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front suspension

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Guinn

Guinn

Jedi Warrior
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I'm about to start work on the A frame bushings - like maybe next week - but I am at a loss when it comes to removing the stabilizer bar, never having removed one before. Can I get a step - by - step from someone? I sure don't want it to suddenly smack me in the face!

Guinn (80 years old tomorrow, by the way)
 
i'm about to start the same project, i too have the same concerns. i'd also like to find a spring compressor that's small enough to fit my b, where did you find one?
 
Most people that I've seen posting seem to favor the floor jack instead of a spring compressor.

Concerning the stabilizer bar, as long as you have the WHOLE front end of the car off of the ground or on the ground then there shouldn't be any tension in the bar. The only time that there *should* be any sort of tension in that bar is when one side of the car is higher than the other (e.g. if you jacked up one side). I'm like 99.99% sure of this. Personally, I prefer to remove the stabilizer bar with the car on the ground; then lift up the front end to do the other bits.
 
Start with the stabilizer bar first BEFORE you jack up the car...just unbolt the pins from the A-arm and then the mounting bolt from the frame. It has no tension on it when the car is sitting on the wheels. If you already have the road wheels off, just jack up both wheels, putting the weight on the springs and the swap bar will be easy to remove. Then raise the car and start on the rest.

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
There is little to no danger in removing the sway bar either jacked up or on the ground. There may be some tension on the bolts in either position, but it's not really going to fly off and whack you in the face or anything. As was posted earlier, unbolt the end links from the A-arms first and the unbolt the mounts from the frame. If you're not replacing the mounting bushings, you can just unbolt the end links and swivel the bar up out of your way without totally removing it.

The dangerous part of any suspension work is the coil springs. Be very careful when removing them. If you don't have the proper tools and insist on doing the job anyway, at least take a ratcheting tie-down or two and tie the spring to a fixed point to prevent the spring from shooting out and causing damage to the car, or worse, you. Leaf springs are no big deal. No worries there to speak of.
 
Nothing to really add to the above. If you have either the Bentley or Haynes manuals their step by step procedures are pretty clear for this.

My only advice having done this several times now – is that you need to be careful removing the spring pan bolts that hold it in the A-arms. If you are using the jack method and don’t have it at the right angle – you could run the risk of damaging the threads. This is mainly because you won’t ever get a perfect angle with the spring pan under tension from the spring. Anyway after the third time I did mine these bolts started to get a bit chewed up so I replaced them with some hardware from NAPA.

Oh & I actually prefer the floor jack method over spring compressors. Especially if you have a nice set of springs (painted or power coated) they’d get all scrapped up. However I saw a really neat tool on a program on Speed TV that used a strap to compress the spring with an air impact wrench.
 
Bret,

That is why it is easier to follow the Bentley method and drop the whole assembly, not just the spring pan. It takes a couple of inches more clearance for the spindle to clear the floor. And I agree with the above about putting a cable or strap (I used a tow chain) around the spring while you lower it out with the jack to be extra safe.

Hey, guys, we are making this sound a lot more difficult than it really is, aren't we??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Hey, a lot of good advise here! You have all taken a load off my mind. No, I don't have a spring compressor available so will tie down the spring as suggested. But could a compressor be used instead of the tie-down, maybe?

Thanks a million, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Guinn
 
Yes Guinn. When I stated that "if you don't have the proper tools" I meant a spring compressor. If you have a spring compressor, I wouldn't worry about strapping the spring to anything.
 
With the engine in the car you don't need a spring compressor. Plus it is hard to fit in the small space. I just put the car on jack stands and use a floor jack to take the load off the suspension. With the car on jack stands and the wheels off I was able to remove the roll bar where it bolts to the arms. There was no load on the bar. It can be fun getting the spring pans back in with a floor jack. However, I just took my time and after you do one it gets easy. I did use new bolts as the old ones didn't look very good. There are two different lengths on the bolts for the spring pans. Take one apart before getting new bolts.

Don't forget to set the brake and block the rear wheels. Safety first. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Guinn, Listen to Roadster6,and be safe spring compressors are relatively cheap .Rarely have I seen a car that will compress the springs with the cars weight. Perhaps that car also needed new springs.---Fwiw---Keoke
 
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