How to reinstall front springs

[Healeybob]

I am trying to reinstall my front springs. Used a compressor but the center rod hits the middle of the upper spring cavity. Any suggestions on how to get the spring compressed and get it in there?

Thanks

[keiser31]

Maybe get the style of coil spring compressor that fits on the outsides of the springs....

[m-mman]

What is the car?

Typical suspension where the spring is between the frame and the lower control arm the nut to pull the spring together must be accessible through the hole in the control arm.  (the cup in the frame is commonly 'sealed') 

 

Things to know:

The length of the threaded rod does not change. Only one set of arms on the compressor moves up and down the threaded part. 

The threaded part SEEMS to grow, only because the spring is compressing. 

The arm piece that rides against the nut must be as close to the end of the spring as you can get it 

 

To keep the threaded part short enough to not hit the cup in the frame, mount the arms of the compressor as closest to the ends of the spring as they will go. This will compress the entire length of the spring (not just the middle) and should allow the spring to become small enough to be inserted or removed. 

 

YES sometimes this is difficult!  I have had to hook the arms onto the spring and 'thread' them 'deeper' on the spring by twisting the arm assembly such that it is gripping very near the end of the spring. (very deep into the cup in the frame) 

 

Very limited space and you have to be dexterous to place it.  (Or remove the compressor arm assembly once you have installed the spring.)

 

Of course the control arm must be free to swing on the bushings as much as possible to allow insertion/removal of a spring that is not fully compressed.

On 1957-64 Fords I have to use a pry par to hook the (not fully compressed) spring on the control arm protrusion to get it all to fit. 

 

If the spring works against the upper control arm (Falcon? Mustang?) there is usually enough access through the shock holes and control arm that this is not a problem. 

Edited February 22, 2018 by m-mman (see edit history)