Front Coil Spring Installation

Mac_5.0 · 05-27-2003, 01:03 AM

I just recently completed a suspension over haul of the rear and it went well. I installed upper/lower control arms, koni shocks, eibach springs and poly bushings. All in all no major problems.

Now I am working on the front and I am the point where I am trying to install the new eibach springs and Koni Struts. Does anyone have any hints as to the easiest way to install the springs. They are almost 2" shorter than the stock ones and they are still a pain in the *** to get into place. Do you HAVE to use the FORD spring compression tool? Or, can you get away with something else?

Any hints on this installation would be great!

Thanks . . . Cam

FritzDaKat · 05-27-2003, 01:37 AM

It's a pain even with the strut unbolted at the base and the controll arm dropped down allowing you to run the compression tool shaft thru the hole with it tilted? What's in your way?

Conman · 05-27-2003, 08:29 AM

when I did my BBK springs I used a compressor to get the old ones out because I didn't want them flying across my garage.

To put the new ones in I just used a little muscle. Drop the control arm right down and slide the top of the spring into place, muscle the bottom into the groove and you are set.

are you even close to getting the spring in uncompressed?

Chris_H · 05-28-2003, 12:33 AM

I just did the front springs 2 weeks ago in my car. I only added the 4 cyl springs but here was the easiest way. Bolt everything up the way it would be if you were finished installing the spring. If you have the spring out (or even if its in) unbolt the control arm from the frame, not the strut. If you have the car in the air, use a good floor jack to hold the control arm up as you unbolt it. Slowly lower the control arm down, take the spring out, put the new one back in, and jack the control arm back up into place. Took an hour on the first side for us until we figured out the best way to do it, and literally took us 15 minutes to do the other side. Hope this helps.

Chris

chris91LX · 05-28-2003, 11:09 AM

Yeah, it's easier and safer to unbolt the A-arms than the strut. I just swapped in the 4cyl springs too. The hardest part is getting the A arm bolts off. A guy named MFE on the corral did a write up on it, works like a charm and you don't have to worry about the spring flying out.

05-27-2003, 01:03 AM	#1
Mac_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Delta, BC, Canada Posts: 58	Front Coil Spring Installation I just recently completed a suspension over haul of the rear and it went well. I installed upper/lower control arms, koni shocks, eibach springs and poly bushings. All in all no major problems. Now I am working on the front and I am the point where I am trying to install the new eibach springs and Koni Struts. Does anyone have any hints as to the easiest way to install the springs. They are almost 2" shorter than the stock ones and they are still a pain in the *** to get into place. Do you HAVE to use the FORD spring compression tool? Or, can you get away with something else? Any hints on this installation would be great! Thanks . . . Cam __________________ "I work to live . . . not live to work!"

05-27-2003, 08:29 AM	#3
Conman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 351	when I did my BBK springs I used a compressor to get the old ones out because I didn't want them flying across my garage. To put the new ones in I just used a little muscle. Drop the control arm right down and slide the top of the spring into place, muscle the bottom into the groove and you are set. are you even close to getting the spring in uncompressed? __________________ '88 lx, Black on Black, check it out here Spent all my money on school, what a dumb mistake I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care.

05-28-2003, 12:33 AM	#4
Chris_H Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 488	I just did the front springs 2 weeks ago in my car. I only added the 4 cyl springs but here was the easiest way. Bolt everything up the way it would be if you were finished installing the spring. If you have the spring out (or even if its in) unbolt the control arm from the frame, not the strut. If you have the car in the air, use a good floor jack to hold the control arm up as you unbolt it. Slowly lower the control arm down, take the spring out, put the new one back in, and jack the control arm back up into place. Took an hour on the first side for us until we figured out the best way to do it, and literally took us 15 minutes to do the other side. Hope this helps. Chris __________________ 1987 LX, Best times: 13.47 @ 102.49, 1.80 60ft 6900' DA

05-28-2003, 11:09 AM	#5
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	Yeah, it's easier and safer to unbolt the A-arms than the strut. I just swapped in the 4cyl springs too. The hardest part is getting the A arm bolts off. A guy named MFE on the corral did a write up on it, works like a charm and you don't have to worry about the spring flying out. __________________ My Ford Club http://www.midwestfords.org/ Best time N/A 12.9 @ 107 1.711 60' 125 shot - 12.04 @ 113 1.59 60'

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05-27-2003, 01:37 AM	#2
FritzDaKat Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Franklin Park IL Posts: 57	It's a pain even with the strut unbolted at the base and the controll arm dropped down allowing you to run the compression tool shaft thru the hole with it tilted? What's in your way?