changing the front springs?
09-23-2006, 12:08 AM
#1
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Location: Gainesville, FL
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changing the front springs?
Are there any installation instructions online for replacing the front springs? I've changed springs before, but never on a vehicle equipped with struts.
On my truck I used a floor jack to lower the control arm and take pressure off the spring. Can the same be done with a strut or must you take the strut off the vehicle?
On my truck I used a floor jack to lower the control arm and take pressure off the spring. Can the same be done with a strut or must you take the strut off the vehicle?
09-23-2006, 11:51 AM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North East Texas on the Red River
Posts: 886
RE: changing the front springs?
Simply support the body of the car (safely,) support the LCA with a floor jack but do not compress the spring, remove the nut from the top of the strut and then remove the bolts holding the bottom of the strut. The strut and spring then come out.
Unlike many strut equipped cars, you don't need a strut spring compressor. Simply put the new spring in place around the strut, connect the bottom of the strut and jack it up far enough to get on the top strut nut.
Be careful any time you remove or replace a spring.
Unlike many strut equipped cars, you don't need a strut spring compressor. Simply put the new spring in place around the strut, connect the bottom of the strut and jack it up far enough to get on the top strut nut.
Be careful any time you remove or replace a spring.
09-23-2006, 12:58 PM
#3
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RE: changing the front springs?
Thanks! That just sounds too easy. I allready did the back this morning and now it's lower than the front. I replaced the lower control arms and springs in 2 hours. It wouldn't have taken so long if I had a lift or a racheting torque wrench!
ORIGINAL: MBDiagMan
Simply support the body of the car (safely,) support the LCA with a floor jack but do not compress the spring, remove the nut from the top of the strut and then remove the bolts holding the bottom of the strut. The strut and spring then come out.
Unlike many strut equipped cars, you don't need a strut spring compressor. Simply put the new spring in place around the strut, connect the bottom of the strut and jack it up far enough to get on the top strut nut.
Be careful any time you remove or replace a spring.
Simply support the body of the car (safely,) support the LCA with a floor jack but do not compress the spring, remove the nut from the top of the strut and then remove the bolts holding the bottom of the strut. The strut and spring then come out.
Unlike many strut equipped cars, you don't need a strut spring compressor. Simply put the new spring in place around the strut, connect the bottom of the strut and jack it up far enough to get on the top strut nut.
Be careful any time you remove or replace a spring.
09-23-2006, 04:32 PM
#4
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RE: changing the front springs?
Well it wasn't quite that simple. I'd recommend disconnecting the brake line from the body and of course you have to disconnect it from the strut. I had to tilt the spindle out pretty far to get the strut to come down and it was stressing the brake line. You also need to disconnect the swaybar from the strut. Overall i'd say it was pretty easy. It took me 4 hours to do the front and the back using basic tools.
09-23-2006, 10:49 PM
#6
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RE: changing the front springs?
I used the ford racking K springs. They are supposed to give a 1.5 inch drop in the front and rear. I haven't measured after the drop, but i'd say 1.5 inches is about right. My wheel well gap in the front before the drop was 2 inches and the back was a hair shy of 3 inches (about 2 7/8 inches, maybe 3/4). I did the back first and it put the rear lower than the front. You should get the roush springs if you only want to lower the rear.
ORIGINAL: Mardav
Great Job! what brand springs did you use. And how much lower was the back then the front before you did the front/ I am thinking about just doing the rear springs on my car.
Great Job! what brand springs did you use. And how much lower was the back then the front before you did the front/ I am thinking about just doing the rear springs on my car.
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