kmember and front suspension question

manicmechanic007 · May 21, 2022

The strut is the limiting factor (lowering the suspension down)
Then bang / knock the ball joint loose Lowers down another inch ( spring still will not come out )
Then install the spring compressor ( remove the sway bar end link in there somewhere when you want )
See if you can get the spring tool in there after that limp

manicmechanic007 · May 21, 2022

You only need to get one of those spring plates in there up at the top
Then put the other one under the lower arm ( that'll give you more room )
Good luck

Monkeybutt2000 · May 21, 2022

You're gonna wish you went tubular K and lowering springs after this fiasco.

Bullitt347 · May 21, 2022

Floor jack under control arm.
Front strut unbolted from spindle'
Lower control arm all the way.
Take a chain and loop it through the spring and control arm.
Get big prybar and pry spring out of lower control arm making sure you are not in the line of fire when the spring pops out.
Hopefully, the chain is big enough to keep the spring from shooting across the room.

Sounds unsafe, but I have it done it this way many times and yet I live...

Mustang5L5 · May 21, 2022

Sandbags are cheap. 2-3 50 pound sandbags on the k-member?

Know any fat friends? Lol

Rdub6 · May 21, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
Sandbags are cheap. 2-3 50 pound sandbags on the k-member?

Know any fat friends? Lol

Pizza and beer for the fat friends (while they sit on your k member) might be cheapest route! Lol

Monkeybutt2000 · May 21, 2022

Rdub6 said:
Pizza and beer for the fat friends (while they sit on your k member) might be cheapest route! Lol

If there's free pizza and beer I'm down for a road trip.

Rdub6 · May 21, 2022

Monkeybutt2000 said:
If there's free pizza and beer I'm down for a road trip.

Hmmm …… party at @limp We all sit on the front end eating pizza and drinking beer while he gets those springs out. I’m in.

Mustang5L5 · May 21, 2022

Rdub6 said:
(while they sit on your k member)

This is a family site dammit.

limp · May 21, 2022

Monkeybutt2000 said:
You're gonna wish you went tubular K and lowering springs after this fiasco.

Nah..

limp · May 21, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
Sandbags are cheap. 2-3 50 pound sandbags on the k-member?

Know any fat friends? Lol

I truly don't think 150 pds will make a huge difference.....
Whats the engine weigh, 400-500 pds?

limp · May 21, 2022

manicmechanic007 said:
You only need to get one of those spring plates in there up at the top
Then put the other one under the lower arm ( that'll give you more room )
Good luck

I like your idea, but I can't get even one in.... Wish I had video of me with a pry bar trying to pry it in...LOL monkee and a football......

limp · May 21, 2022

manicmechanic007 said:
The strut is the limiting factor (lowering the suspension down)
Then bang / knock the ball joint loose Lowers down another inch ( spring still will not come out )
Then install the spring compressor ( remove the sway bar end link in there somewhere when you want )
See if you can get the spring tool in there after that limp

PLease explain your theory again..... Undo the strut bolts THEN knock the ball joint loose??

Monkeybutt2000 · May 22, 2022

I'm pretty sure I documented on my build thread what a GIANT PITA this was when I did it. Getting the springs out was the easy part.

2000xp8 · May 22, 2022

If i remember correctly (and i may not), you can lower the strut from the top, but if you leave both strut bolts in the spindle as the arm swings downward the top of the strut goes into the fender.

I'm a little hesitant to give advice on how to get the spring out given that i don't know if there is truly a right way.
Have i done it? Yes, multiple times.
Does it worry me? Not really. I'm a believer that you just strap or chain the spring and then all urban myths about springs flying out and destroying cinder block walls can't come true.

I don't think anyone here wants to get anyone else hurt, but i'd also have to guess that many of you guys commenting would already have the springs out via some backyard mechanic method. I know i would.

To be clear. I've done front springs at least 20 times, engine, no engine etc.
Not once have i ever found a spring compressor to be useful.

Mustang5L5 · May 22, 2022

I’ve always found with stock springs, even if you let the control arm down all the way, you still need to push the control arm down further and pry the spring out. It never flies out but kinda just pops out of the perch and that’s it really.

Of course, the key is being able to control the descent of the arm with the Jack

limp · May 22, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
Of course, the key is being able to control the descent of the arm with the Jack

And without the weight of the engine/transmission in the car how to do this has taken on a new dimension of ideas..... LOL....
If i was younger I am sure I could round up a few people to stand on the K member.. My " older" friends, not so much....
A strap or chain around the bottom of the jack and around the K member while using the jack to " lower " the arm actually sounds like the best " backyard" plan yet, using a proper sized chain....
I am sure some on here think I am making a big deal out of this, but I just have not up with safe way of doing this.. At my age I got here because I have been " Lucky" not getting killed by doing dumb things in my youth... Now I try to find a safe route......

Here is what I have done....
Returning the ARES tool I purchased back to Amazon.... If I was younger I would keep it... Its a very nice product.....
I have ordered this OTC compressor ( in the pic ) that was recommended at foureyepride as it will work, and in the reviews of this tool a person said it was the ONLY tool that worked on his 89 mustang....... Gonna give it a whirl......
The " donuts" look a bit thinner and hopefully will fit between the coils..

Rdub6 · May 22, 2022

limp said:
And without the weight of the engine/transmission in the car how to do this has taken on a new dimension of ideas..... LOL....
If i was younger I am sure I could round up a few people to stand on the K member.. My " older" friends, not so much....
A strap or chain around the bottom of the jack and around the K member while using the jack to " lower " the arm actually sounds like the best " backyard" plan yet, using a proper sized chain....

Here is what I have done....
Returning the ARES tool I purchased back to Amazon.... If I was younger I would keep it... Its a very nice product.....
I have ordered this OTC compressor ( in the pic ) that was recommended from foureyepride as it will work, and in the reviews of this tool a person said it was the ONLY tool that worked on his 89 mustang....... Gonna give it a whirl......

I would still put a chain around the top of k member and a coil of the spring……. Just in case! I’ve become a lot more safety conscious as I’ve gotten older!

2000xp8 · May 22, 2022

To be clear, when i say chain or strap the spring, it's just to prevent it from potentially flying out. Not to hold any tension.
I also agree with mike, the spring even with the arm free hanging most likely will stay in place. If you tie a rope to it you can stand 20ft from the car and yank it out if you are concerned.
But with the arm hanging, most of the stored energy is gone anyway.

Mustang5L5 · May 22, 2022

I usually stand to the front of the car, put a wheel on the ground in front of me to protect my ankles, and use a 6-7 foot pole to pry the spring the rest of the way out. It usually pops, but never leaves the perch.

kmember and front suspension question

manicmechanic007

manicmechanic007

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

2000xp8

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

2000xp8

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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kmember and front suspension question

Mustang Master

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That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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Mustang Master

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

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