How to remove HQ front springs? - Aussie V8 | Holden - Ford

RobKarloff · 29-08-2008, 04:30 AM

Can someone tell me how best to remove the front springs on an HQ so I can take the front suspension apart? There isn't really space between the upper and lower a-arm to get spring compressors into place, is there some trick way of doing it?

76lxhatch · 29-08-2008, 06:06 AM

The style of spring compressor you need has a threaded rod that goes down the centre through the shock mounting hole at the top (take the shock out through the bottom first). It has two 'tabs' that you attach to the bottom end which sit under one of the lowest coils, then you wind it up using a nut on top. Some people do it the dodgy way with a jack or two but this can be quite dangerous unless your springs are really low and I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

RobKarloff · 29-08-2008, 07:53 AM

Yeah, I see what you mean. The jack option is out as the car is totally stripped down already, no panels, no doors, no interior, no driveline, etc.

Karl_HQ · 29-08-2008, 08:02 AM

I just cut down a set of cheap chinese spring compressors to suit...

Yes, the correct tool is the centre thread type compressor... You may also have trouble reassembling your suspension without the weight of the engine....

76lxhatch · 29-08-2008, 09:27 AM

No probs with the proper compressor though - cheap enough to make one with a piece of threaded rod and a couple of bits of steel

Dirtcowboy · 29-08-2008, 06:04 PM

anyone have any pictures from when they are were doing their springs I m a more of a visual learner that and I would prefer not to catch a spring in the teeth if i do it the wrong way.

rlj308 · 29-08-2008, 06:09 PM

the springs sit in a well the weight of the car will keep them there stripped or not using a jack is safe enough they dont fly out or anything at all impossible.

RobKarloff · 29-08-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlj308

the springs sit in a well the weight of the car will keep them there stripped or not using a jack is safe enough they dont fly out or anything at all impossible.

On mine it looks like the lower arm would move downward a fair bit more if I just undid the top or bottom balljoint nut, and there looks to still be a lot of spring pressure there so I think it would go with a big bang! Regardless, that would let me take the top a-arm off but I want the spring out and the whole front subframe stripped down so I can take it off the car, clean it up and rebuild with all the nice new parts I bought from Rarespares about 2 years ago

greenhj · 29-08-2008, 07:18 PM

just get a proper spring compressor, itll save a lot of agony in the end.

76lxhatch · 29-08-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlj308

the springs sit in a well the weight of the car will keep them there stripped or not using a jack is safe enough they dont fly out or anything at all impossible.

Unless you have really low springs, hell yes they will fly out if the jack slips! Using the compressor they will be held in place and the tension can be let off slowly and under control. I don't actually have any pics of the process but this is the spring compressor (very simple):

stroker355 · 30-08-2008, 12:52 AM

I pulled out a set of stockos once using two jacks, lol, the spring sort of sprung out, but not too badly, did no damage at all, if lowered right down after ball joint is removed,.. then I cut 3/4 coil off, and it went back in with a bit of force, jacked it up and was all good.

PRO-GMH · 30-08-2008, 05:59 PM

I was mucking around with mine a while ago.

Pull wheel off. Pull shock absorber out (Its simple, just undo the bolts at bottom and top and drop it down through the bottom). Then undo the nut on the ball joint, but leave it still on the top, dont remove it all together. You may need to hammer the metal part that the thread from the balljoint goes into with a few hard slams to get the ball joint to drop down.
I had the car on stands with a jack used at the bottom of the lower control arm for a little pressure - its not much at all, just keeps the pressure off the balljoint thread.

Once youve cracked the balljoint out, take the nut off the top of the thread, lower your jack down slowly and your spring will drop down. Make sure you have enough height to lower the jack down.

It wont shoot out at you, it might startle you first time as it slightly moves, it does it quickly.

After the first spring youll be an expert.

If you get stuck, sit down and just look at it all. See where everything connects and whats holding it in and then have a go at it.

Safety is paramount though, make sure youre using jack stands!

Ugly Ash · 30-08-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRO-GMH

I was mucking around with mine a while ago.

Pull wheel off. Pull shock absorber out (Its simple, just undo the bolts at bottom and top and drop it down through the bottom). Then undo the nut on the ball joint, but leave it still on the top, dont remove it all together. You may need to hammer the metal part that the thread from the balljoint goes into with a few hard slams to get the ball joint to drop down.
I had the car on stands with a jack used at the bottom of the lower control arm for a little pressure - its not much at all, just keeps the pressure off the balljoint thread.

Once youve cracked the balljoint out, take the nut off the top of the thread, lower your jack down slowly and your spring will drop down. Make sure you have enough height to lower the jack down.

It wont shoot out at you, it might startle you first time as it slightly moves, it does it quickly.

After the first spring youll be an expert.

If you get stuck, sit down and just look at it all. See where everything connects and whats holding it in and then have a go at it.

Safety is paramount though, make sure youre using jack stands!

don't forget the swaybar mount, gotta undo that too.

pro068 · 30-08-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stroker355

I pulled out a set of stockos once using two jacks, lol, the spring sort of sprung out, but not too badly, did no damage at all, if lowered right down after ball joint is removed,.. then I cut 3/4 coil off, and it went back in with a bit of force, jacked it up and was all good.

Yep, been doing it like that for years. Still got all me teeth

29-08-2008, 04:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
RobKarloff casual poster Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Ride: 1972 HQ Kingswood Posts: 42	How to remove HQ front springs? Can someone tell me how best to remove the front springs on an HQ so I can take the front suspension apart? There isn't really space between the upper and lower a-arm to get spring compressors into place, is there some trick way of doing it?

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29-08-2008, 06:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
76lxhatch Sure why not? Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nelson NZ Ride: SS Torana Posts: 1,792	The style of spring compressor you need has a threaded rod that goes down the centre through the shock mounting hole at the top (take the shock out through the bottom first). It has two 'tabs' that you attach to the bottom end which sit under one of the lowest coils, then you wind it up using a nut on top. Some people do it the dodgy way with a jack or two but this can be quite dangerous unless your springs are really low and I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

29-08-2008, 07:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
RobKarloff casual poster Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Ride: 1972 HQ Kingswood Posts: 42	Yeah, I see what you mean. The jack option is out as the car is totally stripped down already, no panels, no doors, no interior, no driveline, etc.

29-08-2008, 08:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Karl_HQ casual poster Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: adelaide Ride: HQ 350 Monaro, 355 LX Hatch & vs commy Posts: 193	I just cut down a set of cheap chinese spring compressors to suit... Yes, the correct tool is the centre thread type compressor... You may also have trouble reassembling your suspension without the weight of the engine....

29-08-2008, 09:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
76lxhatch Sure why not? Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nelson NZ Ride: SS Torana Posts: 1,792	No probs with the proper compressor though - cheap enough to make one with a piece of threaded rod and a couple of bits of steel

29-08-2008, 06:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dirtcowboy casual poster Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nth Brisbane Ride: WB one tonner + HJ style side Posts: 131	anyone have any pictures from when they are were doing their springs I m a more of a visual learner that and I would prefer not to catch a spring in the teeth if i do it the wrong way.

29-08-2008, 06:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
rlj308 Part of the furniture Trade Rating: (1) Join Date: May 2007 Location: ipswich Ride: lj torana, gu 3.0td patrol , trusty transit Posts: 887	the springs sit in a well the weight of the car will keep them there stripped or not using a jack is safe enough they dont fly out or anything at all impossible.

29-08-2008, 07:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
greenhj not to be trusted Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: melbourne Ride: vz crewman, vs wag, the green one, EH prem soon. Posts: 1,848	just get a proper spring compressor, itll save a lot of agony in the end.

30-08-2008, 12:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
stroker355 Do you ever leave? Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: townsville Ride: hx coupe Posts: 1,883	I pulled out a set of stockos once using two jacks, lol, the spring sort of sprung out, but not too badly, did no damage at all, if lowered right down after ball joint is removed,.. then I cut 3/4 coil off, and it went back in with a bit of force, jacked it up and was all good.

30-08-2008, 05:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
PRO-GMH Senior Member Trade Rating: (0) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bronx Ride: monaro coupe 350 Posts: 686	I was mucking around with mine a while ago. Pull wheel off. Pull shock absorber out (Its simple, just undo the bolts at bottom and top and drop it down through the bottom). Then undo the nut on the ball joint, but leave it still on the top, dont remove it all together. You may need to hammer the metal part that the thread from the balljoint goes into with a few hard slams to get the ball joint to drop down. I had the car on stands with a jack used at the bottom of the lower control arm for a little pressure - its not much at all, just keeps the pressure off the balljoint thread. Once youve cracked the balljoint out, take the nut off the top of the thread, lower your jack down slowly and your spring will drop down. Make sure you have enough height to lower the jack down. It wont shoot out at you, it might startle you first time as it slightly moves, it does it quickly. After the first spring youll be an expert. If you get stuck, sit down and just look at it all. See where everything connects and whats holding it in and then have a go at it. Safety is paramount though, make sure youre using jack stands!

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