Best way?

Hey what's the best way to do the front springs on my 83 limited? got the lower ball joint nut off, got the frame on a cinder block, got a jack under the lower controll arm... i know it's not easy to seperate the spidle and the arm... but is there a good way to do this, or should i get a pickle fork and a new ball joint?

-Brendan

 

use a coil spring compressor on those springs!!!!
don't try to do it without one!

 

ahh, i have a coil spring compressor... just wanna know the best way to seperate the lower controll arm from the spindle... even though i think i already know... pickle fork and a hammer, then replace the ball joint.... just if there's a good way to do it without havint to replace the ball joint that'd be sweet...
-brendan

 

Don't know if it's the same configuration, but I've done some A bodies and two wheel drive pickup trucks by dropping the A frame at the inboard attachment (there are two U bolts per side, that grab onto the shaft at the wide part of the A arm).

You will still need the spring compressor, but I think you'll find there's a lot less pressure remaining on the spring.

K

 

hey, befor i rip the front apart... can i get the coil out without dissconecting the lower arm and the spindle? doesn't sound like it'd work, but if i disconect the sway bar, u think if i squish the spring down enough i can weezle it out, and get the new one in?
hmmmmm
-brendan

i'm sick today, so i'm not going back out to the car till i feel better. so i have time to think about this..... hmmm.....

 

I used a ball joint separator, and broke it loose at the lower ball joint.
then I lowered the control arm, and then removed the spring.

 

a ball joint seperator???? one that you screw down slowly... i could actually probably borrow one from a friend at work (i have limited tools at work) heh i'd have a lot more had i not decided to build a BBB 2.5 years ago, and spent my money on tools... but hey, i want the car, and as of now i don't actually need all the tools at work. ball joint seperator it will be, i don't feel like distroying the ball joint with a pickle fork... heh.

ANY word on not taking it apart, just squishing the coil? don't think that'll work but maybe????
-brendan

 

Get a hand sledge and smack the cast Iron area of that spindle where the the balljoint goes through. losen the nut first ofcorce.

 

i thought about the hand sledge, but i have limited room. working on the ground, don't wanna pull the tie rod off the spindle... yah know, i'm gonna borrow the ball joint seperator from a friend at work tomorrow. see if that does the trick! thanks guys, i'll let you know how it goes
-Brendan

 

Typically not, unless the spring has already been cut by somebody else.

I did, however, see a wheelstanding Vega lose a front spring on the starting line one time....:eek2:

 

hehe i'd like to see a spring come out of a wheelstanding car. that'd be sweet.
hopefully i'll get the springs and shocks in the front tomorrow. i'd like to get it done befor i get the car on the road, i'd be afraid to even just drive it to my job to use a lift, cuz it's kinda droopy with the old stuff with the big block in it.

-Brendan

 

Can't get the spring out... UGH, i have the lower ball joint seperated, the spring compressed (as much as i can with the compressor i have) cant do it the way i want to because with the part i can put a wrench on on the bottom, it hits the shock tower befor i even get the spring compressed at all....
this is a pain...

 

I dunno if this qualifies for best way but maybe lack of tools way!!! Yeah...I've done the two lower control arm bolts on the A-arm without a spring compressor numerous of times. After one bolt goes in, the second doesn't exactly line up so that's where strategically re-aligning the jack or a big pry bar comes into play!!!

 

HAH! i got one spring out, then the new one in before it got dark!
SWAY BAR LINK! oops! heh heh, i forgot about that, well honestly didn't even think it'd make a difference. i was wrong. it went smoothly after that.

i'll get the other one done tomorrow. just gotta find two of those little clips that act as nuts for the bottom of the shock, they kinda broke... probably should get four.