Thread: I hate coil springs

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Of all the jobs I have ever done, replacing front coil springs in a car is the one I absolutely hate the most. All that stored up energy (is it potential, or kinetic? can't remember which) scares me to death, especially when you have the spring all compressed with a compressor and are trying to get it in place. I can just see the darned thing breaking free and taking my head off.

Couple of nights ago my one Son, who is building an '84 Capri drag car, picked up a set of Eibach front drag springs and asked me to help him put them in. I decided we had used our old external coil spring compressors one time too many, so we went to Discount Auto and borrowed one of their loaner internal units. First we had to remove the old Moroso front springs that I battled into place a few years ago, when I owned the car, and finally got them out.

When it came time to put the new springs in, they are about 2 inches higher than the old ones, so we started cranking on the compressor. With each revolution of the nut, we are getting more scared all the time. We even put chains around the spring in case of it coming loose. Even with my 2 Sons and me, we couldn't force them in.

Long story short, we never did get the spring compressed tight enough to go into the pockets, a situation made worse by the fact that there is no engine weight in the car to hold it down while we use a floor jack under the lower A arm.

We finally gave up for the night, while we still had all of our fingers and teeth, and decided to research a better way to do it. Today, my Son called and told me he has decided to go the coil over route instead, as they are easier to install and maybe work better.

BUT, how have you others compressed springs without getting hurt or worse? I even was ready to order the super costly one from the local Snap On truck, because I figured our lives were worth the money.

There has to be an easier way to do this, and maybe someone else can tell me for future reference.

Thanks,

Don....alias, "afraid of flying objects"