Shock and Strut Removal and Installation

[coachpete]

Good Morning,

I am going to try to change out all of the springs as awell as the shocks and struts on my 86 GT this weekend. i was wondering if there are any tips, tricks, possible procedures or even pics of this type of repair? Any help is greatly appreciated, I am trying to get my game plane together before I start the project tomorrow.

 

[impulse001]

I'd start by taking the wheels off

 

[ryan218]

I'd start by taking the wheels off

jack it up first

 

[Sicarius428]

Front-Jack the car up and support it by the frame. Take the wheel off and place the jack under the A arm and jack it up to compress the spring. Undo the strut and maybe secure the spring to the car with a chain or something. You may have to undo your steering from the spindle and slowly lower the A arm. DO NOT stand in front of the wheel well just incase it decides to let loose. Ideally you would have a spring compressor but this way works pretty well. Yank the spring out and reverse to install. Also be sure to put the pigtail(bottom of the spring) is in the same way it came out.
Rear- Jack up the car and support it by the frame. Let the axle hang and remove the shocks. You should be able to just yank the spring out at this point. The rubber insulator between the spring and lower control arm might get eaten so you may want to get some new ones. Also be sure to take note the position of the pigtail is.
Kevin

 

[MAC'n89Blckstng]

He's just replacing the struts, not the springs. No need to take the spring out for that.

 

[magnj]

Good Morning,
I am going to try to change out all of the springs as awell as the shocks and struts on my 86 GT this weekend. i was wondering if there are any tips, tricks, possible procedures or even pics of this type of repair? Any help is greatly appreciated, I am trying to get my game plane together before I start the project tomorrow.

He's just replacing the struts, not the springs. No need to take the spring out for that.

 

[GTOreturns]

http://mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/steedaspring1.htm
http://www.lx.net/jlynch/kbspring.htm
http://www.mustangevolution.com/articles/200716/
http://www.stangnet.com/tech/spring.html

 

[back2fox]

I just installed new springs and shocks on my '86 last month. I used this method from the site listed below. It seemed very safe without using a spring compressor. It took me all day, but it was well worth it.

http://www.mustangmotorsport.com/springs.html