Coil spring removal (in deep doo doo)

LynnBob Mustang · 11-02-2009, 09:48 PM

Well, I was trying to get my coil springs off and I ran into a big problem now.

First and foremost my car has no engine or tyranny in the car so there is no weight up front what so ever.

Here is what happened.
I removed the out shock towers, pain the butt, but no biggie.
I had my wheels off, jack stands under the frame rails, and I had a jack under the LCA supporting it.
I took and went to remove the lower shock bolts by first removing the one towards me first. I then went to remove the back one and it is a pain in the butt to get to.

I almost had the bolt all the way off when the tension of the coil suddenly pushed the shock up taking up the 1/2"-3/4" space of the shock bolt and making a loud bang by the partially decompressing the spring and moving both control arms down, scaring the crap out of me in the process.

Now is the problem, I still gotta get that last bolt off the lower shock. Since there is no weight to give the suspension any resistance I can't take and jack the LCA up so it will recompress the spring so I can get that last bolt off. When I jack up the LCA the whole damn car lifts up and the control arms won't move.

Now what???

How do I get the damn spring off now?

I think alot of the tension is off the spring now when comperd to the other, but I don't trust it so I chained it to the tower.

I'm thinking I may be able to keep the jack under LCA and remove the rear bolt of the LCA and drop it, thus re leaving the pressure off the whole dang thing.
Any ideas? I need help..

Lynn

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rmodel65 · 11-02-2009, 09:55 PM

are you gonna replace the springs?? do you have a cutting torch? id cut them off:P

i cut mine of with the plasma cutter, if you leave the shock in place and cut it up its not gonna fly out of there

2+2GT · 11-02-2009, 10:01 PM

Get some fat friends to sit on the rad support, and place an oak board between the upper arm and the frame.

LynnBob Mustang · 11-02-2009, 10:17 PM

What would happen if I did unbolt the rear LCA?
Will that all the everything to drop and releave the pressure of the spring?

LynnBob Mustang · 11-02-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmodel65

are you gonna replace the springs?? do you have a cutting torch? id cut them off:P

i cut mine of with the plasma cutter, if you leave the shock in place and cut it up its not gonna fly out of there

No, I'm not saving them.
What happened when you cut them, did the coil parts suddenly drop together when it suddenly decompressed?

Lynn

rmodel65 · 11-02-2009, 10:21 PM

it expanded and took all the pressure off of them then i unbolted the shocks....

dodgestang · 11-02-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynnBob Mustang

What would happen if I did unbolt the rear LCA?
Will that all the everything to drop and releave the pressure of the spring?

No it wouldn't. However since you still have the shocks in place, bolt the caps back on, un-bolt the upper arm, get your longest crow bar hook it into the upper arm and yank (and run). This will get the upper arm out and relieve the pressure. The shock will keep the spring from killing you (if you are lucky like I was when I took out my old uppers and springs without a compressor). The silver lining is if you are putting in drop springs like everyone seems to like you can put them in without a spring compressor.

noroof66 · 11-02-2009, 10:34 PM

Either cut, or get a spring compressor.

EZFEED · 11-02-2009, 11:46 PM

Why didn't you use a spring compressor for this?....free from AutoZone....?????

4reboy · 11-02-2009, 11:59 PM

I think I understand your problem, i would just use the spring compresser, it should lift up the spring and you can then get to the bolt and hopefully still be able to pull the shock out.