Coil spring replacement.

[pat64tbird]

Hello Members,

My brother hit a pot hole on the highway the other day breaking his left front coil spring. My question is: Can I compress this broken spring and remove & replace the spring without separating the upper ball joint from the arm? My brother owns a 1964 Thunderbird. Thank you.

Patrick

[jopizz]

You don't need to separate the ball joint from the arm but you need to remove the bolts and swing the arm out of the way according to the manual. The problem is finding a spring compressor that works. If you look at the diagrams in the shop manual you will see what I mean. This is a much more dangerous job than removing the spring on a squarebird where it sits on the lower arm. The spring sits between the upper arm and the shock tower. I would follow the shop manual to the letter.

John

[jhuebner]

I borrowed a spring compressor from a Mercedes Benz dealer and followed the shop manual while you have apart replace the spring insulators

[pat64tbird]

Thank you for the information.

Patrick

[Yadkin]

Buy an OTC 7045B coil spring compressor. About $170, various on line dealers. That's what I used and it makes the job easy and safe.

[pat64tbird]

Thanks Yadkin. I've seen those spring compressors before. The look much safer that the 'hooked' type ones.

[Yadkin]

I've broken two of those by bending. I've also broken a lesser internal type by stripping the threads. The OTC has an actual thrust bearing that reduces friction during, reducing force on the threads.

[pat64tbird]

I agree. I don't like the design of the hooked type.