best way to R&R front springs?

[james85z28]

1) unbolt top strut bolt
2) unbolt strut at the caliper
3) unbolt lower ball joint
4) ???

I have some edelbrock springs (eibach pro) that I want to install before I get my car aligned. I'm installing them mostly because my current springs have 250,000 miles on them more than I am to lower the car. Any suggestions?

how long should I wait after I initially have the car aligned should I get it re-aligned after the springs have settled? People mention them settling but never mention that the settling causing a bad alignment like I would think would happen.

[LL6]

My Edelbrock's settled within a couple of days of driving around.

[james85z28]

how do you like the edelbrocks? I got them instead of the Eibachs because I got them new for $150 and heard that eibach made them.

[LL6]

They've been fine. Have had them in since '99. They lowered the car just the right amount for a daily driver.

[Rumblin91]

If you are just doing the springs you dont have to touch the struts. If you use a coil compressor, all you have to do is unbolt the sway bar from the LCA, install the compressor. Then put a jack under the control arm, unbolt the control arm from the crossmember, and lower the control arm down. Uninstall the compressor, and pry the spring out. Installation would be just the opposite, just make sure you leave one of the drain holes in the LCA open.

[SportCoupe]

That is the hard way Aaron.

I just disconnected the ball joint and lowered the control arm with a hyd jack. Make sure the car is up high because that control arm has to come down alot!

[Rumblin91]

DOH! I did it without the compressor, I just thought it might be a little safer using it. Yeah, that spring is a pain to get out. 15 minutes with a crowbar :mad: Anyway, good luck, and take some before and after pics!

[james85z28]

I hope my current spring sag enough so that my car is only lowered about .50~.75" and my suspension geometry isn't too bad to drive it for a couple days before I get it aligned. I have worn out tires in front so I'm not too consered about wasting them, just about being able to control the car good enough.

[james85z28]

done. i got the left front in easy by undoing the ball joint. The right fron was a pain and required me to pre-compress the spring, use a chain and grade-8 bolts to keep the chain compressed during install, and then remove the chain once the A-arm compressed the spring. The Rears were easy and I also put my LCA on the lowest hole in my reloc brkts. I left the rear swaybar alone for now but i removed .5" from the front endlink spacer. The car is probably about .5 inches lower as compared to my 250,000 mile springs. I'll take some pictures sometime this week to compare with some older pics I have.
It took me about 3 hrs to do it and about another hour to setup everything and put everything away. I haven't driven it yet.

[LL6]

Glad it went so easy.

My car definitely needed an alignment to the point where my strut plate holes had to be elongated to accomodate the drop..

[james85z28]

I'll get it aligned on wednesday and see what they say needs to be done. It drives OK for right now with the bad and bald front tires I have on it right now. it definately needs an alignment but I've had cars that needed an alignment more, but like I said the front tires on it now are bald so I could care less about wear. I have my 16" IROCs and Kumho tires waiting for the alignment on wednesday.