New guy with a '93 SSP *pics* - Page 5

ABN2060 · #41 03-29-2010, 09:19 AM

stadair · #42 03-30-2010, 09:11 PM

You got that special tool to get those front springs out? I've heard they are very expensive!

CNTLOSE · #43 03-30-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stadair

You got that special tool to get those front springs out? I've heard they are very expensive!

No tool is needed. Use a jack to take the weight off the shock and sway bar...unbolt them. Use a small chain and secure the spring to the A arm then slowly let the jack down. To install new springs reverse the order. Also the higher you get the car the easier it is.

ABN2060 · #44 03-31-2010, 01:41 PM

No "special" tools needed to get it out. Like CNT said, chain the spring to the control arm just to keep it from flying out at you, lower the control arm and pry it out. The trick is getting it back in though.

stadair · #45 04-01-2010, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABN2060

The trick is getting it back in though.

Yeah, that's the trick. Getting it back in. And what a B*&^#H that was. I made my own special tool. A couple U bolts. Compressed the spring with a spring compressor rented from the local parts store. Hooked up the U bolts to keep the tension. Dropped the spring in place. Hooked up the strut. Let the U bolts off. Is what I finally came up with.

ABN2060 · #46 04-01-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stadair

Yeah, that's the trick. Getting it back in. And what a B*&^#H that was. I made my own special tool. A couple U bolts. Compressed the spring with a spring compressor rented from the local parts store. Hooked up the U bolts to keep the tension. Dropped the spring in place. Hooked up the strut. Let the U bolts off. Is what I finally came up with.

My spring compressor is a piece of crap. Tried today to reinstall them and it looks like I will have to get innovative.

ABN2060 · #47 04-29-2010, 12:47 PM

Well, this took a couple steps back. In the process of lining up the hood and fenders, I discovered that the whole structural part of the front end was pushed over by 1 3/4" to the drivers side. I can only assume this happened when it crashed back in '95 and was not fixed properly. So, I dropped it off at a frame shop to have it fixed. It will be a week or two before I get it back but I'm sure it will be better than new after this guy gets done with it. This thing is going to be straight as an arrow.