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I'm working on my 92 camaro rs. Does anyone know how to install springs inside a umi A arm? It's a PITA to put them in. I'm using the inner hook, Lower claw spring compressor, but it just seems like it doesn't want to go in.
You don't have the coil compressor very tight yet. Screw on that thing until coils almost touch each other. And your bottom coil isn't even close to properly positioned yet, it's all jammed up in the pocket. Need to push it further toward the rear of the pocket before you can get the coil to drop in. If you don't get the end of that bottom coil hooked onto the back rail then the spring will never ever in a million years drop into the pocket.
Personally I hate spring compressors. And I've never used one with lowering springs. I put a jack under the a-arm and put the spring in place and start coming up with the jack. Bottom coil will get hung up on the wall of the spring pocket. I stop at a place where the spring isn't highly compressed yet but begins to straighten out some. Then I give the bottom coil a whack with a big *** dead-blow hammer and knock it into the pocket. The trick is to remember that you can't fight the spring in compression and you can't bend it, its just too strong. But you can make it slide sideways a bit with some encouragement. So get the coil set up so it can slide without the end of the pigtail getting hooked on any objects.
You gotta think like a lazy person. They're the best at figuring out easy ways to get the job done. I put my k-member, engine, and suspension in the car with a bulged disc in my back. It's all about finding the lazy way, man!
I use a jack too. Remove pivots bolts. Jack under spring pocket.
pivot bolts from the A arms? So just place the spring on top of the A arms that's being held with a floor jack, top spring inside the k-member spring pocket and jack it up?
As others have said you don't have to use a spring compressor. I use the method from this thread https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...y-install.html If you use the spring compressor you will have to use a piece of pipe for a spacer and orient the hooks to a certain spot to be able to get the compressor back out. Once you get the hang of it it's not too bad. There are some great pictures in the thread that show you exactly how to do it.
After a few days and dozens of attempt, I decided to place a long fat ratchet socket on the bottom end of the spring that stuck out of the umi middle space. I jacked it up, slightly compressing the spring, gave the spring a deathblow, and finally popped in. It's not exactly indexed correctly. I'm probably and inch and a half off from where it's suppose to be, but I can live with that. Thank you guys for the guidance. Time to install the the rest of the suspension.
03-24-2023, 02:34 PM
