98 GT Front Coil Springs

jasons_98gt · December 27th, 2007, 03:29 AM

hey everyone...need some help here.

Im trying to change out my broken springs on my 98gt and the problem is the hook spring compressors i tried renting from part stores wont work they're to big to guide up into the lower a-arm hole so i did some research and found a plate type compressor but its anywhere from 360-400 bucks and the shops want 175 bucks per side just labor! so im in kind of a tight spot there if anyone has any ideas i surely would appreciate thanks alot....

MustangMatt96GT · December 27th, 2007, 03:42 AM

You dont need a compressor. Just put a jack under the a arm and slowly let it down.

jasons_98gt · December 27th, 2007, 05:27 PM

i just have a standard 2 ton jack?...can i do the same thing with compressing the springs? so that i can bolt the a-arms back up?

MustangMatt96GT · December 27th, 2007, 05:29 PM

yep, as long as the car is on jack stands highenough so the whole a arm can swing down. Then take the floor jack and let the a arm down slowly. and then back up you can just pump it up.

jasons_98gt · December 28th, 2007, 01:12 PM

thanks for the input will let ya know how its goes...

MustangMatt96GT · December 28th, 2007, 06:35 PM

same way i plan on installing mine.

jasons_98gt · December 30th, 2007, 05:57 PM

ok i was just wondering how to get to lower a-arm to swing down...do i just loosen the pivot bolts to the a-arm or do i have to bust the balljoint free? thanks

MustangMatt96GT · December 30th, 2007, 06:02 PM

just take the strut nut off the top and the tie rod off. Im pretty sure thats all you have to do. I have never done it, but thats all i can think of.

jasons_98gt · December 30th, 2007, 10:31 PM

sounds simple enought thanks man

Casper98GT · December 31st, 2007, 10:52 AM

If you dont wanna kick youreself in the ass then use a spring compressor. If you wanna do it the way everyone else try it. then yeah its a pain in the ass.

Remove the wheel and caliper and hold it up out of the way. You can leave the rotor on by putting a lugnut back on. Then you just put a jackstand under the subframe to keep the car off the ground obvisouly. Then put a jack under it and keep it taught. Then remove the 2 bolts from the front strut and let it down. Dont touch the balljoint and dont touch the upper strut. Just remove the 2 bigger bolts from the strut on the bottom. And then it will lower out. remove the spring and install the new. Its a bit more of a PITA if youre putting stock springs back in. Lowering sprigns are easier because they are not as tall.

BTW: This is a pic of the CORRECT spring installer. Makes things SO easy

ModMustang97GT · December 31st, 2007, 12:59 PM

Ok I did it my self with a 2 ton floor jack and 2 jack stand. The only time you NEED a spring compressor is with coil over type set ups or ones where the spring goes around the strut. Otherwise you are just wasting your time and money. Put your jack stand up really high, they jack up the A arm with your jack, so the spring is compressed. Then lower the A arm slowely until it is all the way Down. The spring may not come out yet. Give it a tug with a rope tied around it, or a crow bar. It will pop right out. Then reverse the process. It is pretty easy since the new springs are probably shorter than the old ones if you are lowering the car. I had no issues this way, My biggest issue was taking off the brakes. Good luck. Feel free to ask me any more questions.

Casper98GT · December 31st, 2007, 02:32 PM

Otherwise you are just wasting your time and money

clearly.

i bet i could do springs at least 5 times faster than you then. Waste of time i dont think so. Its not a waste of money considering autzone rents them and you get youre money back when you return the tool. You just choose to do it the backyard way. Im a technician and i just prefer to use the tools the manufacture makes to do the job. But youre correct its the way most people do them in their front yards. If you ever get the chance to use a spring compressor on these Mustang springs you would laugh at youre statement about being a waste of time.

jasons_98gt · December 31st, 2007, 04:28 PM

thanks for the help everyone the only question i have left now is do i have to worry about the spring blowing out compressing it back in with a jack or is there some kind of trick to it? btw they are factory replacement springs

Casper98GT · December 31st, 2007, 04:49 PM

it could very well come back out at you. I only did it once the jackup way so im not very well versed in it. Im sure one of the others will chime in.

ModMustang97GT · December 31st, 2007, 05:26 PM

When you jack it back up you have to set it in the perch with the A arm almost still verticle. Just go real slow and make sure that the spring is setting down in the perch rather than stayon the inner edge. You'll see what I mean when you do it.

As for the in your front yard comment. If I have to pay some snoby tech. or rent some stupid tool or take a little more of my time to do it, id rather take the time. I have lots of ways to spend my money and I am not missing out on making money to work on my car. Its a Hobby, I do it to spend time on something I like. If you are doing this stuff like its a job or not for fun, what is the point? I do it to have a good time and I have just as much fun putting in the mods as using them. So if you want to hear the cheap\front yard ways, I'll be happy to tell you.

ModMustang97GT · December 31st, 2007, 05:33 PM

Alot of people will put a chain around the spring just in case it comes out. I never had an issue, but it is a possibility. If you are careful and position your self to the side of it, it at the very least won't hit you. But since its not good to have a 20 lb spring shooting around, you can run a chain through it and the a arm to make sure it doesn't hurt anything.

jasons_98gt · December 31st, 2007, 06:16 PM

well hey thanks guys you been a big help and i agree on the backyard front yard statements lol i will let you know how it goes!

jasons_98gt · January 4th, 2008, 05:27 PM

hey good news got the springs out it was pretty easy lowering it out with the jack as described now questions is i want to replace the balljoints....after all there is 148k on them so does anyone have any pointers how to bust em free? thaNKS

ModMustang97GT · January 4th, 2008, 06:14 PM

I have no idea how to change the ball joints, I didn't bother with mine.

Casper98GT · January 5th, 2008, 10:16 AM

Unless you have a balljoint press its gonna be near impossible. So go to autozone and see if you can rent one. If not ask around to youre friends maybe someone has one. Just remove the spindle and then use a hammer and whack oput the old one and then press in the new. Pretty simple.

December 27th, 2007, 03:29 AM	#1
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	98 GT Front Coil Springs hey everyone...need some help here. Im trying to change out my broken springs on my 98gt and the problem is the hook spring compressors i tried renting from part stores wont work they're to big to guide up into the lower a-arm hole so i did some research and found a plate type compressor but its anywhere from 360-400 bucks and the shops want 175 bucks per side just labor! so im in kind of a tight spot there if anyone has any ideas i surely would appreciate thanks alot....

December 27th, 2007, 03:42 AM	#2
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT 10.76 @ 122 with d/a of 8365 ft Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,168 iTrader: 3 reviews	You dont need a compressor. Just put a jack under the a arm and slowly let it down. __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions Blown Small Block Ford with a hole in the block. 9.5 Dart Block 400 CI being saved for. Just because you can fuck a cactus doesn't mean you should. Never Lift Racecars

December 27th, 2007, 05:29 PM	#4
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT 10.76 @ 122 with d/a of 8365 ft Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,168 iTrader: 3 reviews	yep, as long as the car is on jack stands highenough so the whole a arm can swing down. Then take the floor jack and let the a arm down slowly. and then back up you can just pump it up. __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions Blown Small Block Ford with a hole in the block. 9.5 Dart Block 400 CI being saved for. Just because you can fuck a cactus doesn't mean you should. Never Lift Racecars

December 28th, 2007, 06:35 PM	#6
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT 10.76 @ 122 with d/a of 8365 ft Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,168 iTrader: 3 reviews	same way i plan on installing mine. __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions Blown Small Block Ford with a hole in the block. 9.5 Dart Block 400 CI being saved for. Just because you can fuck a cactus doesn't mean you should. Never Lift Racecars

December 30th, 2007, 06:02 PM	#8
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT 10.76 @ 122 with d/a of 8365 ft Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,168 iTrader: 3 reviews	just take the strut nut off the top and the tie rod off. Im pretty sure thats all you have to do. I have never done it, but thats all i can think of. __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions Blown Small Block Ford with a hole in the block. 9.5 Dart Block 400 CI being saved for. Just because you can fuck a cactus doesn't mean you should. Never Lift Racecars

December 27th, 2007, 05:27 PM	#3
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	i just have a standard 2 ton jack?...can i do the same thing with compressing the springs? so that i can bolt the a-arms back up?

December 28th, 2007, 01:12 PM	#5
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	thanks for the input will let ya know how its goes...

December 30th, 2007, 05:57 PM	#7
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	ok i was just wondering how to get to lower a-arm to swing down...do i just loosen the pivot bolts to the a-arm or do i have to bust the balljoint free? thanks

December 30th, 2007, 10:31 PM	#9
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	sounds simple enought thanks man

December 31st, 2007, 10:52 AM	#10
Casper98GT Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE Posts: 2,395 iTrader: 0 reviews	If you dont wanna kick youreself in the ass then use a spring compressor. If you wanna do it the way everyone else try it. then yeah its a pain in the ass. Remove the wheel and caliper and hold it up out of the way. You can leave the rotor on by putting a lugnut back on. Then you just put a jackstand under the subframe to keep the car off the ground obvisouly. Then put a jack under it and keep it taught. Then remove the 2 bolts from the front strut and let it down. Dont touch the balljoint and dont touch the upper strut. Just remove the 2 bigger bolts from the strut on the bottom. And then it will lower out. remove the spring and install the new. Its a bit more of a PITA if youre putting stock springs back in. Lowering sprigns are easier because they are not as tall. BTW: This is a pic of the CORRECT spring installer. Makes things SO easy Attached Thumbnails __________________ 91 LX, 5spd. Ex:Toyota/Ford tech Marine Machinery Technician, Department of Defense.

December 31st, 2007, 12:59 PM	#11
ModMustang97GT Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 Mustang GT Faster than an s4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,598 iTrader: 0 reviews	Ok I did it my self with a 2 ton floor jack and 2 jack stand. The only time you NEED a spring compressor is with coil over type set ups or ones where the spring goes around the strut. Otherwise you are just wasting your time and money. Put your jack stand up really high, they jack up the A arm with your jack, so the spring is compressed. Then lower the A arm slowely until it is all the way Down. The spring may not come out yet. Give it a tug with a rope tied around it, or a crow bar. It will pop right out. Then reverse the process. It is pretty easy since the new springs are probably shorter than the old ones if you are lowering the car. I had no issues this way, My biggest issue was taking off the brakes. Good luck. Feel free to ask me any more questions.

December 31st, 2007, 04:28 PM	#13
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	thanks for the help everyone the only question i have left now is do i have to worry about the spring blowing out compressing it back in with a jack or is there some kind of trick to it? btw they are factory replacement springs

December 31st, 2007, 04:49 PM	#14
Casper98GT Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE Posts: 2,395 iTrader: 0 reviews	it could very well come back out at you. I only did it once the jackup way so im not very well versed in it. Im sure one of the others will chime in. __________________ 91 LX, 5spd. Ex:Toyota/Ford tech Marine Machinery Technician, Department of Defense.

December 31st, 2007, 05:26 PM	#15
ModMustang97GT Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 Mustang GT Faster than an s4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,598 iTrader: 0 reviews	When you jack it back up you have to set it in the perch with the A arm almost still verticle. Just go real slow and make sure that the spring is setting down in the perch rather than stayon the inner edge. You'll see what I mean when you do it. As for the in your front yard comment. If I have to pay some snoby tech. or rent some stupid tool or take a little more of my time to do it, id rather take the time. I have lots of ways to spend my money and I am not missing out on making money to work on my car. Its a Hobby, I do it to spend time on something I like. If you are doing this stuff like its a job or not for fun, what is the point? I do it to have a good time and I have just as much fun putting in the mods as using them. So if you want to hear the cheap\front yard ways, I'll be happy to tell you.

December 31st, 2007, 05:33 PM	#16
ModMustang97GT Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 Mustang GT Faster than an s4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,598 iTrader: 0 reviews	Alot of people will put a chain around the spring just in case it comes out. I never had an issue, but it is a possibility. If you are careful and position your self to the side of it, it at the very least won't hit you. But since its not good to have a 20 lb spring shooting around, you can run a chain through it and the a arm to make sure it doesn't hurt anything.

December 31st, 2007, 06:16 PM	#17
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	well hey thanks guys you been a big help and i agree on the backyard front yard statements lol i will let you know how it goes!

January 4th, 2008, 05:27 PM	#18
jasons_98gt Enthusiast 1998 mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 834 iTrader: 0 reviews	hey good news got the springs out it was pretty easy lowering it out with the jack as described now questions is i want to replace the balljoints....after all there is 148k on them so does anyone have any pointers how to bust em free? thaNKS

January 4th, 2008, 06:14 PM	#19
ModMustang97GT Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 Mustang GT Faster than an s4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,598 iTrader: 0 reviews	I have no idea how to change the ball joints, I didn't bother with mine.

January 5th, 2008, 10:16 AM	#20
Casper98GT Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE Posts: 2,395 iTrader: 0 reviews	Unless you have a balljoint press its gonna be near impossible. So go to autozone and see if you can rent one. If not ask around to youre friends maybe someone has one. Just remove the spindle and then use a hammer and whack oput the old one and then press in the new. Pretty simple. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 91 LX, 5spd. Ex:Toyota/Ford tech Marine Machinery Technician, Department of Defense.

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