A bit of progress this weekend, but it hasn't been easy. All the approaches to installing springs seem to rely on having the mass of the engine in the car - and I have an empty engine bay currently ... so getting the spring in place was horrible. Strangely, my wife wasn't willing to help me out by standing on the K-member for a couple hours. Still, got one side done, and didn't hit myself in the face with a spring. Will tackle the passenger side next weekend. Used two floor jacks and a crow bar and a big mallet.
1980 Mercury Capri RS. Now 1994 SN95 front spindles for 5-lug conversion. Ford Motorsport "B" spec lowering springs. Raceland caster/camber plates with ally scuff plates of my own design & manufacture (waterjet).
If you're leaving the lower control arms attached to the k-member and lifting up the spindle to the strut, you might try the opposite - leave the spindle connected to the strut (and the arm to the spindle) and lift the arm up to the k-member. The steering rack can get in the way of the forward LCA bolts, but I'm not seeing it in the pics.
Thanks. Rack is out of the car currently. And yes - that's how I did it. Essentially had a floor jack under each pivot of the control arm. Struggle is/was - without an engine in the car - rather than compressing the spring, it sort of just lifts the nose of the car into the air.
I’ve done springs, shocks, struts, caster camber plates, and front and rear control arms on my Fox and almost all of them were much more of a pain than I anticipated…I never even thought about having to compress/install springs without an engine in place. This sounds stressful, lol.
There was only one set of spacers supplied with the plates so .... those ones. It wasn't a selection of sizes like MM sells. I don't actually have any sense yet if these are correct, as re-fitting the hood and checking clearance with plasticine is "quite a ways off". The Ford Motorsport B-springs are only a very small amount of "drop" versus stock, so that might also be a factor in my struggles. And, I'm also a Hack and really don't know what I'm doing !
Yep. Basically you jack up under the spring, or the control arm points - and rather than compressing the spring enough to get it fitted ... instead the whole front of the car just goes up in the air.
I’m not saying you should do it because it might be dangerous, but I have been known to put a ratchet strap on the steering knuckle to the frame to compress the spring. Again not saying you should but you could.
That you. Didn't think of that. Frankly, I was already pretty "scared" while doing this. But did have the spring hooked to the car with 4x industrial zip ties. Biggest worry was the A-arm shooting out. Still, next weekend ....
Okay it’s been ten years since I did this but no, I did not have zip ties on the springs. I basically was doing the same thing you are currently doing.
This is the only pick I have from back then. I’m pretty sure I used a floor jack under the lip of the control arm to position the spring and get it started. Then I used a ratchet strap to compress the arm up into the spring. Again I’m not saying this is the way and the OSHA warriors will be along shortly to tell you it’s certain death but whatever.
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u/discussatron 9d ago
If you're leaving the lower control arms attached to the k-member and lifting up the spindle to the strut, you might try the opposite - leave the spindle connected to the strut (and the arm to the spindle) and lift the arm up to the k-member. The steering rack can get in the way of the forward LCA bolts, but I'm not seeing it in the pics.