Need help removing springs.....first time doing it

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coreyhayman

New Member

Dec 7, 2004

55

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Bolton,Ontario

Aug 2, 2005

#1

• Aug 2, 2005

• #1

hey i wanna remove the springs in my 88 lx so i can install my eibach sportlines, iv never done this before but was told by friends its fairly simple, and i know some of you's can do it in under an hr.......anyways can you please direct me in the right direction, something with pictures and good explainations as to what im doing would be preffered.....im 20 and wanna learn more of the mechanicals of my car and build most of it myself, thanks

 

cobradvm

New Member

Sep 2, 2003

245

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Woodinville, WA

Aug 2, 2005

#2

• Aug 2, 2005

• #2

Well, if you have air tools and have done this a bunch of times, you probably could knock it out in an hour. It took me a lot longer.
Put the whole car up on jack stands with the rear axle not supported by the jack stands.
Remove the rear sway bar.
On one side, loosen the lower control arm to axle bolt, and then jack it up a little with the jack under the control arm to allow you to remove the bolt. Then slowly lower the control arm with the jack. The spring will decompress and fall out. Replace with the new spring, jack it up, and here's the hard part - get the bolt back in.
For the front, remove the front sway bar and put the jacks closer to the middle of the K member so you aren't supporting the car near the A arms. Remove the 2 nuts on the A arm to K member bolts
Place the floor jack on the A arm between the two bolts that attach the A arm to the K member. jack it up until one loosens - usually the back one, and then use a bottle jack and a pry bar to jiggle the front one out.
Once both are out, lower the jack and the spring will decompress vertically completely.
Swing the a arm backwards and the spring will fall out.
Replace with the new one, just do the reverse to install.
The front method is written up by MFE on corral but that is the jist of it.

Good luck - I just did my springs struts and shocks (do not lower your car without new struts and shocks) and rear LCAs and UCAs

 

DTT92LX

New Member

Oct 28, 2003

185

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Downingtown, PA

Aug 2, 2005

#3

• Aug 2, 2005

• #3

Nothing technical to add here except after all my research about spring changes I have to say:

BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING SPRINGS. THEY CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY.

cobradvm, good feedback but I just think a good warning should always be included in spring removal/install instructions.

 

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harley02

New Member

Aug 29, 2004

110

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Tarpon Springs, FL

Aug 2, 2005

#4

• Aug 2, 2005

• #4

It's fairly straightforward. You can do the A arm thing described above or do it the other way by knocking out the tie rod end from the front suspension. On my 95 I couldn't get them to just drop out. The rears were easy tho. As for the fronts I just let the front suspension hang as far as it could and then used a motorcycle tie down to starp the spring to the frame. I then grabbed a large pry bar,,stood to the side and popped her out.

 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

Aug 2, 2005

#5

• Aug 2, 2005

• #5

Ditto here. My front spring broke the spring compressor when I was taking it off and took a chunk out of the garage wall. Luckily, I heard the tick tick tick creeeeak noise and got the damn hell out of the way. I've seen these things fly 10 feet or more if suddenly released......they weigh 50 pounds......thats a lot of force if you are standing in the way.

Your best bet is to overextend the suspension so the springs fall out and not use compressors at all.

 

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bcd

New Member

Jun 23, 2005

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arab al

Aug 2, 2005

#6

• Aug 2, 2005

• #6

you shouldn't need compressers with sportlines. I put FRPP c springs on mine last night no compressor needed. On the front just take the end links, tie rods, and brake hoses loose. then put a jack under the a arm and lift it up pretty good. next take the shock loose. now all you gotta do is lower the a arm slowly. reverse process to install

 

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Rosa

New Member

Jul 12, 2005

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SoCal

Aug 2, 2005

#7

• Aug 2, 2005

• #7

Very Dangerous

Trying to install the springs yourself is very dangerous. Even more so if you have never done it before. We always recommend you take it to a shop/mechanic who have experience installing springs. ALWAYS use the proper spring compressor, those springs carry a lot of energy that can be released at any moment. Please stay out of the way!!!!

 

RsStanG1987

I shaved all my pubes playing this game.

10 Year Member

Mar 13, 2004

569

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Dupont PA

Aug 2, 2005

#8

• Aug 2, 2005

• #8

Go to autozone and rent the ford spring compressor for the front. When i helped my friend do his rears, we diddnt have to unbolt anything except for the shocks and pryed them out.. BE VERY CAREFUL prying the springs... I belive somebody from this website got killed a year ago doing springs. Take your time and do it right.

 

C

coreyhayman

New Member

Dec 7, 2004

55

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Bolton,Ontario

Aug 2, 2005

#9

• Aug 2, 2005

• #9

Anywhere On The Net With A Step By Step Sort Of Deal With Pictures?, Would Be Greatly Appreciated

 

tunedin302

I AM the law!!!

Jul 29, 2004

1,251

2

36

Pennsylvania

Aug 2, 2005

#10

• Aug 2, 2005

• #10

Here's a site, it' okay:
http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/spring1.htm

As for the rear, you don't need to take off or unbolt the lower control arms. Just unbolt the sway bar off the lower control arms, unbolt the lower portion of the shock, with a jack under the differential, let it come down, then push down on the tire and there will be easily enough room to pop the spring out. The rears are super quick to change. Good luck.

 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

Aug 2, 2005

#11

• Aug 2, 2005

• #11

The lower bolt is most likely seized beyond all comprehension since it is a loadbearing item. Unbolt the upper shock bolt. It will put up much less fight since it doesnt see much load to squeeze the threads together.

 

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Boostin

New Member

Jul 8, 2004

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Aug 2, 2005

#12

• Aug 2, 2005

• #12

Here you go http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=559130 there is a write up on there. Mine came out pretty easy without using a compressor.

 

5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"

Founding Member

Aug 7, 2002

9,516

6

99

Arkansas

Aug 2, 2005

#13

• Aug 2, 2005

• #13

We just kicked out the springs once we dropped the axle a bit and on the front once we pushed down on the control arm. We kept our foot in front of it in case it came loose.

We put in Steeda springs on a 2000 GT on Friday for the first time in one hour and 25 minutes. Easy stuff!

 

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coreyhayman

New Member

Dec 7, 2004

55

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0

Bolton,Ontario

Aug 2, 2005

#14

• Aug 2, 2005

• #14

ya iv got 9 cans worth of wd-40 and an impact wrench,gun and chizzel

 

cobradvm

New Member

Sep 2, 2003

245

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Woodinville, WA

Aug 2, 2005

#15

• Aug 2, 2005

• #15

Boostin said:

Here you go http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=559130 there is a write up on there. Mine came out pretty easy without using a compressor.

Click to expand...

That is the MFE article that I used - very good write up with no prying out of springs and hoping they don't come flying out!

Take your time and you will be fine. I also bust a couple of breaker bars getting the A arm bolts to break lose - the torque setting on those bad boys is 140-200 ft/lbs!

But as noted above, springs can be lethal so be careful!

Howard

 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter

Oct 28, 2004

3,356

207

114

Ohio

Aug 2, 2005

#16

• Aug 2, 2005

• #16

Rosa said:

Trying to install the springs yourself is very dangerous. Even more so if you have never done it before. We always recommend you take it to a shop/mechanic who have experience installing springs. ALWAYS use the proper spring compressor, those springs carry a lot of energy that can be released at any moment. Please stay out of the way!!!!

Click to expand...

The correct Spring Compressor is expensive, but well worth it as it was much easier to do my fronts!