Will a coil spring compressor get the springs off of my 89, or do I have to unbolt the lower a-arm and all that?
Best way to install springs
- Thread starter KENS89LX
- Start date
troyGT03
New Member
i have never used a spring compressor and have done spring jobs on probably 30 fox cars or better. jack up the front end high enough to let the lower a-arm fully travel down with the strut and brake caliper unbolted. then pry down on the a -arm to pry the front spring out. i usually use a strap to limit the spring from going anywhere just for safety. there is a small amount of tension but not alot. the rears can be done by unbolting the lower control arm and quad shock. i have been lazy and done a spring change by only unbolting the quad shock and prying the rear spring out.
You don't really *need* a spring compressor to swap the front springs, although it might make things a little easier during the reassembly process.
You will have to unbolt the steering knuckle and strut with a jack under the A-arm to get it to swing down (SLOWLY) far enough to get the spring out. Do a quick search for "springs" in the Tech forum and there's several good write-ups with pics on how to go about it all.
You will have to unbolt the steering knuckle and strut with a jack under the A-arm to get it to swing down (SLOWLY) far enough to get the spring out. Do a quick search for "springs" in the Tech forum and there's several good write-ups with pics on how to go about it all.
One note I can think of if it applies: Troy's method won't work decently with vert springs. It works very well on SN95's however.
DW's method works and is how I do them (even fox III vert springs). It's uber quick too. You MUST have a nice jack with a huge saddle pad.
However, I no longer recommend this method as too many folks have struggled with it. The OTC compressor is the way to do it.
Good luck.
DW's method works and is how I do them (even fox III vert springs). It's uber quick too. You MUST have a nice jack with a huge saddle pad.
However, I no longer recommend this method as too many folks have struggled with it. The OTC compressor is the way to do it.
Good luck.
Shakerhood
20+ Year Stangneter 
Do you actually want to know how to really do it? All those other guys are doing it wrong.
First....
Get any kind of spring compressor and compress the spring
Second
Take hose clamps(10 per spring) and put them on the spring and tighten
Third
Take off spring compressor
Fourth
Put spring in A-arm
Fifth
Install strut and cut off hose clamps
BEST ****ING WAY EVER! Its so easy a cave man could do it. Dont piss around with the other ways. And yes your thinking omg that will break. No it won't trust me! I've done it over 15 times that way and it just works so god damn smooth its un****ingbelievable!! If you decide to do it this way. I will be expecting a thank you afterwards!
First....
Get any kind of spring compressor and compress the spring
Second
Take hose clamps(10 per spring) and put them on the spring and tighten
Third
Take off spring compressor
Fourth
Put spring in A-arm
Fifth
Install strut and cut off hose clamps
BEST ****ING WAY EVER! Its so easy a cave man could do it. Dont piss around with the other ways. And yes your thinking omg that will break. No it won't trust me! I've done it over 15 times that way and it just works so god damn smooth its un****ingbelievable!! If you decide to do it this way. I will be expecting a thank you afterwards!
1991vert
10 Year Member
i used this site...basically the same concept and it worked fine.
http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/steedaspring1.htm
http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/steedaspring1.htm
O.k just went out today to change the springs and I did'nt get to far. I got the first one out but can't get the "b" spring back in I've pryed with everything I have but not enough! I tried to get the top in last is that the way or do I do top then bottom. I am going to see of Autozone has the spring compressor would"nt that be easier? I quit today on it a couple smashed fingers is enough! Hey 91foxsaleenGTLX what size clamps should I use with the compressor?
YOu must have left the LCA bolts in the K-member.
If so, that method all but requires a spring compressor. The articles like mentioned above need a BIG WARNING that they are for 94+ cars. I use that same method on my 94 and it works fine. If I tried it on the 88 GT vert, the spring would laugh at me. The spring really either needs to be compressed or the pivot point needs to be the strut (undoing the LCA to K member bolts instead).
MHO.
Good luck.
If so, that method all but requires a spring compressor. The articles like mentioned above need a BIG WARNING that they are for 94+ cars. I use that same method on my 94 and it works fine. If I tried it on the 88 GT vert, the spring would laugh at me. The spring really either needs to be compressed or the pivot point needs to be the strut (undoing the LCA to K member bolts instead).
MHO.
Good luck.
I went to Autozone and rented a compressor but it still does'nt want to cooperate, I'm sure if the one he gave me is for mustang but I compressed it alot and I can't get it to seat in the bottom. Starting to get frustrated......
No its an inner one, it has two hooks, the rod and a fork shaped piece for the other end of the spring. Anyway I got the spring in lasr night I had a time getting the hook part out of the spring finally I had to squeeze it between the coils...This will be the last springs I will ever do!! After getting it out I seen that the bottom of the spring was out of the pocket on the lower a-arm by 1/8 of an inch I tried to get it to fall in there but no luck this evening I am going to try get it by releasing some of the pressure with the jack and try to get it that way, I do not want the spring to come back out, if I can help it.
I have used the same compressor you did. In my case (OEM vert springs) I had to unbolt the butterfly hooks, insert them where I needed them, and thread the rod. I also had to use a shim on the base of the threaded rod or it bottomed out into the frame before compressing the spring.
With your plan for rotating the springs, unless they are real shorties, I dont think you will have much luck. FWIW, you want the end of the pigtail indexed between the two holes in the LCA's spring pocket.
Good luck.
With your plan for rotating the springs, unless they are real shorties, I dont think you will have much luck. FWIW, you want the end of the pigtail indexed between the two holes in the LCA's spring pocket.
Good luck.
Shakerhood
20+ Year Stangneter
I like to stick a piece of threaded rod up through the Last Hole in my Lower A Arms, so that the Pigtail comes in contact with it and when I pull it out the Pigtail ends up right between the 2 holes.
Finally! They are both in...now tell me the back ones are "alot" easier. Thanks for all you guys help!
The back ones are about twice as hard as the fronts.
Ha. The only issue with the rears is getting the old ones out. Even so, rear vert springs came out with nothing more than unbolting the anti-sway bar, vertical shock and quad shock. If you dont already have some, consider getting new rear spring isolators now. The rear ones (esp the bottom) seem to get chewed up pretty good.
The rears really are easy. Good luck.
Ha. The only issue with the rears is getting the old ones out. Even so, rear vert springs came out with nothing more than unbolting the anti-sway bar, vertical shock and quad shock. If you dont already have some, consider getting new rear spring isolators now. The rear ones (esp the bottom) seem to get chewed up pretty good.
The rears really are easy. Good luck.
Good for you.
And yes...the rear ones are much easier.
I also just installed new LCA and struts on my 92 and it was a bear also.
I used the 34.00 spring compressor that compresses the spring from the outside.
If I ever have to do this again I'll definitely use the compressor and the clamps like mentioned above.
Just wish I would have know this before I started my project.
Blown331LX
Member
Man I feel your pain on those front springs. Ive been a Ford tech for years and doing front springs on the ground blows big time. Mine were twice as difficult as yours cause I had no motor or tranny in mine to provide upper weight to compress the spring against the jack. Id jack up the control arm and the whole car would just go up, it ****ing pissed me off so bad . Anyway AutoZone can get you Energy Suspension Brand isolators which are the best and only cost about $30. Other sources are on ebay but then youll have to ship and it ends up being more. But yes rear springs are like a blind folded walk in the park compared to front.
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