Another front suspension question

[jpaulus53]

I don't know a lot about front suspensions but i think i've read about every post on removing front springs that there is.
I still have this question. In this picture we are looking at the front drivers side suspension looking from the front of the car.
WIn order to remove the spring, why can't i

Remove the shock ( 1 )

Remove the sway bar ( 2 )

Support the lower A arm with a floor jack and remove the
bolt from the bottom of the wheel spindle ( 3 ). Then lower the floor jack
and let the lower A arm and spring drop down?

[njoconnor]

Uh...as new as I am at this, I can answer.

The bolt at 3 is actually the lower ball joint. The large 22mm nut you see does hold it on, but like all ball joints, the shaft is a very tight press fit. One usually needs a pickle fork or a compression tool (available at Harbor Freight for a few bucks) to separate ball joints. However. For an idea of what happens when one uses the compression tool WITHOUT the nut attached, see my "cautionary tale" thread. Not Recommended. A Bad Thing (pace Martha Stewart).

There is a You tube video of someone removing the coil spring by using a method similar to what you're describing, and I believe Jay (4uall) successfully used that method. I was not enthused about springs flying about the garage, so I used an internal spring compressor. PITA, and took a while, but much safer. I then removed the ball joints safely while the spindle was locked into a strong bench vise.

Just my opinion. Search for the youtube vid and see what you think. I followed Rick Ridge's method, found here at the old Mirafiori site: http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/sp ... l_Arms.htm

Good luck. Be careful.

Neil

[jpaulus53]

Thanks Neil, As i was spraying up the nuts getting ready to start work i noticed that
my ball joints are bolted to my A arms. Top and bottom, left and right.
What about removing the 3 bolts holding the lower ball joint to the A arm?
then lowering the floor jack. I would chain the spring to the upper A arm for safety while doing this.

[azruss]

the ball joint cup and stud are a single unit. by unbolting the ball joint cup flange, you are not releasing the a-arm from the spindle. Looks like you have a chunk missing from your a-arm.

[njoconnor]

I'm aware of any number of folks out there in non-Fiat land who've used chains, load straps, ratcheting tie downs, etc, to compress or hold coil springs while working near them. Not for me. I prefer a tool purpose made for the task. I'd still use a spring compressor; messing with the ball joint fasteners will be difficult if a floor jack is properly positioned. Too much valuable human real estate too near that spring.

Kick a PM to Jay (4uall) and get his take on the method he used.

Neil

[4uall]

here's the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1akqSJE0ss

I also did one side with a spring compressor. My springs barely moved

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... it=+spring

Be safe no matter which method you choose

[RRoller123]

Spring compressor for sure. Be safe, there is an enormous amount of potential energy stored in a compressed automobile spring.

[jpaulus53]

This is what i did.
I knew i was going to cut my front springs. My ball joints and tie rod ends had less than 500 miles on them, so i really didn't want to ruin them and deal with ball joint compressors and pickle forks. I just wanted to lower the front end.
I bought a very common internal spring compressor at Auto Zone. Removed the shocks. Front left, easy. Drivers side, not so easy. Removed the Anti sway bar (8 nuts) easy. Jacked the car up high and put jack stand under the front cross member.
Took the spring compressor apart and attached the top to the third coil down. Threaded the spring compressor up through the lower control arm and let the compressor grab the bottom of the control arm. Used a 6" pipe to reduce travel on the compressor. Used a 3/4 inch diameter short pipe as a shim on one side of the bottom of the compressor in order to get the angle of the compressor to match the angle of the spring. This is important because once you tighten the compressor down on the control arm it is not going to move. Tightened the compressor. The spring came down from the top, so no pressure or tension on the top 3 coils. Took a Dremel and cut 1.5 coils off the top. Repositioned the rubber cup at the top of the spring and cranked the compressor back out. This is why its important to have the angle correct, because at this point you can't really guide the spring, if the angle is right just let off the tension and it will go right back where it belongs.

Compressor at correct angle


Bottom of control arm with pipe shim


What i cut out


Car sits at 24.25 inches to top of wheel well, even on both sides. I'm very happy

[njoconnor]

Nicely done! Those compressors can be a PITA, but much safer to use. Nice idea about cutting the coils in situ!

Neil

[temason]

Cut with a dremel???

[jpaulus53]

Yep a Dremel. A large grinder would not fit in that small of a space. I broke 3 wheels cutting the first spring and
cut the second spring without breaking a single wheel. Takes about 10 min. to cut a spring.
Jim

[azruss]

Sears sells dremel cut-off discs of varied thickness. requires a very steady hand, especially with the very thin discs. These also work well for cutting sheetmetal and unibody sections.

[njoconnor]

+1 on Dremels. Great on completely fouled nuts/bolts of course, but with wire brush wheels keeps the electric gremlins at bay. I could see cutting metal with one of mine; I'm impressed that you only used 4 total; I've used more on a bolt (keep the hand/angle steady and gentle pressure....)

Neil

[temason]

Very well then, it's on! I was dreading disassembly of my brand new front suspension to cut the springs, I will give it a try. I own a couple of dremels, need to get a few more cutting disks and see what happens.

[KandJinmaine]

Not to sound like an old lady or anything, but ....just make sure the cut-off wheels you are using are rated for the speed of the tool ( Dremel or die grinder etc. ). Amazing how easy it is to put a wire wheel rated for 2000rpm into a die grinder that does 20,000. Have fun, be careful. Hard to drive a Fiat or any car with one eye!!
Jeff