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Time for a new spring compressor

N

nymustang

Member
I spent 3 hours today trying to finish up a loose install of the front suspension so I could get some wheels on the stang and roll it around. The entire 3 hours was spent fight with the *@%$# front springs. I have a set of the not so popular compressors that you attach to each side of the spring and tighten up to compress it. I've used these several times on multiple mustangs (this one included) without any trouble but for some reason in was a major biatch today. If you don't get those things positioned exactly right theres no way you can remove them once the spring is in place so its a constant repositioning and ultimately I had to resort to two prybars and a BFH. Needless to say I discovered how tough SPIs epoxy is. I shot it about 3 weeks ago I think and a few spots took some abuse today. There are some scuffs but nothing went down to bare metal which really impressed me. Anyway I think its time for me to invest in a better compressor, the kind that goes inside the spring. Probably would have saved me a lot of time and several buckets of swear words.
 
I feel for you. Anytime I am screwing around with springs, I am on pins and needles until it is finished. I had one come apart on me about 15 years ago when I was replacing the springs on the '56 (camaro front end on it) and that thing flew off and hit the wall. Scared the crap out of me then and still would today! Cheap assed harbor freight garbage Chinese stuff, can and will kill me one day. :nerv
 
Yeah when those springs are compressed they are really sketchy. I was praying that the compressor wasn't going to snap on me.
 
+2. Maybe that's why I cut my 620's just a tad so I don't have to use the compressor. Even if I have to use an internal compressor, I use vice grips on the coil right next to where the compessor arms are clamped against the coil, just in case it starts to slip.
 
Big tip (that I should charge for): If you remove the sway bar link from the lower control arm, you can push the whole assembly down and negate the need to use a spring compressor. This definitely works with 1" drop springs and I suspect it'd probably work with regular springs too since the assembly drops so low.

Just be sure to place a jack under the lower control arm to hold it up as you remove the link nut, then lower the jack & push the whole assembly down. The spring should basically fall out, I don't even remove the spring covers from the tower. To reverse, jack up the lower control arm back into the height to position the spring and attach the sway bar link.
 
My end links were disconnected and I still had to compress the stoc springs. Thinking now that I should have gone with 1" drop springs to make my life easier. I have a feeling I'll eventually want them for a lower ride height anyway.
 
I dread having to use a spring compressor. Last time I did, the threaded rod was crap, stripped the bolt thread, and the whole thing went off like a bomb. Spring came out, bolt went into low earth orbit, and I became a Olympic long distance jumper. I might have peed a little too. Of course this would happen the one time I couldn't find the tow chain I usually use to keep the springs from going ballistic.
 
"nymustang" said:
My end links were disconnected and I still had to compress the stoc springs.
Click to expand...

Not to doubt you, but in the process did you pull down the assembly until it bottomed out?
 
I'm not positive but I think the upper arm was as low as it would go. I had just installed new uppers with roller perches so everything was off previously. I wonder if I had left the lower arm off maybe it would have dropped further.
 
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