That's a good safety tip....Those are instructions I can work with. I am well versed in the small hammer, big hammer, BFH, method of car repair. :TU: Thanks Guys
I cracked my sternum with a front sping coming out.....not a good way to learn about stored energy!!!!! Be careful with the fronts.....
I'd say "Definitely not". I don't know how much a tie down can hold, but the springs have thousands of pounds of force in them. I helped a buddy do his a few years ago on a '68 Pontiac, and it wasn't pretty when that thing let loose. I'd say to go to someplace like Home Depot or Loews and you can get chain sold by the foot. It's pretty cheap and will be a lot safer. I have a bunch of lengths of chain in my garage for things like this, they are invaluable, and I've only had a garage for 4 months.
When working at a gas station, and rebuilding my suspension, my coworker used one of the tie-downs used for towing. Holding the wheel to the tow bar. With the car on a lift, we wrapped it around, and I let him torch off the nut. Although we had the controls arms bound well, it still snapped pretty hard. Be very careful - perhaps use a spring compressor.
DING DING DING!!! We have a winner! :TU: Put a spring compressor on the front springs. Period. There's far too much stored energy in one to play around with popping ball joints, jacks under control arms, etc. Chaining one down does two things: ensures that if it get's loose, it'll damage your car, and makes a whole new game out of unchaining one. If a compressed spring gets loose, you'll never see it until it's done some pretty impressive damage to you or yours. BE CAREFUL!!! :Smarty:
You can rent the centerline style from Auto Zone for nothing. You will need an impact gun the wind it up. I used one just recently to install new springs on our X resto.
You cannot be too careful when removing front springs. I have done many over the years and never had a problem. I was taught at an early age to respect the amount of force one of these are under. I dont know of anything else on a vehicle that will relieve you of a body part quicker than a front spring. There have been many discussions in the past year about the best way to do this. Some I agree with, some I dont. A spring compressor is the safest method Always think before doing front end work. Make sure that if the worse happens, the spring cannot get loose and hit you. Also, never, ever, ever, ever separate a lower joint and let the spring just force the arm down freefall. Many guys do this and it's a disaster waiting to happen. If you have never removed springs before, see if one of your buddies will help you the first time.
