Shim removal from upper control arm
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 490
From: Wiscon-brrrrrr-sin
Shim removal from upper control arm
Ok guys - I'm in the homestretch for getting the Mustang back on the road. I did the Shelby drop on the upper arm and put it all back together just like the factory had it set. To get the alignment close so that I can drive it to the alignment shop I have had it suggested that I remove 1/8" of an inch from the shim pack on the upper control arm - basically that is equal to taking out1 of the 4 shims currently in place.
Question is - how do I go about doing that since the whole front end suspension is complete (for the most part) - I just don't want to have to back pedal and take things apart and remove the coil (THAT was fun exchanging the coils! The energy stored in that coil when it is compressed scared the h*ll out of me - I handled it like it was an ancient hand grenade).
I remember seeing a device that is wedged between the frame and bottom side of the upper control arm that holds the spring compressed while the car is jacked up off the ground. Is this the way to go?
Question is - how do I go about doing that since the whole front end suspension is complete (for the most part) - I just don't want to have to back pedal and take things apart and remove the coil (THAT was fun exchanging the coils! The energy stored in that coil when it is compressed scared the h*ll out of me - I handled it like it was an ancient hand grenade).
I remember seeing a device that is wedged between the frame and bottom side of the upper control arm that holds the spring compressed while the car is jacked up off the ground. Is this the way to go?
5th Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,946
From: Colorado
RE: Shim removal from upper control arm
Just loosen both the nuts in the engine compartment and you can pull one out. Think about it, do you think the guy at the alignment shop is going to take apart your front end?He will add and subtract shims just as I discribed. No worries just don't take the nuts off!
5th Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,946
From: Colorado
RE: Shim removal from upper control arm
Wait a minute! I just saw your name. Is your car a 68? If it is, it should not have shims at all. The camber is adjusted with the ecsentic on the lower control arm.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 490
From: Wiscon-brrrrrr-sin
RE: Shim removal from upper control arm
Not this one - it's a '65 Mustang (my wife's car actually). I figured the alignment shop wouldn't totally disassemble the front end just to get at the shim so I figured that loosening the nuts would be the way to do it but I wanted to be sure since I'll be staring that coil directly in the face while doing so. I am sure if you remove the nuts then all h*ll breaks loose...
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 490
From: Wiscon-brrrrrr-sin
RE: Shim removal from upper control arm
Hey 67T5 - You might know this...
To help adjust the caster should I remove one extra shim from the rear uca stud so that it will have 3 shims on the front stud and only 2 shims on the rear stud?? Then go fine tune the caster via the adjustable strut rods??? How do you adjust caster to make it more positive ?
To help adjust the caster should I remove one extra shim from the rear uca stud so that it will have 3 shims on the front stud and only 2 shims on the rear stud?? Then go fine tune the caster via the adjustable strut rods??? How do you adjust caster to make it more positive ?
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,469
From: AR
RE: Shim removal from upper control arm
ORIGINAL: 68SCode4speed
how do I go about doing that since the whole front end suspension is complete (for the most part) - I just don't want to have to back pedal and take things apart and remove the coil (THAT was fun exchanging the coils! The energy stored in that coil when it is compressed scared the h*ll out of me - I handled it like it was an ancient hand grenade).
I remember seeing a device that is wedged between the frame and bottom side of the upper control arm that holds the spring compressed while the car is jacked up off the ground. Is this the way to go?
how do I go about doing that since the whole front end suspension is complete (for the most part) - I just don't want to have to back pedal and take things apart and remove the coil (THAT was fun exchanging the coils! The energy stored in that coil when it is compressed scared the h*ll out of me - I handled it like it was an ancient hand grenade).
I remember seeing a device that is wedged between the frame and bottom side of the upper control arm that holds the spring compressed while the car is jacked up off the ground. Is this the way to go?
At first I had rented a proper spring compressor, (this particular compressorprobably was not the best choice for the job) but after a couple of close misses when the "fingers"slipped off of the coils, I decided that there must be a better and safer way.
Using this method, these coil springs no longer scare me, which helps when the thought of disassembly comes to mind.
In my experience this was quick, effective, and safe.
JMD
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,469
From: AR
RE: Shim removal from upper control arm
ORIGINAL: JMD
This is probably not an "approved" (or even a recomended) methodfor handling the front coil springs, but I simply put a chain down the middle of the spring towers and wraped the chain around the bottom most accessible coils on the springs (on oppisite sides)and used an engine hoist to pull the chain up the middle of the spring towers tocompress the springs.The chain"contained" the spring from becoming a possible safety hazard, as they really could not go anywhere as long as the chain was in place. We just had to be carefull not to lift the car from the jack stand when compressing the spring, and of course it is advisable to use a stout chain, we used a 5/16 chain.
At first I had rented a proper spring compressor, (this particular compressorprobably was not the best choice for the job) but after a couple of close misses when the "fingers"slipped off of the coils, I decided that there must be a better and safer way.
Using this method, these coil springs no longer scare me, which helps when the thought of disassembly comes to mind.
In my experience this was quick, effective, and safe.
JMD
ORIGINAL: 68SCode4speed
how do I go about doing that since the whole front end suspension is complete (for the most part) - I just don't want to have to back pedal and take things apart and remove the coil (THAT was fun exchanging the coils! The energy stored in that coil when it is compressed scared the h*ll out of me - I handled it like it was an ancient hand grenade).
I remember seeing a device that is wedged between the frame and bottom side of the upper control arm that holds the spring compressed while the car is jacked up off the ground. Is this the way to go?
how do I go about doing that since the whole front end suspension is complete (for the most part) - I just don't want to have to back pedal and take things apart and remove the coil (THAT was fun exchanging the coils! The energy stored in that coil when it is compressed scared the h*ll out of me - I handled it like it was an ancient hand grenade).
I remember seeing a device that is wedged between the frame and bottom side of the upper control arm that holds the spring compressed while the car is jacked up off the ground. Is this the way to go?
At first I had rented a proper spring compressor, (this particular compressorprobably was not the best choice for the job) but after a couple of close misses when the "fingers"slipped off of the coils, I decided that there must be a better and safer way.
Using this method, these coil springs no longer scare me, which helps when the thought of disassembly comes to mind.
In my experience this was quick, effective, and safe.
JMD