I need advice on installing coil springs on the FRONT of my 5.0L. I just wasted a whole day trying to fabricate my own spring compressor. It worked to an extent, but it did not compress the spring far enough for me to install. I'm really frustrated right now. I just read through some past posts about this subject but need more info. Am I to understand that on a 1990 5.0L, that I can install the front springs without a spring compressor? The springs I am installing are factory replacements from TRW, so they're the same length as stock. My control arms are off of the car right now as I am installing the ford racing replacements with the upgrade ball joints.
What spring compressors have people here been using? I seems to me that anything but the Ford compressor is useless. I've tried a bunch of rental ones but they will NOT work. Keep in mind that I'm in Canada, so we don't have AUTOZONE, as it seems that's where some of you have gotten compressors. Can you still get the ford compressor? I'm just really bummed right now. I had been waiting for parts for my car for over a month, and I finally got them yesterday but can't get anywhere with installing them.
any input would be apprecitated.
Thanks guys.
See if you can find/borrow a spring compressor for strut,it will have 2 compressors with it.The difference in a "strut type" and a regular is that for the strut the compressor mounts on the outside of the spring.I don't know how similar a '90 and a '95 are,but I just did the front on my '95..even with the outside mount compressor I anly had room to put one on there,but it needed it
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ok man ill give you the rundown on how i did mine. i found a spring compressor at autozone (sorry ) and of course it doesnt work IN THE CAR, so i just compressed the spring and wrapped a hanging plant chain (resourceful eh?) around the spring, but on the second coils in on each end, so it would seat into the car, and stuck a bolt through it to hold it in place.. i put the spring in, then pulled the control arm up, connected the strut, and then removed the bolt and chain.. pow, your done.
if you cant find a spring compressor, get down to your local hardware store and get a good set of ratcheting tie-downs. they will get the job done just as well. wrap them on the second coils in, compress the spring, get it in the car and get the control arm up and the strut connected as FAST as you can. be careful, keep an eye on the springs, wear eye protection, and be as safe as possible.
another possible option is to put the spring on the lower control arm, and ratchet it down to the control arm with the tie downs, then once its compressed, turn the control arm upward and try and stuff it up in there.
its going to take some finesse. i wish you luck. dont get frustrated, thats what makes this no fun. just take your time, enjoy working on your mustang, and have some fun. turn on the radio and crack open a cold one. doing the work yourself is half the fun
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1965 Mustang Coupe Project: 1965 Mustang Inline 6 (For Now) Coupe, New Floors, New Quarters | Ford 9 Inch Rear, 11" Rear Disc Brakes, 3.50:1 Gears | Control Freak Front U/L Control Arms, Global West Adj. Strut Rods | KYB Gas-A-Justs, Grab-A-Trak 620 Coils & Mid-Eye 5-Leafs | Global West Tubular Subframe Connectors | Addco 1-1/8 Front Swaybar Kit
I have the Ford Style Compressor, it really makes the job easier. I would look around and see if anyone rents them out for you to use, it is also the safest method.
Can you still buy the Ford style compressor? If so, how much does it cost. I don't think its likely that anyone around here rents it, but I'm still looking.
Just head down to a local spring shop and have them compress and band the springs up for yea then bring em home put em on and cut the band.
I called every Spring Shop around and Fabs Shops and No one out there was willing to band springs, some dumbass probably sued somebody and they stopped doing it.
I got one spring in yesterday! I ended up just modifying my home made spring compressor. I'll try to post picks of it so others can possibly duplicate it. It worked surprisingly well. It's basically consists of a 5/8 threaded rod about a foot and a half long, a metal plate that I cut to fit into the indentation in the bottom of the arm, and then a rectangular metal plate to pull the spring down at the top which I cut a groove similar to the curve of the spring in one side to help locate it, and then some nuts and washers on each end to finish it off.
thats actually pretty similar to the ford compressor if im not mistaken... well done my canadian friend.
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1965 Mustang Coupe Project: 1965 Mustang Inline 6 (For Now) Coupe, New Floors, New Quarters | Ford 9 Inch Rear, 11" Rear Disc Brakes, 3.50:1 Gears | Control Freak Front U/L Control Arms, Global West Adj. Strut Rods | KYB Gas-A-Justs, Grab-A-Trak 620 Coils & Mid-Eye 5-Leafs | Global West Tubular Subframe Connectors | Addco 1-1/8 Front Swaybar Kit
Sorry to bump this one, but its exactly the situation I'm dealing with too. Last sunday I had a ball joint let go while taking my mother-in-law to work.
I've got everything ready to go back together, but the spring has become the problem-de-jure.
I tried an external compressor, and the threads kept getting in the way. I also tried the "no compressor" trick, courtesy of a guy at the local parts store thats owned umpteen fox bodies. (He was supposed to stop by tonight and show me the trick, but I got stiffed) But I havent been able to get the spring to "pop" into the seats on the LCA. The spring just compresses straight up, half into the LCA socket until the jack starts lifting the whole car up. Banging, prying, cussing, nothing helps. (And having an unsecured spring under tension definatly increases the pucker factor, LOL.)
What are the differences between a "regular" internal compressor and the special ford ones? Would a reguar internal be able to fit out the hole in the LCA? Any tips on getting the spring to "arc" to fit the cup? I'm also pretty much doing this solo, so "team" tricks are gonna be kinda tough.
Though I am kinda thinking about systronics idea about strapping the spring to the LCA...Hmmmm.
Anyway,
All helps appreciated, thanks in advance,
J
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Installing Front Coil Springs? 
) and of course it doesnt work IN THE CAR, so i just compressed the spring and wrapped a hanging plant chain (resourceful eh?) around the spring, but on the second coils in on each end, so it would seat into the car, and stuck a bolt through it to hold it in place.. i put the spring in, then pulled the control arm up, connected the strut, and then removed the bolt and chain.. pow, your done.
