Ok, Here's the next question, related to use of the coil spring compressor I borrowed from the local auto parts store.

How do I get the compressor down through the top hole in the shock tower? See attached picture.
I can get the bottom of the tool and one set of hooks down into the inside of the spring with some maneuvering, but the other set of hooks will not fit through the top hole. If I reverse the orientation of the top hooks, I can fit them down into the inside of the spring, but then I can't open them to attach to the coil spring. Surely, this is something simple, that I just can't figure out.
The shop manual and Haynes manual show a Ford tool with an adapter plate that mounts to the outside of the shock tower. Any ideas on where to find this adapter plate or the Ford compressor tool?

As always, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hap





[IMG]local://upfiles/32612/418E3D70CD5A4DDCAD4EE0B4854B8B23.jpg[/IMG]

 

Great post Hap!

Picture speaks a thousand words.

The spring compressor is in upside down. What you want to do is remove the jack screw (threaded rod portion). Place the threaded jaws about a coil up from the bottom, Place the unthreaded jaw as close to the top coil as possible. Slide the jackscrew through the top jaw, and thread it into the bottom jaw. Screw it in until things are taught. Then check to make sure everything is as straight and level as possible. Stand around to the front of the vehicle, and tighten down the spring compressor. I use a little synthetic HP grease on the jack screw threads and head, and also on the washers.
Before touching the spring once compressed, give the spring a good whack with the butt end of a hammer handle, Just to make sure it's not going to "pop" out of the spring compressor. Also, handle the spring with the oposite hand you favor (i.e. if you are right handed, remove the spring with your left).

Just be careful and pay attention to details.

Good luck,

 

Scott,

Thanks for the information. The jaws are now in, and I ran the jackscrew down through the top & threaded through the bottom. Looks like I need some additional washers or a spacer to take up the space between the top of the jackscrew and the unthreaded jaws on top of the spring. With the current setup, I can't get the spring to compress before the bottom of the jackscrew makes contact with the spring saddle.
I'll wait for the thunderstorms to finish rolling through South Georgia, and then it's back to the store. Thanks again for helping out a newbie.

Hap.

 

i had the same problem as you... so i took about a 3 inch piece of pipe and used it as the spacer... it worked perfectly!!! although my fatter 620 coil sits a little weird on the spring perch, but i think when the motor is in it, everything should be in business.

 

AH. I had the same problems, and same compressor. What i did, was remove one of the black hooks. THen i slide it down in the hole. IT took forever, but i didn't need a spacer. I also had it upside down, but it's basically the only thing i could do. I used a wrench, and wreched it off. It was alittle crooked, but whatever

 

my dad made me a spring compressor, didnt have that problem