Iam trying to install a set of Moroso front springs in my GS. Iam unable to compress them enough to be able to install the spindle. I have my spring compressors all the way tightened down. The motor is out of the car now so I don't have the weight to help hold the car down when jacking against the a-arm. Any ssuggestionswould be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mike
Mike, I had the same problem installing them in my wagon. The engine was out at the time and everytime you jack it up the entire car went up. I even tried 2 or 3 different spring compressors and then I ended up setting the engine back in it. I didn't bolt it in or anything, but just rested it where it should be and that was enough to at least get the springs in. It was still a struggle! Good luck.
Hey hello there. Not shure if this will work for you. How about a length of threaded rod going thru the upper shock mounting hole, and a plate larger than the diameter of the spring with a hole in the middle and another nut. Crank the spring up into the spring "pocket" . My '65 service manual shows this factory tool... Compressed springs move fast. Best luck on your project.
I ran a 2x6 from my frame mount up to one of my garage trusses. Yes it made a little noise poping and creaking but it did work.:grin: Good luck
I've done this before when a compressor wouldnt work. Chain the floor jack to the frame. The jack cannot lift itself and you will be able to force the the lower control arm up. Use a heavy duty good quality chain and keep it tight. You can use your compressor and compress the springs part of the way so that will make it easier. The spring will have a lot of pressure on it so be careful. If you have a press, you can compress the spring and strap it. I have done it this way also and it works well Good Luck
When you say strap the spring, what are you using to strap the spring in a compressed state? Thanks Mike
I would be afraid to do that......a Honda spring is not nearly as stiff as a spring from one of our Buicks. You could lose your life or necessary body parts in the wink of an eye doing that. I would even avoid having it done at a truck shop. The floor jack trick sounds safer, I never heard of that one, I'd try that or just put a motor in it first. Remember, safety first......always. A friend of mine saw a spring make a hole in a cement block wall, that's how serious this is.:bglasses:
I have to agree with Joe here. When asked the question I responded without thinking the issue all the way through. I have compressed and wired before but I would not recommend doing this and I should not have even mentioned it. My apologies to all. Joe is right. We should always keep safety first and this is questionable at best. Even taking them in and having them strapped is ify because the wrong bump or drop could pop them loose which could be disastrous. The floor jack and chain really does work well and is totally safe providing you use a good chain. Again, my apologies if I led anyone down the wrong path here. It was unintentional. Let's all be safe out there
Obvoiusly, in a driveway this would be impractical, but when I used to work at Firestone (a long time ago), I would put springs in by having a helper pry the lower control arm down as far as it would go with the car in the air on a hoist. Then I would put the spring up into the seat, and with a long pry bar through the shock hole, on the second coil from the bottom, persuade the spring into the lower control arm.........and another helper would gently whack it into place with a BFH......it took a "knack" but worked like a charm........no spring compressor required. When it came to re-connecting the spindle to the lower ball joint, I would use a tall jack stand under the lower control arm, and lower the car until it started to lift up from the hoist arm. Then I would sometimes need the added weight of one fat guy who worked there to hang onto the bumper and it worked good. When I installed springs in Chevettes (aka $hitvettes:grin: ) they were so limp I could do them alone with a pry bar. Last month I put new struts in my Caravan, and I was literally shaking with fear working with those compressed springs.......they are dangerous. I am no longer as brave as I used to be.:bglasses:
This is how I do the chain and floor jack method to install springs. I had to put his back together to move it out of the garage. As you can see there is no engine or trans nor a front clip. I did not use a spring compressor
Here it is with the spindle installed. Very easy to do. The vice grip keeps the chain hook from sliding on the jack axle.
This is a dangerous operation. We used three external type compressors (threaded rod with hooks) to keep the spring lined up and straight, and used threaded rod and plates through the spring to compress it. Good luck.
ESPECIALLY with the Moroso springs!:eek2: They are SO TALL, I had to use an internal-type spring compressor and CRANK IT ALL THE WAY DOWN! I think almost all of the coils were touching just to fit it!:eek2: I've done this three different times now, and it SCARES THE HELL OUTTA ME!! You should use a safety chain around the frame!!:Smarty:
I have been trying to think of the right way to respond without offending anyone, so if I do then sorry in advance. In the picture I've attached the only thing missing is the chain that I use through the spring and into the chassis when installing some springs. I didn't use it here because these were lowered springs and there wasn't much pressure on them. With a stock spring you almost have to force the lower control arm down to remove it. Anyway, not making excuses, the situation just didn't require it. Obviously the Morrosos would and I would do it in that situation. Now regarding using the floor jack to compress the spring. If you look at the way the jack is situated if anything happened to the chain the jack would roll inward, away from the operator. The procedure is simple. The lower arm compresses the spring against the frame because the frame cant move. The only potential for failure is the chain or bolt.The bolt is grade 8 and I pull big blocks with the chain. I have used both types of compressors and when I think of how they work the potential is much greater for an accident than this procedure. VW mechanics use this method for raising and installing the rear torsion plate in the rear of the old bugs. Those have so much force that they will lift the rear of the car with the engine if they slip off of the perch I was shown this method when I first worked in a front end shop 30+ years ago. They did it that way because they had too many accidents with the traditional type compressors. OK all of that being said, the bottom line is I have used this method countless times without so much as a near miss. When I have to use a compressor I am always very nervous I try to be open minded and if someone can make a good argument showing why this is any more dangerous than a compressor I really would want to see it. Working on automobiles has the potential to be dangerous and I think we all have to look for ways to be safer.
Well I waited a couple of days to respond thinking about this some more, so hopefully the words will come out right this time! Jim, I never meant to imply that there was ANYTHING wrong with 'your' method! Quite the opposite, in fact!! I just wanted to make a statement about MY EXPERIENCE installing THESE EXACT SPRINGS (3 times now, different Buicks. The last time was WITHOUT the weight of an engine.) These springs are SO MUCH TALLER than the stockers and DEFINETELY store a whole bunch more energy than ANY STOCKER! Even with the lower control arm all the way lowered all the way, there is NO WAY that the spring will FIT IN BETWEEN the control arms unless it is compressed a substancial amount with an internal-type spring compressor! I dropped the lower ball joint to make it easy on myself.I didn't have spindle/brake assy in the way either. Mike, if you havn't already done this, I suggest you go and rent/or buy an internal-type spring compressor and USE IT! But in addition, I STRONGLY suggest also using Jim's (Specman) technique that he described above, since you have the engine out!!:TU: Neither way will work alone (with THESE springs !)...:Smarty: This way you only have to compress the springs slightly! :TU: Just be REAL CAREFULL with them compressed (DON'T drop them ou: )!!! Don't do it until you are COMPLETELY READY TO INSTALL THEM ALL THE WAY! Don't leave them compressed any longer than is necessary to get them in and ball joints connected! And with THESE SPRINGS COMPRESSED, I STRONGLY STAND BY MY SUGGESTION TO USE AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CHAIN THRU THE SPRING AND AROUND THE FRAME! :rant: YOU'D HAVE TO BE A FOOL NOT TO.... :Smarty: BE CAREFUL Mike (and anyone else who R&R's these particular type of Drag Springs), those springs really scare the hell outta me...
saftey first.... you aint seen nothin ....till you seen a compressed spring get unsprung....... missed me by 2 ft....
