Installing front a-arms

[my67c20]

Getting ready to put my a-arms back on and i do not want to remove the balljoints to do this. What is the best way to compress the coil to accomplish this? Has anyone rented a spring compressor, the internal type from autozone or napa and had any luck with them? The spring looks pretty beefy.

I don't want to remove the ball joints at this point because they are still pretty fair and thatis a project for another day.

Any suggestions appreciated. thanks

[Bamm]

Do as you wish, but I'd take carefully popping loose a ball joint and raising the a arm with a jack over trying to compress a spring like that any day. Good luck.......Jerry

[Shyguy]

Here is how we did it on my '67.

We had the frame on jackstands.

Removed the tires, installed the lower "A" arms with the u-bolts.

Put a floor jack under the lower ball joint, put the spring in.

Raise the "A" assembly and bolt the upper "A" arms to the frame.

It was a real trick though because there wasn't a motor in it so we had to put concrete blocks on the frame horns while two people set on the frame to give enough weight to prevent jacking up the frame when jacking up the "A" arm assembly.

Danny

[mclairmo]

I used a rented internal compressor and now own one from Harbor Freight. They work fine and are easy to use. They will compress that spring so you can put wherever you want to.

[oldschooler]

Do like shyguy. Only put a heavy duty log chain under your jack and up over your upper arm and hook chain back to itself creating a loop around Jack and both a-arms. Slowly jack up jack and it will all come together.If everything is painted pretty put lots of rags where chain comes in contact with the a-arms. Later, Rich and good luck

[mclairmo]

I use lots of chain when installing coils. Don't want a face full of coil spring. Would ruin my day, week, month, year . . . life.

[Shyguy]

The use of the chain would have made things a lot easier.

Thank you for the info.

Danny