Removing front springs
- Thread starter Chris
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- driveshaft springs suspension
Doesn't really matter what kind it was. The point is that stuff happens. Why subject yourself to unnecessary risk? Just unbolt the arms (or whatever is required on your rig) and live to wheel another day.
I hear you. I have heard of those things shooting across the room. Was just wondering if there was a safer one vs the other. Personally I guess I have been lucky and alway make sure both side are clamped even and the safety latch is pushed in all the way.
Scary stuff for sure, like a time bomb with a surprise timer.
That's all well and good, but the Jeep could fall off the jackstands too. It happens.
Does your opinion apply to the long Currie springs? I ask in order to have proper expectations.
My fronts currently extend to 21.6." I will be installing their tallest spring, which extends to 22.6."
I'm prepared for the worst.
I've used a spring compressor in the past, but I'm definitely not a fan.
Recently, I had the trackbar (frame side) and CA unbolted when I decided that I wanted to go with a spring instead of spacers since it was more work than I was willing to put in for a spacer.
I was working in the dark and didn't consider the front DS. My eyes lit up when I saw Chris's post
. Definitely makes sense, especially since the Savvy skid sits up so high.I've done two full size Toyotas recently with spring rates something like 600 lbs/in, TJ springs are around 200 lbs/in so for me it is close to zero stress putting compressors on Jeep springs. Most of the time they are almost fully extended anyway. I think you are really risking more injury and damage by doing all this extra work. Instead of two compressors now you have an axle you have to move around and pry in position. How is sitting there prying on the spring by hand trying to get that extra inch with the axle now hanging by two arms somehow safer than compressors with locks and simply dropping the springs in place? Overall it makes very little sense to me. Like I said before do what you feel safe doing, stay in your comfort zone.
I didn't mean to scare anybody. Stay in your happy place. Really, every post I've reiterated this.
(well except for the ones with mouse traps and scissors)
I kinda feel like the torch is the same way. Allot of people are very hesitant to use it, maybe don't know how to use it safely or just don't know when to use it and end up doing much more harm to things in an attempt to get out of using it.
Didn't know the track bar trick after making a mistake. -> Younger me, my buddies used the process of having someone jump on the pass hub lugs to create enough extra room as someone else pulled out the spring. Worked several times with buddies successfully.
Last time I tried that process was when I asking my wife to be the 'jumper'. I could have lost a finger when my fingers got caught between the spring and the axle and my wife fell off the axle. Lots of yelling on my side and her rushing to get back into place. I made it out healthy but learned a BIG lesson.
Be SAFE out there! I've learned to be smarter as I grow older rather than relying on young ignorance.
Last time I tried that process was when I asking my wife to be the 'jumper'. I could have lost a finger when my fingers got caught between the spring and the axle and my wife fell off the axle. Lots of yelling on my side and her rushing to get back into place. I made it out healthy but learned a BIG lesson.
Be SAFE out there! I've learned to be smarter as I grow older rather than relying on young ignorance.
Sure and you could have a stroke while changing the oil. No one is saying things don't happen
Risk management is to first eliminate a risk. Remaining risks that cannot be eliminated are mitigated.
Jeep on jackstands is a static load. Big difference than a compressed spring getting manhandled.
Yes, and your garage roof COULD cave in on top of you too, right? If you wanna play the "could" game...
I can only speak from my experience working on my own Jeep. I used to use spring compressors every time. It always seemed like a struggle to get the compressors positioned just right. In the right spot rotation wise and hooked on the right coil. I also seemed to remove coils infrequently enough that I'd forget exactly how I'd done the job last time and have to relearn the positioning all over again. Eventually I started listening to others suggesting to unbolt suspension parts instead of using compressors. I gave it a try and it worked for me - flawlessly. I wondered why I spent so much time struggling with compressors over the years?
My most recent suspension work last winter led me to down the road of fine-tuning my control arm clearances. By grinding away at the front lower shock mounts, I've now got everything dialed in. I can remove all my springs by hand simply by unbolting the shocks and jacking up the opposite side of the axle. Works like a charm.
My most recent suspension work last winter led me to down the road of fine-tuning my control arm clearances. By grinding away at the front lower shock mounts, I've now got everything dialed in. I can remove all my springs by hand simply by unbolting the shocks and jacking up the opposite side of the axle. Works like a charm.
How is compressing that spring while the Jeep is on jack stands safer than just using the compressors? You got a jack unloading one side of the Jeep on stands then you walk around and stick your hands into the opposite wheel well and pull the spring out, this is safer? This is just like hopping up and down on the hubs, you are doing unsafe stuff because you don't like compressors. It's kinda my whole point.
Might want to look up the most common cause of injury and death doing automotive repair and factor that into some of the decision making process. You know, risk management.
The compression force on the spring is minimal to zero. The jack under the axle close to the hub forces the opposite end to droop out further. The first spring nearly falls out on its own. The second one is removed even easier because there's no spring to compress, it's already out of the way.
Like I said, I'm just reporting on what works for me.
True enough. This isn't the country that won the 2nd world war any more for sure!
I totally agree that it's totally stupid to believe and to push on others that you need a spring compressor to safely remove the springs. Remove enough of the right bolts and the springs will fall out on their own. That's been my experience on even the 5.5" RockKrawler springs I Installed into my first TJ way back when.
The only time I will use a spring compressor is if I'm doing McPherson struts. And before starting that I light a few candles on my garage altar and do a few chants.
Did I already say remove enough of the right bolts and the springs will fall out on their own?
The only time I will use a spring compressor is if I'm doing McPherson struts. And before starting that I light a few candles on my garage altar and do a few chants.
Did I already say remove enough of the right bolts and the springs will fall out on their own?
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