| Author |
Message |
|
tommop
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:19 pm |
|
|
Hey guys,
I just picked up some front and rear coil spacers off a mate and have installed the rear without any drama...
The front however is testing my mediocre auto skills as I cant get the front spring out. I have dropped the strut and unattached the swaybar (thinking that may help) but am unable to lower the control arm enough to squeeze out the spring.
My problem is that if i go crazy with garage anger and get it out, I wont be able to get it back in with the spacer.
Can someone please run me through the steps as to what else needs unbolting to get the spring out/in.
Thanks HEAPS my car is out of action till this is done.
(95 SWB Vitara by the way)
-Tom
|
|
|
|
|
Schnerb
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:30 pm Posts: 68 Location: melbourne
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:30 pm |
|
|
the easiest way to do it if you dont have a spring compressor, would be to jack up the side you want to pop out (so the spring compresses ange goes short... then get under there with some really strong wire. wrap it around on two sides of the spring, tie it off... then you can drop it back down slowly, and the spring should stay compressed due to the wire. then when you jack the car on the chasis, it will come out easily. I would be very careful doing this process though, and some might say im an idiot for doing it, as you will then have a spring under load in your hands. but thats the easiest way for the back yard mechanic in my opinion. just be careful... youve been warned
Chris
_________________
98 Jimny - 2 inch lift. 235 maxis bighorns. spotti
|
|
|
|
|
|
tommop
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:37 pm |
|
|
Thanks chris
I just found the service manual on this site (didnt know it was there and very bloody happy i have one now)
it has the correct steps to remove the spring and its far too much work for me to do with the tools i have...may stop past superchump auto and get some spring clamps then have another crack
i think id trust the clamps a bit more than whatever i find in haste (probably speaker wire haha)
|
|
|
|
|
ODA1
Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:30 pm Posts: 1414
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:59 pm |
|
i did the wire thing a while back, dad had some aircraft wire in his tool box and it worked a treat...
was still very nervous 
|
|
|
|
|
atari4x4
az supporter
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:30 pm Posts: 34842 Location: East Radelayed
Vehicle: SV420+SV620 Vitara's
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:05 pm |
|
|
you should be able to unbolt the strut from the steering knuckle, remove the sway bar & push the wish bone down by standing on it. this should give you enough room to get someone to slide the spacer in.
_________________
You're just hating because you don't understand
|
|
|
|
|
atari4x4
az supporter
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:30 pm Posts: 34842 Location: East Radelayed
Vehicle: SV420+SV620 Vitara's
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:06 pm |
|
ODA1 wrote: i did the wire thing a while back, dad had some aircraft wire in his tool box and it worked a treat... was still very nervous lots & lots of cable ties MIGHT[b] also work 
_________________
You're just hating because you don't understand
|
|
|
|
|
Schnerb
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:30 pm Posts: 68 Location: melbourne
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:47 pm |
|
atari4x4 wrote: ODA1 wrote: i did the wire thing a while back, dad had some aircraft wire in his tool box and it worked a treat... was still very nervous lots & lots of cable ties MIGHT[b] also work hahahaha, now there is a sure way that nothing would ever go wrong! cable ties can fix just about anything, so why not hold springs down. hahaha
_________________
98 Jimny - 2 inch lift. 235 maxis bighorns. spotti
|
|
|
|
|
eldo
az supporter
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 11:30 pm Posts: 2770 Location: sunny coast
Vehicle: jimny
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:23 pm |
|
|
try using a ratchet strap instead
|
|
|
|
|
|
tommop
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:30 pm |
|
|
My mate just told me he should be able to get hold of a couple of spring clamps so i put it all back together and will wait till next day off to attack it again...
its amazing how much an inch difference makes when i look at the front and the back....hopefully with the front spacers it sits nice and level again
should be enough room for the sexy looking muddies i saw at the tyre shop this morning
thanks for the ideas guys
|
|
|
|
|
BJPK
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:30 pm Posts: 786 Location: perth
|
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:32 pm |
|
atari4x4 wrote: you should be able to unbolt the strut from the steering knuckle, remove the sway bar & push the wish bone down by standing on it. this should give you enough room to get someone to slide the spacer in.
x2 i never needed spring compressor to fit spacers to my old vit. just lever on the control arm and it should give enough room 
|
|
|
|
|
crazynic
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:30 pm Posts: 69 Location: Jindabyne, NSW
|
Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:47 am |
|
|
Yeah you do not need spring compressors.
Once you have removed the strut and steering knuckle you can loosen the bolts that attach the lower arms to the chassis.
If you use a jack under the lower arm it makes re-installation a lot easier.
Doing it this way you have to make sure that you re-tighten the lower arm bolts at the chassis end up while the vehicle is sitting at ride height so you do not prematurely damage the rubber bushes.....
As a side note you should always make note of any bushes affected by ride height change and "reset" them at ride height after a lift has been installed of removed for that matter.
I'm sorry for going on but i know for a fact that many people do not bother or do not know to take this step and inadvertently shorten the life of their rubber suspension bushes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
