Thread: 84 camaor front spring install Q?

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I am trying to install new springs on the front of a third gen F body (84 camaro).

replaced the bushings on the a-arms and can't seem to get the springs back in.

Anyone have any expereince putting in front springs on a 'bird or camaro? I have done springs on several cars, but this one sux. The spring is too long so it seems - even with the a-arm vertical i can't get teh spring into the lower seat at all...and i cannot get a compressor on the spring because the ass'y then doens't fit in the spring'hole'.

HELP!

TIA
chris

go look at yours again - it has struts, but the springs are not on the struts - they are between teh lower a arm and hte frame like a regular a arm suspension.

from what we gathered after some beer thinking, is that the arm has to be totally free, and it is hjacked up into place with the spring above it. once the spring is compressed, then we can attach the a arm bolts and spindle. seems a bit dangerous, but we're gonna try it next weekend.

Why can't you use an internal type spring compressor? If it's inside the spring it should not be in the way. Don't try to hook it on the bottom and top coils. hook it one or two coils from the end, that should compress it enough to get it in place. AutoZone will loan you one if you don't have it.

Good luck and BE CAREFULL!

Pat

I gotta' agree with Pat
Jackin' up a spring from the bottom with no anchor point is going to be expensive (As in emergency room costs). I would find a spring compressor made for that application if yours won't work. Better to spend money on tools ... rather than band-aids and stitches.

Yours Truly
Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor

got the idea form the factory service manual....it 'd the pic they show, except they have this fancy adaptor for the jack to a-arm connection.

will try and see if the spindle and strut can go on the balljoint and still have room to fir the uncompressed spring in place.

i replaced my front springs last summer on my 57
i went to auto zone they have alot of tools you
can borrow for free,i used there spring compressor
even when fully compressed i had to hit them to
get them out,i had a floor jack under the spring
and the arm was unbolted. the new ones were easy
because they were lowering springs.

duk no seriously you need to get a internal spring compressor and compress it enough to pop the lower half of the spring in place while you have a jack under the lower control arm. i did this on my monte carlo (same type spring very long spring to fit in a short place) one side went in fine the drivers side gave me hell. be careful you need all yer limbs to finish the car

Both sides when in to problem. We installed the strut/spindle, attached the ball joint, but a floor jack under teh arm and put it in.

since hte engine was out, we had to set an old 'boat anchor' in the engine bat to hold the sucker down. Went in easilty and with no 'weird' movements.