[ws6speedpaul]

Thanks for the link!

This is the same tool that Advance auto had loaned me.

I am going to use a hybrid method of both the spring compression tool, mounted from the top, and a low profile hydraulic jack.

I believe that this will spread out the safety risk and make it easier too.

[srmmmm]

At the wise and mature age of perhaps 20, I replaced the front springs on my 70 Esprit W/AC. The original springs were really shot and bottomed out going over a #2 pencil on the road. Armed with my engineering curriculum, I used a come-a-long winch anchored to the opposite leaf spring perch to pull the LCA all the way down. Wedging the flat tip of a crow bar under the bottom coil popped the spring out without too much effort or recoil for that matter.

Using that method in reverse was a whole different story with the new springs, special service part numbers recommended by my automotive prof, Jim Lyons, later head of the Pontiac turbo development. I had to go to the GM Parts Warehouse in Schwartz Creek, MI to pick them up in person.

I did cable them in to the spring tower so they couldn't fly out and punch a hole in the garage wall. But I must have beat on each one with a sledge hammer for 10 minutes to slide the bottom coil back along the crow bar and get it into the pocket. I later heard a local spring shop would have compressed them and steel banded them for $25, but heck, I saved $25.

Professor Lyons was right though, those springs still hold the front end up well after 120,000 miles.

[HWYSTR455]

My finger-type coil spring compressor rod won't fit thru the shock hole. You guys drill the hole out bigger or the one you used has a smaller rod?

As for separating the ball joints, I jack up the car to get the front wheels off the ground, back the nut off so the nut is just to the top of threads, and give it a swing or 2 with a hammer until it pops. Can do the upper same way too.


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