The suspension adventure...

[garion]

I finally ordered and received all my parts for rebuilding the front suspension. I have control arms with ball joints, new sport springs, and koni's.. I also ordered a spring compressor, and got that today.. The plan is to do the work over Thanksgiving weekend.. This weekend is the exhaust, replacing the center and rear mufflers.

My beginning question is with the compressor, what does the small metal piece do, in this picture?



I'm sure I'll have other questions.. I'll try to post pics as I go along.. Yes, 4uall, I know about your wonderful thread

[RMadden]

I haven't a clue, never seen it before on any spring compressor. If it came with one I would check the manual, but I can't imagine it would really do anything. Sometimes things get accidentally packaged with another item, this may have been the case.

[mpollock]

I used that same spring compressor to remove my springs and it worked great. One tip, though. The long screw hit the shock tower before I got the spring compressed enough to get it out. I solved the problem by putting a 6" length of 1/2" black gas pipe on the screw between the hex head and the claw. Worked like a charm.

[garion]

The odd thing is that the picture when I bought it also displays the piece. Its not mentioned anywhere in the instructions that I can see. Here's the link

I'll keep that pipe idea in mind.. The hardware store is a 5 minute walk from the house, so its not a big deal for me to go get one when I need it.

[81SPIDERMATT]

it is a gauge ... hold it up to the coil... if the coil does not fit in the space than it is to strong a spring for that tool or it may slip off of the spring

and mpollock's tip on the pipe is a great one

[garion]

So now I've started the suspension work.. Phase 1: Rears complete..

First, make sure I don't lose things down the the black hole....


Then do the passenger side, old removed:


And now installed:


The drivers side removed:


And installed!:


If you look closely at the installed pics, you'll see the place where I got the springs from I'm guessing that I have the springs the right way up, since I could read it.. The closer coils on top... I actually searched all over the web trying to figure out which way they are supposed to go.. Only after I installed the first one did I see the AR logo..

Now to eat a Thanksgiving dinner that can't be beat, rest, and attempt the front suspension.

[garion]

Quickie update... I moved the car to the middle of my garage, to prep the front suspension... It seems that my braking issue is *GONE*. It no longer pulls...

When i was pulling apart the driver's side rear, I noticed that the shock shifted as I taking weight off it.. It seems that the rear suspension was moving around under braking..

Anyways. Time to put the front into the air, and finish the switch...

[spider2081]

Additional thoughts on front suspension rebuild.
Get the front of the car high enough for the lower control arm to swing all the way down. Remove the sway bar so the arms are free to move. Loosen the swing bolt nuts for the lower control arm so it can move freely. The springs do not need much compressing if you swing the lower control arm all the way down.

[njoconnor]

Looking to do this early in the New Year. Did you use the alternate side jacking method referenced in other threads?

Also interested in your impressions of the spring change. I'm looking at the same set....and not just because they match the car!

Neil

[garion]

Well, I'm in the middle of doing it now.. I'm actually doing a combo.. I'm using the spring compressor, and then the side jacking.. Figure that might be safer?

It also might have causing my particular issue...


I wasn't able to get the spring out with the compressor on, so I removed it.. And proceeded to get stuck there.. OH COME ON.

[RoyBatty]

Is the lower A arm touching the ground?
If so, carefully jack the front of the car up higher.
Then carefully using a long pry bar, and keeping your body OUT OF THE WAY, pop the bottom of the spring out of the perch in the lower arm.

[garion]

No, the arm is not touching the ground.. I did finally get the spring out, safely, all fingers in one piece.. I used the compressor again, and got it small enough to pull out:



You notice that the arm stayed in place!

Turns out I had a ripped bushing, and it was keeping the arm in place:



And finally, got it all out! Now to install this first side.. (yes, I'm 'live foruming this )

[vandor]

You should be able to install the front lowering springs without using the compressor.

[garion]

Now you tell me... I just fought for 2 hours with that compressor to get the spring compressed enough to get it back in... WTF am I doing wrong?

I'm following the mirafiori instructions here: http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/sp ... l_Arms.htm

Now that i re-read it, I placed the spring on the lower arm, and rotated it up.. Maybe thats what I did wrong. I'll try it the other way tomorrow with the drivers side.. In any case, obligatory pic:



Still need to finish that side up, with the konis and the rest, but that should go pretty easy..

[garion]

Oh, and I did double check my cross member and other areas.. It all looks clean, no cracks or rust..