remember the guy...

I don't understand why anyone needs to compress the springs to begin with.
I've put in each kind of spring, using the method of removing the inner a arm bolts and outer tie rods, then inserting the spring and jack it up. Drag springs were certainly more trouble than lowering springs, but it still worked.

BTW, i know people that have used zip ties to hold the spring compressed, it worked, but yet another risky idea.

2000xp8 said:

I don't understand why anyone needs to compress the springs to begin with.
I've put in each kind of spring, using the method of removing the inner a arm bolts and outer tie rods, then inserting the spring and jack it up. Drag springs were certainly more trouble than lowering springs, but it still worked.

BTW, i know people that have used zip ties to hold the spring compressed, it worked, but yet another risky idea.

Click to expand...

Holy Crap,
I've had zip-ties fail while wrapping up some loose wires...

Why would anyone even consider that


Using a jack is the 'old school' way of removing/installing springs.
I'll admit, I've done it...
Not a good idea though.

Using a jack still leaves the spring 'uncontrolled' in the event something goes wrong.
Jacks can fail.
True, it doesn't happen often. But it does happen. If it happens to you, do you want to have a deadly spring pop loose at the same time?

IMHO unbolting the control arm at the frame is probably the safest method. Your suspension is in full droop and you should be on the outside of teh hub with many things that would get in the way of a flying spring. When done right you also use a chain so even if the jack does fail you have a safegaurd. With power tools this is by far the quickest method I have found. By the way the person who taught me this method has built many a suspension for the silver state challenge.

edit: Just expressing my opinion which seems to be opposite of yours, so if you would please tell me why I am wrong that would be greatly appreciated.

Camman said:

edit: Just expressing my opinion which seems to be opposite of yours, so if you would please tell me why I am wrong that would be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

You asked, so I'll give my opinion...
(actually on this subject, I would have given my opinion if you had asked or not )
This stuff is just WAY too important not to discuss it...

Camman said:

IMHO unbolting the control arm at the frame is probably the safest method. Your suspension is in full droop and you should be on the outside of teh hub with many things that would get in the way of a flying spring. When done right you also use a chain so even if the jack does fail you have a safegaurd. With power tools this is by far the quickest method I have found. By the way the person who taught me this method has built many a suspension for the silver state challenge.

Click to expand...

The problem I have with this method is that it does not control the enrgy source... it just minimizes the risk of injury. There is still a large amount of energy stored in the springs, and still potential for things to go wrong.

The best way to do this is to lock the spring energy out, by using the proper tools...
The proper tool will create a self contained energy system, which is very unlikely to cause injury or damage in the event of something else going wrong.


I've been part of a couple of 'Accident Investigations' through work.
One thing I have noticed during these exercises is there is seldom ONE thing that went wrong. Most often there are 2-3 things (at least) that contributed to the accident or near miss.
The most recent near miss at my work location was created when 3 things went wrong.

An example may be...
Using a jack to lower the upper control arm, while using a set of hose clamps to compress the spring.
If the hose clamps and jack maintain their functionality, then most likely all will end well.

However, Murphys Law....
The jack can fail.
The hose clamps can fail.
The jack can get caught on debris on the floor, causing un-even unloading of the control arm.
The jack may not be set properly to maintain position, and start dropping over time.
... the list goes on.


You shouldn't be looking at a situation thinking
"I know what will happen" because unexpected things can, and do happen...
You should be looking at a situation thinking
"What could go wrong? And what would the consequences be?"


This is a HOBBY for just about everyone on this forum.
This is something we do for fun, because we enjoy it for one reason or another.
No one should be injured during their hobby... just like no one should have to get injured performing their job.


Wow... that turned out to be longwinded
Sorry to keep ranting on you guys, but thaks for listening and considering what I'm trying to say,
jason

riceslayer302 said:

i'm gonna try it with the compressors later this week and i will post how it goes haha

Click to expand...

Please do let us know


I wish you luck,

I did the front springs in my '93 with the tools you say "didnt work" they do, they just suck. (Took me 2 days). However there is a spring compresser that is like a bottle jack but compresses itself rather than lengthen. It is hydraulic. You stick it up the middle of the spring slide in a couple shims, compress 'er and in she goes! The local shop told me about this handy device. (After I was done.) Apparently you can rent them for the price of a couple hose clamps... I mean relatively inexpensively. And not have to risk your butt. The choice is yours.

vristang said:

The problem I have with this method is that it does not control the enrgy source... it just minimizes the risk of injury. jason

Click to expand...

Very true, thank you for explaining your stance. Kind of related: My suspension and brakes teacher in college had a broken spring compressor(clamshell type) hanging on his wall as a reminder to always check your tools before using them. He crushed a finger when it let go, and he always said he was blessed only to crush a finger.

Yay for the OP opting to use the correct tools for the other side. good luck, and even though it may take you longer at least you have miniscule risk of losing body parts.

http://www.handsontools.com/store-p...Spring-Compressor_1973.html?iorb=4764&cid=roi
I bought this one along with the other ones that didn't work. I tried the jack method and after my floor jack tipped over and let the spring out i said f that and bought the real one. Still a pita but I got it done for less than my insurance deductible

Sweet. I did mine on the hoist with a floor jack. Got the car up. Set in the spring, then jack the LCA up until I could set the spindle on and bolt the strut up through the tower.

My friend got hit in the chest with a Mustang spring. It was a hell of a nice bruise.

To the original poster....

riceslayer302 said:

who said that you could use hose clamps to keep your coil springs compressed while you fit them? well he was right, i just did it on my eibach pro springs and it worked great.

Click to expand...

Yes i do remember, it was me. Your welcome. I've used that method a ton of times now, it works unbelievably awesome. I put 8-10 hose clamps on per spring and install, bolted up the strut and cut the hose clamps. You spend like 5 bucks,simple. Regardless if it isn't the "safest" or "proper" way. It works awesome EVERYTIME, long as your not an idiot and put on 3 clamps. I don't care what others say, because i've tired every spring compressor i could come up with and NONE of them worked. Then this idea came along and it worked awesome. I recomend it to anyone who wants to make their life of installing springs a 100% times easier!

Suggested it to this guy...
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=718241


Then this guys trys it as well, BOOM he loves it too!!
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=719262&highlight=hose+clamps+spring

I like this quote ha...."Yeah,I was more afraid of the compressor studs breaking rather than the clamps.After using this,I can assure you,the hose clamps were no where's near to breaking.They wern't even that tight"




No offense to the "stang2birds" guy, which i believe is even a suspension expert or something(Atleast coming from what he claims). I know that some guys brother or uncle or friends brother used the proper spring compressor and got it installed in less than 5 minutes, thats how the story always goes. But more often then not, all those pain in the butt spring comperessors take FOREVER to use and cost some $$ to borrow or buy. You can spend countless hours screwing with those and still be in the same place as you started. I mean why even bother when you can just get 8-10 hose clamps for a few bucks and be done with it.

You can preach any method you want, more power to you. But this is BY FAR the easiest and BEST method.

All I can say is WOW

No sense of self preservation...

Still, I wish you the best of luck, as you are obviously now stuck in your ways. I can't see how anyone would make the comments you just have after reading the rest of this thread though...

In 20yrs, I hope you are still alive to be posting here.

AAAAHHHHH!!!!!

I can't just walk away from this stupidity.

The problem is more people are doing something stupid, and endangering thier lives to save a couple of minutes of time.


If you don't die in the first round of Russian Roulette, does that make the game safe?



Here's one more thing that could happen....
If one (that's right just ONE) hose clamp fails the load it was holding will distribute to the rest of the clamps. The load transfer will not be gradual though... it will be very abrupt, with a considerable load spike on each clamp.
You've now DRAMATICALLY increased the load on each clamp, and greatly increased the chances of more clamps failing.
If another clamp fails during this peak load spike, YOU ARE F'D!!!


If that doesn't make a point then consider that the only argument about the 'safety' of hose clamps from this 1SickFox @$$clown is...

1SickFox said:

But this is BY FAR the easiest and BEST method.

Click to expand...

Ask yourself this guys...
How much liability is this guy going to assume if things should go wrong?
As I asked before,
Will he pay to repair damages to your car?
Will he pay your medical bills?
Will he pay your funeral bills?
Will he help your kids pay for college when the life insurance doesn't pay (due to stupidity being the cause of death)?

No, this weasely little prick will do none of those things. He has nothing to lose by recommending dangerous methods.


I really can't stand this crap... Irresponsible little child

Why bother even using jack stands???

You could save yourself another 5 minutes by just working under the car with only the jack on the middle of the k-member!

5 minutes is worth it, right?

I once changed a set using the twist ties from loafs of wonder bread. Took me weeks to save up enough to make it work.
Makes the pipe clamp method seem expensive.

vristang said:

AAAAHHHHH!!!!!

I can't just walk away from this stupidity.

The problem is more people are doing something stupid, and endangering thier lives to save a couple of minutes of time.

Springs Kill People!!!​

If you don't die in the first round of Russian Roulette, does that make the game safe?



Here's one more thing that could happen....
If one (that's right just ONE) hose clamp fails the load it was holding will distribute to the rest of the clamps. The load transfer will not be gradual though... it will be very abrupt, with a considerable load spike on each clamp.
You've now DRAMATICALLY increased the load on each clamp, and greatly increased the chances of more clamps failing.
If another clamp fails during this peak load spike, YOU ARE F'D!!!


If that doesn't make a point then consider that the only argument about the 'safety' of hose clamps from this 1SickFox @$$clown is...



Ask yourself this guys...
How much liability is this guy going to assume if things should go wrong?
As I asked before,
Will he pay to repair damages to your car?
Will he pay your medical bills?
Will he pay your funeral bills?
Will he help your kids pay for college when the life insurance doesn't pay (due to stupidity being the cause of death)?

No, this weasely little prick will do none of those things. He has nothing to lose by recommending dangerous methods.


I really can't stand this crap... Irresponsible little child

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View attachment 311610

riceslayer302 said:

well i finished the drivers side today, i used the hose clamp method, worked great, went great. thanks to all you guys filling me with fear, i was dripping sweat i was so nervous. every time i cut a clamp the spring made a scary clunking noise. but, it worked...

I ADMIT, IT IS NOT SAFE.

Im going to try the passenger side this weekend the safe way and we'll see how frustrated i can get haha.

Click to expand...

The people on here "filling you with fear" are probably the same people who have never used the method. They get all worried about a clamp breaking and you dieing when you probably got a better chance of getting killed by a flying cat. But hey, they can preach whatever they want. I just tell people what works, and it works flawless i might add!

I am at a loss for words right now....

You admit it isn't safe.
Will you admit that people have already died from messing with suspension coils?

I don't understand your reasoning....

1SickFox said:

The people on here "filling you with fear" are probably the same people who have never used the method. They get all worried about a clamp breaking and you dieing when you probably got a better chance of getting killed by a flying cat. But hey, they can preach whatever they want. I just tell people what works, and it works flawless i might add!

Click to expand...

Filling people with fear????

You're right, I'm sure it's better to go through life a stupid retard, never thinking about what the consequences of your actions may be...




Step up and be accountable for the social irresponsibility you are displaying.
This is some of the most retarded crap I have seen on the interweb for a while...