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Spring Puller |
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Turbo301 
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Joined: 11-March-2007 Location: London, Ontario Status: Offline Points: 331 |
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 Topic: Spring PullerPosted: 31-December-2010 at 7:05AM |
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I am contemplating a front-end rebuild for my Cougar, and am looking at spring pullers. I've noticed the two kinds, the one that goes inside the spring and the one that is 2 or 3 pieces that fits on the outside of the spring. I'm assuming we would use the latter, the type that fits on the outside of the spring, correct? I don't see any way to fit the other kind past the A-arm!
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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
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Psquare75
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Member of the Stroker Club Joined: 26-November-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4591 |
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 7:23AM |
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I won't advise it, but when I do my car I usually have the car in the air on jackstands. I'll put a floor jack under the lower control arm, raising it a bit. I'll proceed to remove the upper arm and spindle I'll also disconnect the shock absorber from the lower arm only.. I'll then undo the strut rod from the lower control arm.
Finally I'll lower the floor jack (standing to the side) and let the shock hang, passing through the control arm while it drops. I'll then use a BFPB, (big F____ pry bar) and stand to one side as the spring pops off the lower arm. Springs kill. I never came across an internal spring compressor.. the external type won't work with our springs (I've tried), but I've never had one fly anywhere leaving the shock absorber on. YMMV  Pretty much like this Edited by Psquare75 - 31-December-2010 at 7:30AM |
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Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD* 78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1 79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1 'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500 |
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Turbo301
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Joined: 11-March-2007 Location: London, Ontario Status: Offline Points: 331 |
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 8:19AM |
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I've read that the method you describe should only be used by really experienced people. I don't consider myself experienced ^_^. My friend and I took the springs out of his 4Runner using big C-clamps; I figured the external spring clamps are kind of like C-clamps and would work. Why don't they work with our springs, just too hard to get to? The internal spring pullers are like this: http://toolsandmore.us/ProductImages/mit/5734mit.jpg
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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
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Psquare75
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Member of the Stroker Club Joined: 26-November-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4591 |
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 8:23AM |
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The externals don''t work because the frame and control arm get in the way.
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Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD* 78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1 79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1 'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500 |
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Turbo301
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Joined: 11-March-2007 Location: London, Ontario Status: Offline Points: 331 |
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 8:25AM |
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Drat, I was affraid of that. I guess the internals are what's intended, then. I'll have to look at my manual when I get home.
Thanks!
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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
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Psquare75
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 8:26AM |
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To be honest, I'd be afraid to use the big C Clamps over 'my' method.. clamp slips with your hand on and it, bye bye fingers.
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Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD* 78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1 79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1 'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500 |
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stanman
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Joined: 23-March-2007 Location: Nova Scotia, Ca Status: Offline Points: 1432 |
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 11:05AM |
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I'm assuming the front end on your Cougar (it's a '77, right?) is the same as a '72 Torino. IIRC, you remove the shock first, then feed the internal type spring compressor up through the hole the shock came out of. Carefully hook all 4 hooks on the compressor on the spring coils as close to the ends of the spring as possible and tighten compressor as much as possible. The spring will compress if done correctly, then the ball joint can be disconnected safely, and the spring can be removed. Of course, be VERY CAREFUL because if the compressor slips, bad things will happen.
If you don't plan on re-using the spring, you can heat it with an oxy-acetylene torch and it will collapse. Then you still have to use the compressor to compress the new spring for re-assembly. If I've forgotten anything, I'm sure someone will tell me off. Edited by stanman - 31-December-2010 at 11:08AM |
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lynchster
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 12:14PM |
I had to go with a slightly different approach when I reinstalled my new springs. I too removed the shock but used a large heavy washer in place of the upper "hook". Basically I cranked the spring up into the pocket and then installed the lower arm.
The only downside being a perfect circle of paint damage to my painted frame
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Chuck
72 Gran Torino Sport 13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig" |
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stanman
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Joined: 23-March-2007 Location: Nova Scotia, Ca Status: Offline Points: 1432 |
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Posted: 31-December-2010 at 12:24PM |
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Still a good idea, except for the paint damage. I'm sure you're the only one that will notice it.
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stuck
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Joined: 23-December-2007 Location: michigan Status: Offline Points: 279 |
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Posted: 10-January-2011 at 5:53PM |
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the classic ford manual says lower the control arm ,but i use the internal spring compressor always watching that the hooks stay on the spring because sometimes they move while compressing .remove the shock and the internal compressor slips up thru lower arm . you could use the jack after the spring is mostly compressed . http://www.eastwood.com/coilspring-compressor-internal.html
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michigan
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Turbo301
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Posted: 11-January-2011 at 2:26AM |
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Ah, cool, so the internal spring puller will fit through the shock hole in the lower arm? Perfect! I'd feel much safer using one of those.
I'm not too worried about paint damage to the frame - I don't think there's any paint left on it LOL! - but hopefully I could fit the spring in with the correct clamps.
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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
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stanman wrote: