coil spring compressing...

[dropped81]

Hey guys i am needing to change out my control arms on both passanger and driver side of my 81 but the spring compressors from o'reillys, advanced, etc.. will not work does anybody have any other ideas besides the floor jack method...which i would rather not unless i have to... thanks for any ideas guys...Mike!

[Goldfinger]

have a welder? If so get 4 strips of steel with each pair weld a cross clamp them together and drill a hole. then use a bolt and tighten them up slightly in a clockwise order

[dropped81]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

have a welder? If so get 4 strips of steel with each pair weld a cross clamp them together and drill a hole. then use a bolt and tighten them up slightly in a clockwise order

Thats kinda what i just thought of like 5 min after i posted this...i have a welder at my dads shop so i might go use it....im thinking 1/2 steel strips? im not sure if 1/4 inch would hold it..what do you think?

[Goldfinger]

the 1/4th could work if it was case hardened. i would go with the largest you can fit in between.

[dropped81]

see thats my problem i cant even fit the hooks on a normal spring compressor between the coils so i dont know if i could even fit half inch between them ill go get a picture of them and post it on here.

[Goldfinger]

Well if you have access to an oxyfuel torch and old oil you can make case hardened steel.

[dropped81]

okay i got a few pics of them

[Goldfinger]

1/2 inch but you would have to use 1 solid piece and cut the other in half and weld a piece to either side

[dropped81]

ill talk to my dad about making some for me so they can be ready and i wont have to waste the time making them especially in this 100+ degree weather!

[Goldfinger]

i hear you there.

[dropped81]

Thanks for the help man!

[Goldfinger]

your welcome, good luck with it

[dropped81]

Thanks!

[lilpoindexter]

there is a mercedes benz specific coil spring compressor available on amazon, but it will work here...
What's wrong with using a floor jack? If you're afraid the spring will come flying out, run a chain through the spring, and frame

[dropped81]

Well i am having a part fabed up at my dads shop tomorrow specifically for my truck the idea mentioned above with the two strips of metal welded together in a cross pattern and same for the bottom them a nut welded to the bottom of each side with all-thread through the middle....I have never done the floor jack method and my dad and his girlfriends brother have both had bad experienced with the floor jack method so they dont want to do it.

[67_SS396]

What's the issue with putting the truck on jack stands and a floor jack under the control arm? The spring isn't going to go anywhere.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Boog]

I would be more afraid of the allthread than the floor jack. That spring has a lot of stored energy in it's compressed state.
Your families prior bad experiences with the floor jack tells me they weren't doing something right.
Hopefully someone can post up some pics of a coil spring removal by floor jack method. May be of some help to ya.

[ont_guy_38]

Originally Posted by 67_SS396

What's the issue with putting the truck on jack stands and a floor jack under the control arm? The spring isn't going to go anywhere.
Posted via Mobile Device

Drop coils are going to fall out on the ground before you even lower the control arm all the way. Like was said chain it in in if you are not comfortable

[LONGHAIR]

Those look to be lowered coils, and if so, the floor jack method is just fine. The shorter length means that the load is gone by the time you get the jack lowered. It is far less intense than with stock coils.
As ont_guy_38 said, they will just fall/roll right out.

[Mike Bradbury]

The rotation of the Lower Control Arm is a known arc. As long as the jack is perpendicular to the truck (coming in from the side) so that the rotation of the LCA pulls the jack in towards the truck, all should be fine. Do not place the jack in such a way that the rotation of the LCA pulls the jack sideways and tips it, this is where bad things happen.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by ont_guy_38

Drop coils are going to fall out on the ground before you even lower the control arm all the way. Like was said chain it in in if you are not comfortable

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Those look to be lowered coils, and if so, the floor jack method is just fine. The shorter length means that the load is gone by the time you get the jack lowered. It is far less intense than with stock coils.
As ont_guy_38 said, they will just fall/roll right out.

The blue color tells us those are lowered springs. Use the floor jack and you will be fine.

[dropped81]

Thanks for all the replies guys i guess ill try the floor jack method on my next day off lol...the bad expierences didnt happen to them they just happened while they were present. Im pretty new to all of this so i have tons to learn thanks again for all the replies guys! any pics or videos of the floor jack method would be greatly appreciated!

[Hertzdaddy]

Lots of posts on this subject in the SUspension forum. Here's one
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...l+joint&page=2

FWIW, I did it on a burb in a pick-n-pay yard with a bottle jack. Once the pressure was released I actually had to push the LCA down with my foot in order to pull the spring out. I also put a chain on the spring and around the crossmember just to be safe. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

[dropped81]

well thanks for the link hertzdaddy i guess ill try it tomorrow it doesn't seem too dangerous especially since i have lowering coils on it the tension should be little to none one its jacked up am i correct?

[rdscott3]

I Got the coil spring compressor from autozone.. its the OEM brand, got a threaded rod, 2 hooks and a plate.. it works the best of all the compressors i've used. reasonable at 50bux...