at a time, with no problems. I have done this before, 5 years, and was trying to find a easy way to do this. When I work with springs, I always work on the side out of the way, I don't want a trip to the hospital from a spring. Better safe than sorry.

 

[allcarfan]

If you dont have a spring compressor and are REALLY deadset on not using one.....Chain the spring to the 'frame' of the car. Un bolt everything, drop the upper control arm....and that spring will come out and the chain will "catch" it. Thats whay I did on my 90 gt years and years ago before I knew what I was doing.

 

[reenmachine]

If you dont have a spring compressor and are REALLY deadset on not using one.....Chain the spring to the 'frame' of the car. Un bolt everything, drop the upper control arm....and that spring will come out and the chain will "catch" it. Thats whay I did on my 90 gt years and years ago before I knew what I was doing.

Now that's funny! Sounds just like something I would have done back in my high school days as well

 

[charlies]

If you dont have a spring compressor and are REALLY deadset on not using one.....Chain the spring to the 'frame' of the car. Un bolt everything, drop the upper control arm....and that spring will come out and the chain will "catch" it. Thats whay I did on my 90 gt years and years ago before I knew what I was doing.

that is insane.

the better totally redneck method is to jack up the car, lower the arms onto cinder blocks, unhook everthing then raise the car back up. they then drop out.

however, i would still chain the spring up.

also, without the engine in, you would have to weigh the frame down to properly compress the springs.

not for me though, i would just do it right and get the spring compressor (which, by the way, i do have, and do use)

i have heard stories of people losing their fingers while working on springs. (just rumors)

 

[94CobraPace]

If you dont have a spring compressor and are REALLY deadset on not using one.....Chain the spring to the 'frame' of the car. Un bolt everything, drop the upper control arm....and that spring will come out and the chain will "catch" it. Thats whay I did on my 90 gt years and years ago before I knew what I was doing.

Totally different front suspensions on the newer Mustangs. My 94 Cobra I can do very easy with out a spring compressor.