ok got my springs ...do i need a spring compresser to change them. and is there any tips on a ez way to do this..

 

I use wire clothes hangers. They need to be wraped around (tight) several times and then twist the ends together. Use 2 hangers for each spring one on each side. This is can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

do you know how to get the coil/strut out? if so all you have to do is undo the top 14mm nut and the spring will come off(stand off to the side). if you do not know how to get the combo out i will try to list process.

 

the safest way... (even safer than with some cmpressors) is to take the main bolt off the assembly while the car is still on the ground....when the car is slowly jaceked up, the force of the spring is released by the weight of the car....there is no way the spring can get loose and hit you or anything else. there is an amazing amount of force in those springs and you cant mess around...

 

yea, that is the best way to do it. safety first, i agree.

 

or you can rent a srping compressor from your local shop for free. you just have to put a down payment for what its worth.

 

so what your saying is to undo all the top bolts while wieght of the car is on them then lift the car up to release the presser off the spring?.. oh and yes i do know how to get them out i have changeed the hole thing last time now i just want to put my new springs in.

 

yup...that's it...the install is the opposite....put the jack under the control arm and guide the end of the strut up into the hole and put the bolt on....then tighten it completely when all the weight is back down on the car. simple, quick, and safe. I've done it a million times...well, not a million...

 

thanx guys i`m going to give her a shot...

 

ok im doing this tomorrow to my GSR. So you're saying the safest way is to undo the main bolt while the car is on the ground, and then slowly jack up the car? Keep the wheels on while jacking up? Are you able to jack up the car, and have the spring completely uncompress??? Same process for the back?

This seems too easy, so Im very skeptical. And I've heard stories about people getting fukced up by that spring. Safety!!

 

I just asked a friend about this. He said he tried it on his Cavalier before, and with all the force unloaded by undoing the bolt, it ended up breaking his axel, and he wasnt able to pull out the assembly. I cant be without my car if I break something! so I need to do it right the first time. Please help!

 

cavalier's are **** I guess haha. I've done this sooo many times w/ no problem. it kinda sounds like your friend had his car in the air when he took the nut off...make sure the car's on the ground. simple.

 

get a spring compressor- it is the proper way to do this- don't go unbolting the spring retaining nut and raising the car to relieve tension- that is ghetto and you can have a hard time getting the assembly out- and might damage something (brake hoses) especially if the lower fork bolt is frozen through the lower control arm. Get a Helms book- it shows how to remove them.

 

i followed marked001's procedure recently when i did my springs, and i ran into a few problems. i loosened the strut bolt, jacked it up, but the problem was the spring was too long uncompressed, so i couldn't get the damn spring/strut/fork assembly out. i had to unbolt the upper balljoint to get them out.