Removing rear springs

[efnfast]

I'm going to be installing MM's coilover package shortly. The directions say to use an inner spring compressor on the rears. Every single video I've watched on it though has people "dropping" (tilting) the IRS to take the springs out.

Appreciate the IRS method is straightforward, but at 300k any part removal tends not to go well unless a new part is being installed in its place :/

But I can't help but wonder why I havn't seen 1 video of somebody using a spring compressor (other than the fact they tend to be sketchy)

 

[03' White Snake]

Spring compressors are sketchy. Usually not a lot of room in there to compress the springs on both sides of the spring at the same time.

Yes, the most common way to remove springs is to put a jack under the a arm and lightly preload the spring, remove the lower shock bolt. Undo the brake line bracket, then repeat on the other side. Then move the jack to the pumpkin area. Again, apply light preload, then remove the 2 rear upper IRS cradle bolts. Slowly lower it down and the springs will come out. Obviously. the first step is to remove the CB, or undo the tail pipe at the mid pipe or muffler, then undo the tip hangers at the rear bumper. The rest will lower with the IRS.

 

[01yellercobra]

Spring compressors are sketchy. Usually not a lot of room in there to compress the springs on both sides of the spring at the same time.

Yes, the most common way to remove springs is to put a jack under the a arm and lightly preload the spring, remove the lower shock bolt. Undo the brake line bracket, then repeat on the other side. Then move the jack to the pumpkin area. Again, apply light preload, then remove the 2 rear upper IRS cradle bolts. Slowly lower it down and the springs will come out. Obviously. the first step is to remove the CB, or undo the tail pipe at the mid pipe or muffler, then undo the tip hangers at the rear bumper. The rest will lower with the IRS.

That's how I've always done it. Make sure to loosen the front cradle bolts. You don't have to remove them. But it makes tilting the cradle easier.

I also put a jack stand under the k member when putting the cradle back. It keeps the car from tilting when the cradle bushings are sliding into the brackets.

 

[03cobra#694]

What they said, but I never messed with the exhaust or pumpkin, probably because I've only done one side at a time. I've done this to my car and numerous others a bunch.

 

[FrankShelby]

That's a solid plan with the MM coilovers! I get what you're saying about the IRS method, it can be tricky with higher mileage. As for the spring compressor, they definitely can be sketchy, which might be why no one's using them in videos.

 

[LTHL VNM]

I'm going to be installing MM's coilover package shortly. The directions say to use an inner spring compressor on the rears. Every single video I've watched on it though has people "dropping" (tilting) the IRS to take the springs out.

Appreciate the IRS method is straightforward, but at 300k any part removal tends not to go well unless a new part is being installed in its place :/

But I can't help but wonder why I havn't seen 1 video of somebody using a spring compressor (other than the fact they tend to be sketchy)

You have 300k miles on a Terminator? Damn! That's awesome

 

[mysticsvt]

Been a decade but I don't ever recall using springs compressors for the front or rear when doing springs and did them many times. Just be careful you don't damage the IRS bolt like I almost did once.

 

[efnfast]

You guys were right - removing the IRS bolts and lowering the IRS frees the spring and there's no need to dick around with a spring compressor.

I was super leery about touching the IRS because I had visions of my front lower control arm removal (I had to cut both of them out with a Sawzall since the bolts were seized to the arms and I was thinking the IRS bolts were going to be seized into the IRS bushings) but the bolts came out like butter and the IRS unit dropped fine and lifted back up fine; nice and easy.