ctgreddy

well you see i was trying to put my new control arms on and got to the point where i have to put the spings in. So I cant figure out how to compress them enough. The guy at autozone told me I cant use the compressor that straps on the outside because it wont hold it well enough(which i think is ridiculous) and the type that goes in the middle dosent work cause i cant get the tools out of the spring after its compressed in the control arm. So how do you guys do it? im guessing i have to use the kind that goes on the outside of the coil, and if so ill go kick the teeth out of the guy at auto zone for not letting me use it. Thanks for any help and this whole control arm thing is really pissing me off. i just want it to be done.

silver91gt

try compressing them and holding it compressed with some metal wire, and then after it is in, cut the wire.

ctgreddy

that just sounds like its not gonna work.
with the compressor i got, we had it compressed and it stripped the threads off the bolt and shot the bolt and spring off.
so i dont want to try and use wire unless its like an inch thick and you need superman to bend it.

Maxwelhse

I know this sounds like a ton of work, but it really isn't...

1.) Leave the strut connected
2.) Place floor jack under A-arm
3.) Remove the two bolts that hold the A-arm on
4.) Lower jack
5.) Put spring on A-arm, uncompressed
6.) Use jack to compress spring and re-position A-arm
7.) Put the bolts back in.

Done... No compressor required, and its the only way that worked on my car. The entire process takes about 30-45 minutes a side. It's not nearly as bad as it sounds.

91stanger

On foxbodys, most of the time you put the front end on jack stands, then jack up the A arm until the strut starts to compress, this should be neutral for the strut, disconnect the two bottom bolts on the strut and slowly lower the jack, the spring should uncompress safely as you lower the jack. Installation of the spring is reverse, put the spring in , jack up the arm, and connect the strut. This is what I did when I put Lakewood 90-10 struts in my 91 gt. I know though there are some changes through the years, so best bet is a ford owners manual. Good Luck!