1956 oldsmobile coil springs help needed

[cobalt3]

im working on the coil springs removal and install on my 1956 olds..just need to find a cheap but effective tool to compress the coil springs..i seen one on the harbor freights web site thats a macpherson strut and coil spring compressor for 15 but dont know if thats what will work...thanks

[Tedd Thompson]

You shouldn't need to compress the spring.

# 1 hoist the rear of the car and remove the shock absorber, the U bolts, insulators and spring clamp plates.

#2 Use a jack to raise the Axel housing off the spring.

#3 Remove the shackle bolts.

#4 Disconnect the front of the spring from the hanger by removing the front spring nut and bolt.

#5 Remove the spring.

#6 You need to purchase a shop manual quickly.. The money you spend on tools you don't need will buy your manual in no time.I love to help but I type poorly and the shop manual comes with great illistrations...Tedd

[slyhog022056]

Ummm did i miss something here?? He was asking about the coil springs not the leafs.
Yes harbor freight sell a couple of different ones and the work like 2 hooks drawn together by a piece of hardened all thread. Jack up the front under the lower A-arm, put on BOTH spring compressors, on on each side 180* apart, set the frame on a jack stand and slowly lower the a-arm, when the tension is off the spring will be loose enough to remove it, oh yeah remove the shock and sway bar on that side, and you may have to pull down on the a arm to get enough room to remove it. If you have to take off the spring compressors for any reason wrap a chain around the spring tightly cuz when you try to remove them they can slip and a coil spring is a very deadly missile. just please be very careful.

[pete324rock]

Ummm did i miss something here?? He was asking about the coil springs not the leafs.
Yes harbor freight sell a couple of different ones and the work like 2 hooks drawn together by a piece of hardened all thread. Jack up the front under the lower A-arm, put on BOTH spring compressors, on on each side 180* apart, set the frame on a jack stand and slowly lower the a-arm, when the tension is off the spring will be loose enough to remove it, oh yeah remove the shock and sway bar on that side, and you may have to pull down on the a arm to get enough room to remove it. If you have to take off the spring compressors for any reason wrap a chain around the spring tightly cuz when you try to remove them they can slip and a coil spring is a very deadly missile. just please be very careful.

When the car is jacked up and the suspension is hanging,the pressure on the front springs isn't all that great,and so ,if you are doing a front end rebuild,using a trolley jack under the arms, after all important linkage is disconnected, you can undo the pivot point, keeping jack tension on, and releasing it when fasteners are free.I had my front end all apart,never recall using a spring compressor.....keep some steel dowels handy for hole alignment when reinstalling....if you have shitty tools ....don't take chances.

[chuck56]

This will only work if the engine is still installed. With the engine out, as mine was, when you jack on the arms, the whole front end will raise. Chuck 56

[pete324rock]

This will only work if the engine is still installed. With the engine out, as mine was, when you jack on the arms, the whole front end will raise. Chuck 56

yes Chuck...good thinkin'......