The plan is to lower the Centurion a bit and it seems like cutting the front springs 1 to 1 1/2turn would be the way to do it. How do you get the springs out without having one kill you in the process? I've understood it as you can put a jack under the lower control arm and hold it while it is hanging freely, then you undo the shock, right? It has two bolts on the bottom, but I couldn't see what was on top, anything to worry about there? Once the shock comes out and the spring is held in place by the jack only, you compress the spring with the spring compressor tool so it's held in place without force on the jack, then slowly let the jack down and the spring should fall out. Then undo the spring tool and you have your spring all free. Is there something I've missed or could do any other way? I just wanted to go through this here first so i don't have an accident.
spring removal Hey, pard, Get a spring compresser from your local auto supply[free loan] jack the car up and set it firmly on jack stands on both sides. after removing the wheels ,brake lines ,ect. that are in the way, compress the spring. drop the shock out. put a short length of stout chain down thru the spring and bolt the ends of the chain together just in case something comes loose unexpectedly. put the floor jack under the lower controll arm and put alittle pressure on it.[right under the spring] take the lower ball joint loose. slowly lower the floor jack to let te pressure off the spring while taking care not to be inline with the spring. dont cut or heat the springs you have now, there are spring companies that will make springs for your car that will perform like you want and be safe. Some will rewind , heat treat ect. your old springs. check it out. If you heat the spring with a torch it softens the metal and the spring will eventually break where you heat it.
You may not even need a compressor. I take them out by placing as floor jack under the control arm (make sure the shock is removed first). Pop the lower ball joint from the spindle. SLOWLY let the jack down until spring relaxes. Make sure you are by the front bumper when you let the jack down. Do not stand in front of the spring at any time! Once the jack is all the way down and the spring has no tension on it, take a 4 foot pry bar and pop the spring out of the lower seat.....done. For installation, insert the new spring in the upper mount. Take note of the orientation of the lower springs pigtail. Take your 4 foot pry bar and insert it in the first few coils toward the bottom of the spring. Pry down carefully making an arc in the spring until it pops into its seat. Once seated you may still be able to rotate the spring a little to orientate it properly. Jack up the floor jack until you can thread the ball joint castle nut on to the ball joint. 90% of the time, my spring compressor never comes out of my toolbox. As far as lowering the car with shorter springs. I dont recommend it. Your going to change the whole geometry of the suspension. Plus, your alignment is going to go out the window. The correct way to lower a car is by using drop spindles. That way the front suspension operates properly
Hey Kimson, I have a spring compressor at my house if you want to use it. I just did this exact job a few weeks ago. It took me about an 1hr to one and 20min to do the other one, just because the first was stuck between the lower/upper control arm and didnt want to come out. I stuck a small jack between the two and starting jacking it up until it split both of them apart. It's pretty straight foward once you get the hang of it. Let me know if you want to borrow the spring compressor. Oh and i wouldnt cut the springs, buy new ones. It's better in the long run. Saves you money and the smoothness in ride. :TU:
Hi, thanks for the help. The compressor is available at autozone for loan, so that's no biggie. Many thanks anyway.. Are drop spindles available for the big Buicks? I've seen people just cut em and the wheel angles still looks ok. The plan was to get a set of springs from the yard and cut them, and if it didn't work out, I would just put in the original ones again. I don't see how the compressor can fit when the shock is in place? It would go where the shock goes, in the middle and then clamp at top and bottom; I guess I'll have to take another look at it. To have the springs customized will probably cost a bit, so cutting a pair is within my budget, that's why I'm leaning in that direction. I'll see what I'll do, it would be fun to lower it thou..
