Stock Springs

abox5 · Mar 6, 2010

Hey Guys,

I could use a little help. I have a 94 GT Convertible. I am in the process of changing my front original stock control arms to some Ford Racing Control arms. I am also putting in new struts. I have the control arm, spring, and spindle out. I have bolted the new control arm in at the bushings. I have the car jacked up high enough that the control arm is almost verticle under the car. I am having a heck of a time getting the stock spring back in. It is so long that even with the control arm almost verticle it still won't fit back in the seat. I have tried extrenal spring compressors, but they interfer with the control arm and prevent the spring from aligning. I looked at an internal spring compressor but the knuckles on them are too large to get through the hole in the control arm, so I wouldn't be able to get it back out. So now I have a 3 wheeled mustang, unique but as usless as birdcrap on a pumphandle.

Anybody had this problem? All articles I've seen are about replacing the stock springs with shortened aftermarket springs.

Thanks,

ReplicaR · Mar 6, 2010

I'm not sure if you've tried this already, as I'm a bit confused by your question, but most people will unbolt the control arm from the k-member, install the spring, and then use a floor jack to pick the control arm back to where it aligns with the mounting holes.

mustangshane · Mar 8, 2010

Please do not unbolt the control arm from the K-member. It is a pain. But use the external spring clamps. Pinch the spring at the sides. Get it to seat into the arm by using a floor jack under the arm to pivot the arm up. Then slowly take the spring clamps off and jack the arm the rest of the way into position with the carrier/spindle. You might even be able to use one clamp and compress it enough from what will be the outside of the spring to go in. Thats the method I used. Its a huge pain and you might want to enlist the help of a friend of prybar.

abox5 · Mar 14, 2010

Thanks for the help guys, I tried unbolting the arm from the K member but the springs were still too long to fit back in the seat. I was able to find a spring compressor at O'Riellys that goes through the coil. It works but it is a Chinese puzzle trying to figure out how to get the hook portion of the clamp back out of the coil. If anyone tries it, you have to let the control arm down as far as it will go and still retain the spring the use a pry bar to open the coil and pull the hooks out. The first side took me 5 hrs to replace the control arm and strut. I did the other side in about 2 hrs. Once you get a process that works it is a pretty quick job.