I got some new wheels!!!!

GeminiCoupe · Post by **GeminiCoupe** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:33 pm

Your talking about the front springs being a pain in the ass right? The rears dont look too difficult, however the fronts havent budged even though ive dropped the ball joints on the spare x member. Aftermarket ones would be easier to fit right, being smaller in dimmensions?

What did the custom springs set you back? Ive got Bilsteins in my car, they feel stiff enough...

Nick-

rodavo · Post by **rodavo** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:08 pm

Yeah the front springs are the hard ones. Fitting new lowered springs is easier as far as getting them in there, however the hard part comes when you have to compress the spring and bolt it all back together. The KMAC guys used the weight of my car to push the lower control arm into place whilst compressing the spring into place. The rears are easy to do.

I would be getting the angle grinder out and start cutting. Just be careful at the end of the cut cause the springs will go spring!!! This is the only way I can comprehend that you can get the original springs out without the special tool. I would be getting a suspension specialist to do the work, its expensive but saves a hell of alot of hassle. I paid around $600 for the springs fitted...sounds expensive and it is but watching the 'experts' doing it, there is no way in the world I would be trying it at home without a hoist and the correct tools.

Dave

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:50 am

I got mine out by removing the radius rods and unbolted the lower balljoint, then removed the stub axle and upper arm because I had to anyway, then tied a chain around the top coils of the spring and over the crossmember (so it can't go flying anywhere). Then loosen the arm bolt, then it goes down to about 90 degrees to the crossmember. Then get the spring out with a tyre lever on the arm lifting the spring out of the seat.

I had a look at a standard spring compressor tool though and it looks like that'd work.

Rodeobob · Post by **Rodeobob** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 2:50 am

The all thread/hook type spring compressors are about $20-30 for a pair.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 1:53 pm

I replaced my springs the other week with the king springs you can get off the shelf.

I ended up having to do what rodavo has said and cut the spring out with an angle grinder. I tried the thread hook spring compressors I had here and they didnt work. So in the end to save time I cut them out. Be cafeful they do shoot off and I also snapped a few cutting wheels. I didnt want to let the lower control arm go with that much weight under it.

To put the kings back in I used the spring compressors and tightened up about 5-6 coils and wired them up with heavy guage wire the let the compressors off. ( there isnt enough room for the spring and 2 compressors in there ) Put the spring in, jacked up the lower control arm to compress the spring and cut the wire off. Pretty easy that way i found.

Rears are easy just put the jack under the spring mount and undo the bolt at the back. Disconect the hand brake cable to the lower arm and drop the jack down. Change the springs and jack it back up no need to use spring compressors or anything.

Sorry for the hijack

Matt

Post by **wedgenut** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:06 pm

Here is how I did the fronts, spring compressors are a pain and don't work. I jacked up the car and removed one of the front wheels. I let it back down on a block under the bottom ball loint and then jacked up the opposite rear corner to transfer maximum weight to the spring. With wheel off there is room to get in and put a couple of load binders around the top to bottom coils opposite each other and rack them up tight. When you drop the car and then lft the front again the load binders take most of the tension allowing you drop the control arm down under control of jack. Once the spring is out don't try and remove the load binders as they bite like shit and the spring will dong you on the forehead or worse, in the nuts. Find another car like a fat ass commodore and jack it up, tuck the spring under the front cross beam and let it down to relax the load binders and then jack it back up to release the spring.

You could always spring (no pun intended) for a few bucks to the local suspension dude to do it for you but isn't as much fun!

rodavo · Post by **rodavo** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 11:10 pm

Well there you go, a few ways to get the springs out. I will consider these next time I need to do some suspension work. Some of this post should probably be put in the suspension section.

Dave

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 11:28 pm

lol,

I think what we are trying to say here is, your wheels look awsome.

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 1:49 am

lol why do these threads always go off topic

THis's what the lot looks like just before I tyre levered it out

Rodeobob · Post by **Rodeobob** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 7:15 am

Hey you got oil leaks there fella. lol

No wonder they handled like a boat, thats some seriously plush stretch spring gear. lol.

I suppose you dont have to worry about the spring falling out and being a bitch to get back in, in the right spot, when your changing a ball joint. lol.