coils are a PIA
 

has anybody ever changed these on their own? compared to some of the springs i am used to seeing, they are huge! i can't seem to compress them with my DIY spring compressor. should i take this job to the shop?

Use jackstands to get the front end up high enough to pivot the lower control arms down to get the old coils out. With a floor jack under the lower control arm, loosen the nut on the ball joint part way and hammer on the back of the spindle next to it until the ball joint "pops" loose. Remove the nut completely then and proceed lowering the control arm with the floor jack. The spring should drop out. I had to loosen the brake back plate, and pry slightly to clear the lower control arm. Put the new coil in the socket and angling it a bit resting the spring on the lower control arm. You may have to hold the coil with your foot while raising the control arm in place with a floor jack. Its easier to use a spring compressor, and have a helper hold it in place but can be done without.

If you use the floor jack to take these out take the time and put a chain through the coil and around the frame some how. This way if the pop out they will take your head with thim.

i just got done installing coils and shocks on the front passenger side. I'm not even going to bother with the other one - too much hassle.

I did notice something different, the new springs raise the height by a few inches. Is that normal? Does it have to be broken in?

Front end will settle a little, usually less than an inch from initial installation. The front coils I replaced on a 73 Ventura a few weeks ago measure 27 1/4" to the wheel well lip with 215-70-14 tires.

thanks for the help AGT08u

now i have to figure out why one of my back air shocks is not getting air. soo many problems...:noidea:

Superblue,
Did you install springs in the right position? They are not too bad to do once you do it couple of times.

hey serge, what is the right position?

i'm sure i installed it right, it doesn't seem to have any gap on the bottom. it's a lot of work compared to some of the other struts i've installed. getting the control arm bolts on the ventura to line back up wasn't easy.

Why risk the whole jack and chain crap when you can either rent a spring compressor or just go buy one. There not that expensive and the last thing you need to do is have on fly out, damage the car, and/or drill you or someone standing by you!. Makes no sense.

actually the internal spring compressor with the claw hooks is very difficult to remove once the compressed springs are installed. Also, it is hard to figure where to position it at first to get enough compression so the spring can be easily installed. Better to find the one using the heavy threaded shaft and the washer type setup which are not common and typically not available to rent.

Ok, so now both of them are installed and these spicer springs have raised the front of the car by almost 2 inches. I really hope they break in and settle a bit.

Did you tighten the a-arm bolts with the weight of the car on the springs?

You will need to leave them loose and have the car on the ground on the wheels then bounce on the bumper a few times to get them to rest in a natural postion then tighten up all suspension components other wise they hang up and bind and give you the height issue you have now.

do you think this is too high?

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6...0711sj0.th.jpg

yes, what tire size?

Here is mine sitting and lifting while i launch.

235/60-15 in front on a 15x6? rim i think.

Be sure the coils sit in there recess on top and bottom, they can be tricky.

Yours looks high in the picture, but should drop down after you drive it around. Heres a picture of mine after approximately 1 month.

yeah, i think put in the springs the wrong way. it still had a gap on the bottom. i compared with the one i worked on and the one my mechanic worked on, theirs were a inch shorter. :doh:

hey biltit, what shocks do you have on the rear?

Factory replacements from canadian tire (delco's?), i have shock extensions put in (4 or 6''? I cannot remember).