Spring compressor

[LarryH]

Over the years i've rebuilt several front ends, from a '62 Bel Air, several Chevy trucks, an El Camino and my son's first generation Mustang. Lot's of work but not really complicated.

Until now. The '56 is giving me fits. No matter how i hook the spring compressor up I just can't get the springs compressed enough (Eckler's 2" dropped springs) to get the a-arms into position. I tried using both hook attachments. They bottomed out on each other before the spring was compressed enough. I tried using just on attachment but the bolt hits the top of the frame before the spring is fully compressed.

Any ideas before i hook the winch to it, drag it out into the street and torch it? Maybe a different type of spring compressor?

[557B210]

What type of spring compressor are you using? Maybe a different type will do the job...Please be careful....See link:

http://www.classicchevy.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=49%2D240&dept%5Fid=120

[acardon]

The original tri-5 spring compressor was a threaded rod with a eye on one end. I use a 5/8" threaded rod from Home Depot. I take the lower control arm shaft loose from the crossmember and use a large washer on the rod where the shock mounts. Raise the control arm and spring with the threaded rod. You can put 2 long bolts in the cross shaft mounting holes to guide the arm up into position.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955/55csm0308.html
GM front end tools....http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955/55csm0312.html

[LarryH]

What type of spring compressor are you using? Maybe a different type will do the job...Pease be careful....See link:

http://www.classicchevy.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=49%2D240&dept%5Fid=120

Okay. I think i see the problem. I need a different type of spring compressor. This is what i have:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CO7VKG/ref=asc_df_B000CO7VKG702414?smid=A2DZ2V7B8TRIYM&tag=shopzilla_rev_1046-20&linkCode=asn

And yes....safety first. I always use a heavy duty piece of chain and a grade 8 bolt and chain the spring to the a-arm.

Just gotta add: This site is great. I knew you guys would have the answer.

[Ari]

Try this.....

http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19587&highlight=spring+compressor&page=2


My excerpt......

Ok, so as a follow-up on this....here's what worked for me. The internal spring compressor with the two fingers that go around the springs didn't work out well. It kept slipping and just didn't seem safe. I was getting frustrated, so I decided to walk away from the car for the night. What I did was use the home made spring compressor with the 1/2" all thred, eye bolt, etc... I fed that through the shock mount hole, through the new spring, and through the lower A-arm. I used a thick piece of steel bar under the a-arm, through the eye bolt. Looking at the all thread, I thought to myself, "this is going to take forever".

So, I placed my jack under the lower a-arm and started compressing the spring. As I would pump up the jack, I would then tighted up on the all thread to keep things compressed. Reposition the jack if needed, and keep jacking the lower a-arm and compressing the spring more, I would then tighted up on the all thread to keep things compressed. Repeat, etc... Don't forget to make sure the spring is properly seated in the a-arm. Once I got one side figured out, it took about 5 minutes to complete the other side. This method proved to be quick, safe, and inexpensive (who said you can't have all three )

Once the spindle is mounted, loosen up the all thread, lower the jack, drop the all thread through the bottom of the lower a-arm, remove the eyebolt, and pull the all-thread through the top shock mount hole.

[Jemo]

I did something similar to what Don explained. I used a 24" threaded rod, 2 washers, three 1/2" bolts, 4" long eye bolt, coupler, and the bottom part of a shock.

The rod screws on to the eye bolt using the coupler. Put one bolt on each end of the coupler and tighten. Push the rod up through the bottom (detached) control arm and up through the top of the frame. Put on two washers and a bolt at the top. On the bottom, insert the bottom part of an old front shock through the eye bolt and bolt to the shock mounts. Start cranking on the top bolt and it will slowly compress.

Works okay but takes a lot of time to compress and lining up the control arm is challenging but possible. I found the threads on the rod stripped after doing one control arm so for safety's sake, buy two rods so you don't have to re-use one. They're cheap.

Jeff

[56Mark]

I did the same as Jemo and others. Here are a couple of pictures. It worked great and is cheap. Lowes has all of the pieces.

http://www.trifive.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=229&pictureid=1719

http://www.trifive.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=229&pictureid=1721

[a55togo]

if the motor is in the car, i just use the jack under the lower control(A) arm with the spring in place. I know it's not the safest way, but it does work, especially if your local hardware store is closed. Now if the motor is not in the car, you have not a choice but to use a spring compressor as there is not enough wieght to compress it.
Ed

[LarryH]

...i just use the jack under the lower control(A) arm with the spring in place.

That's the way i usually do it (after chaining the spring to the a-arm) and that's the way i removed it on the '56. But going back on the spring is to long.

[57viper]

I built my own but it helps that I'm a machinist, I made it to operate from the top side with an electric impact gun, I used a brass washer and a thrust bearing at the top shock mount hole, 5/8 SS threaded rod and made the bottom piece from cold rolled steel with nut welded to the bottom in case I needed to hold it with a wrench, I have never had to so far, stick the rod through the top hole down through the bottom A arm screw on the bottom until it is snug against the bottom hole and screw away, makes it sooo easy.
7508

7509

7510

[yellow57]

larry i used the the one you have i just put it down the hole were the shock came out of on the top. there is a bushing you may have to remove. then i used the fork part that was threaded on the lower part of the spring and tightened it down.

[larryz4]

I did the same as Jemo and others. Here are a couple of pictures. It worked great and is cheap. Lowes has all of the pieces.

http://www.trifive.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=229&pictureid=1719

http://www.trifive.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=229&pictureid=1721

Ok guys a little help here! I made a "spring compressor" like this one. I am not sure how I can get the spring into the "pockets" while using it? Also, I not sure how many threads I haver into the coupler, is a minimum to avoid what I see in my minds eye a helical projectile?

[DUKEOFBLUZ]

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL610/3413303/8483066/221896995.jpg

[larryz4]

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL610/3413303/8483066/221896995.jpg

Well, that would work....if I had such a contrap.....tool. Is this a rentable tool or is it yet anothet purchase??????

[tjsdelivery]

Not sure about the eyelet on one end. I used an all threaded rod with a plate on the bottom of a arm and a thick washer on top of shock mount.

[BigBoyzToyz]

I've always been able to install the shorter 2" drop springs with out a compressor. They're short enough to put a jack under the lower a arm and get the ball joint nut started.

[DUKEOFBLUZ]

Well, that would work....if I had such a contrap.....tool. Is this a rentable tool or is it yet anothet purchase??????

I borrowed it from a friend, it might be worth it to check the local rental companies.

Jeffrey

[rogmur]

I am going to make one of these compressors. Are the bolts that hold the shock in 7/16 coarse thread? I am going to go buy the stuff at lunch time and I want to get the correct bolts to secure the bottom plate to the lower A arm. thanks

rogmur

[557B210]

The original tri-5 spring compressor was a threaded rod with a eye on one end. I use a 5/8" threaded rod from Home Depot. I take the lower control arm shaft loose from the crossmember and use a large washer on the rod where the shock mounts. Raise the control arm and spring with the threaded rod. You can put 2 long bolts in the cross shaft mounting holes to guide the arm up into position.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955/55csm0308.html
GM front end tools....http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955/55csm0312.html

[rogmur]

Thanks David...I won't bother with the bolts to the A arm. Since I am just working with the frame now, I have been holding the frame down with the bucket on the front loader! going to use a floor jack in addition as the one post suggested. Man these projects can be frustrating! borrowed a spring compressor from Autozone...that did not work at all. I am so glad that I found this site!

rogmur

[jerrspud]

Okay. I think i see the problem. I need a different type of spring compressor. This is what i have:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CO7VKG/ref=asc_df_B000CO7VKG702414?smid=A2DZ2V7B8TRIYM&tag=shopzilla_rev_1046-20&linkCode=asn

And yes....safety first. I always use a heavy duty piece of chain and a grade 8 bolt and chain the spring to the a-arm.

Just gotta add: This site is great. I knew you guys would have the answer.http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/218VH-fwt7L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

That is what I have, and I was able to get it to work on two different cars. I just used a hammer and tapped the top so it would spin around the spring as high as possible and did the same thing on the bottom with no problems.
You can also compress it half way, then use these kind
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31jTHGSrIsL._SL500_AA280_.jpg to hold the spring and adjust the inner one. Than tighten down the inner one and compress it the rest of the way.

Way easier than making a tool.:)

[larryz4]

OK, I wanted to give a progress report, after giving this much thought (probably too much), I have decided to try the lower A-arm hanging free method. It turns out that is method worked !!!!! I was able to get the Driver side spring back in, and I will put the passenger side in tonight.

I used the floor jack to keep pressure on the lower arm "just in case", and the only assitance I needed was to have the wife hold the bolt down against the frame with a screwdriver while I put the lock washer and nut on the long bolt on the aft side of the a arm.

I sure hope the springs are in the pockets and if not I hope that after the front end bounces around a while they will settle in where they belong.

I want to thanks everyone here for the great advice and sharing what worked for them.