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74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

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tom_v

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74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Hello all. I'm new to the forum and look forward to being part of it.
I'm currently getting ready to install a "major suspension" on the front end of a 74' midget and i'm looking for anybody who has done this to shed some insight. Links or pictures would be appreciated. Thanks.

Tom
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

When you are done and the front wheels are sitting at a really strange angle you've installed the trunnion backwards. BTDT.

Helper bolts are very useful in compressing/decompressing the spring You'll need some 4-5" and someone will add proper size and believe they are fine thread.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Thanks for the tip.

I have heard of being able to compress/lower spring and a-arm with a hydraulic jack.
Yes/no?
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Jack Up car, remove one of the lower spring pan bolts I think 5/16 but double check. Go to Hardware store find same thread bolt 4 or 5" long and a washer. You'll need 2 of each. Replace 2 small bolts with helper bolts and tighten, remove other two small bolts, spring now held in by 2 helper bolts, gradually uncrew both helper bolt and spring will decompress. Others favor the just kick the spring out method but I'm more cautious in doing so, This is where the air tools come in handy to undo the bolts.

Reassembly is the reverse.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

tom_v said:
Thanks for the tip.

I have heard of being able to compress/lower spring and a-arm with a hydraulic jack.
Yes/no?
Click to expand...

IIRC, that's how I did mine but be careful if you do it that way.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

IIRC
Car up on jack stands, making sure it's very secure.
Jack under spring pan making sure it's lifting the spring pan just a bit to remove any tension.
Remove bolts from bottom of pan.
Carefully (slowly) lower jack.
I've done it this way several times, but YMMV and all the usual disclaimers apply.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Oh come on guys, I've told you how to do this in minutes.

Car on stands, high.

Floor jack under outerend of A frame.

Jack it up a bit and remove arm from shock and king pin.

Lower away till a frame can hit floor. ie hang way down.

Kick the spring out.

Installation is the reverse. Shucks I did one like this at the 50th, in the Lake of the Ozarks parking lot. Might need to have someone sit on the fender tor the reinstall.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Jack, you have to PULL the spring out by hand.
You KICK it back in but hold on to the fender when you are kicking the spring as you can kick the car off the jack stands.
there really is no need to use long threaded rods or longer bolts to lower the spring pan.
Undo the top trunnion bolt, lower the A frame to where it points to the ground, there is no pressure on the spring but you do have to pop it off the cone of the spring pan and it takes a bit of force.
Place your foot on the wheel well, grab the spring and pull it towards you.
It comes out.
To replace it, you have to use your foot to kick it back in, but hold on to the car so you don't kick it off the stands.
This is a 5 minute job this way, longer bolts turns it into an hour each way.
But You can do it anyway you want. I am just saying that I have done a couple of dozen spring R&Rs this way.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Boy, you have more detailed info of course. Yep feet on car and pull. Hands on car holding it and kick.

Not sure why folks want to make a big deal of this, the dealers even did it this way back in the early 60s. In fact folks were known to change springs for different tracks.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

I made a couple of the long bolts for the first time I did the spring removal, worked well and was cheap. I was nervous about kicking the car off the stands (I'm not the most coordinated of folks). Definitely slower, but then, so am I. :smile:
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Think I will try one each way. Just to see. Thanks for the info.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

I just lowered each A-Arm and popped out spring with crow bar. It was that easy. of course my quick reinstall will be halted due to both A-Arms being cracked. I imagine lack of maintenance. This seems to be a common thing I guess.
Thanks again for the input.
 
Re: 74' Midget "Major Suspension" install

Tom, Unfortunate. I've got one off of a '68 to offer up for shipping. The other was cracked. Not drilled for sway bar. PM me if you need it.
 
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