[ryangus]

Are spring clamps needed for a 95 LWB, or can you get them out without clamps?

[SuziBlu]

When I put spacers in the swb vit I simply tied the springs up under compression of the car, used some wire, so no stretch.

Was piece of cake, I assume there would be no diff with a LWB.

[ryangus]

Well, the back ones were easy, but I'll definitely need clamps for the front Now I just have to find pair!

[banga]

i compress the spring and tied them up with tie down straps bit rough but it got me by when i had to get the springs in with a 30mm spacer. i did treat them like a loaded gun.

[christover1]

I just drop top of strut, and spring all falls out.
A bit tighter now with 50mm spacers, but still easy.

[christover1]

Can help to unclip brake hose from strut, too

[FullyZooked]

christover1 wrote:

Can help to unclip brake hose from strut, too

+1. It's also easy to drop the swaybar and you shit them in.

[DarkHorse]

Try each step, if still not enough room go to next one:

Undo strut (top or bottom)
Release brake line clips (on strut and/or chassis)
Undo swaybar end
Undo steering tie-rod end
Undo lower balljoint (support hub first!)

By now the control arm should be hanging vertical, so if you still can't get the spring in you're doing something seriously wrong...

[Bruce]

ryangus wrote:

Well, the back ones were easy, but I'll definitely need clamps for the front Now I just have to find pair!

Ya not doing it correct if you think you need clamps for the front.

[steak_knife]

SuziBlu wrote:

When I put spacers in the swb vit I simply tied the springs up under compression of the car, used some wire, so no stretch.

Was piece of cake, I assume there would be no diff with a LWB.

While that work's, I feel it's my civic duty to point out, that that is FUCKING DANGEROUS!!!!!

I've seen the aftermath of floor mounted spring compressor's let go, a mate had his skull reconstructed as a result....

& what Bruce said........
Loosen of your control arm bush bolt's, stick the spring in & use a trolley jack to jack up the control arm (not off the ball joint) up into place, please use a lil caution while doing this, spring's can go flying..

[christover1]

sway bar?

Oh yeah I remember them )
Never done it with a sway bar on, but yes it would need undoing.

[Built4thrashing]

with the sway bar , brakes, strut and axle removed my lower arm doesnt drop low enough to let the spring fall out. There is always some tension on the spring. It also touches the bumpstop inside the coil when trying to put coil in / out. But mine is a GV.

Might have to spend a day at Chrisovers place comparing the differences between the GV and Vit front setups.

Does anyone have an old Vitara lower arm i can borrow / steal to check the differences?

[DarkHorse]

Yes, but it's in Brisbane...

[royce]

Built4thrashing wrote:

with the sway bar , brakes, strut and axle removed my lower arm doesnt drop low enough to let the spring fall out. There is always some tension on the spring. It also touches the bumpstop inside the coil when trying to put coil in / out. But mine is a GV.

Might have to spend a day at Chrisovers place comparing the differences between the GV and Vit front setups.

Does anyone have an old Vitara lower arm i can borrow / steal to check the differences?

On a gv the rack ends dont allow it to drop enough, best to pull the hub off at the bottom balljoint

If we could get the god damn massive springs Bruce got made up without compressors then anything is possible

[banga]

Quote:

& what Bruce said........
Loosen of your control arm bush bolt's, stick the spring in & use a trolley jack to jack up the control arm (not off the ball joint) up into place, please use a lil caution while doing this, spring's can go flying..

i had a lot of trouble getting the control arm back into position doing it this way. i think the only way the springs would just drop i out when you undo the strut would be if you had some diff drop brackets. i also remember royce saying that he liked to undo the circlip on the stub axle to relieve pressure off cvs.

[Bruce]

banga wrote:

Quote:

& what Bruce said........
Loosen of your control arm bush bolt's, stick the spring in & use a trolley jack to jack up the control arm (not off the ball joint) up into place, please use a lil caution while doing this, spring's can go flying..

i had a lot of trouble getting the control arm back into position doing it this way. i think the only way the springs would just drop i out when you undo the strut would be if you had some diff drop brackets. i also remember royce saying that he liked to undo the circlip on the stub axle to relieve pressure off cvs.

Yes remove the clip for the cv. The cv will slide out allowing the arm to drop. A few weeks ago I (and 2 others) did a lift on a GV. Rear's took about 15min a side with the front taking about 45mins a side.