Hello, My son and I have been trying to install the front springs back into our 70 Fastback project. We have been able to compress the springs but the new perches are angled out so the spring only sits on the back side. This appears to be very dangerous because if we strart to release pressure on the spring it appears that it will bend out. Are the perches suposed to angle towards the outside like that? We tried to bend them back in but the bushing is so tight that they won't turn.

This is the compressor we are using.

 

Let's see if I can explain this to be understood. When you get the spring in and jack the arm up to where it's supposed to be, loosen the tension SLOWLY and as it puts more tension on the perch, it should straighten it out and sit properly. Make sure everything is bolted back up before you completely remove the compressor.

I'm trying to picture this in my head........but it's not working. What all do you have unbolted? Is this a complete suspension upgrade or something else?

 

Ok, That makes sense to jack up the lower arm. However we dont have the motor in plce so there is not enough weight. I suppose we can put the motor back in temporarily. This is a complete rebuild, we just finished all of the body panel replacements and we are putting the suspension back on. We wanted to do that and get the motor back in so it will sit right before we do final body alignment and tweaking.

Thanks

 

Or as I did, you can put some blocks between the UCA and the bottom of the tower opening(top of the frame rail) to keep the spring perch leveled until the shock goes back in then the blocks can be removed.
JLG

 

+1. the shop manual shows a special tool for this, but a block of wood works as well. Check the shop manual for placement.
Good luck.

 

I'd simply add that you should use a piece of 4x4 and not 2x4. The 2x4 can slide back and down between the control arm and perch. This results in teh perch being angled inwards with the 2x4 stuck in the middle. First hand knowledge of this myself .

 

I don't know how you're compressing the spring, but I fed the spring compressor through the top of the shock tower, down through the mount, and compressed the spring up into the tower. This way the spring is secured in the upper seat as you lift the perch and control arm and secure the ball joint. Once everything is tight, unscrew the compresser to unload the spring. The only con is getting the spring to seat at the correct spot on the perch and upper seat, because it's compressed and you can't move it, so you have to get it right before you compress.