Front Spring Question

[93StealthTT]

Ok guys, have a set of MOOG cargo coils and a set of Sensatracs thats getting ready to go on the front of the '89. Quick question on this set-up before I start on it, does the coils that is bound more tightly (closer together) go on the top when installing them? And also, these are the coils that are referred to as dead that you can cut, correct?

Any other things I should look out for before I start?

Thanks guys!

 

[St Louis SHO]

Yes, the bunched coils go to the top, you can cut those... Oh and dont break a pinch bolt... lol

 

[93StealthTT]

Pinch bolt?...

This is gonna be a long night haha....

 

[St Louis SHO]

The bolt that holds the strut to the spindle.

 

[93StealthTT]

OK, got the top three nuts loose, stabilizer bar out of the way and off, got the pinch bolt out....

Took a screwdriver and tried prying the knuckle apart...

CANNOT get the strut assembly out of the knuckle, any suggestions?

 

[Titanium89sho]

Keep the three top nuts on and disconnect everything you can from the knuckle. Take the tie rod off, the lower control arm, and then slide the axle out of the hub, it might need a few taps to come out. take the brakes off and hang the calipers out of the way. Then take a big sledge hammer, and hit the knuckle on the thickest part at the front. If you have everything disconnected, the knuckle will slowly slide down the strut.

 

[the4biddendonut]

Busted pinch bolts are no fun. Ask me how I know...

 

[rubydist]

If you don't like the bfh approach, you can put a big pry bar in there and push the knuckle down off the bottom of the strut, that is what I do.

 

[93StealthTT]

Ok guys, I feel like an idiot but got it back together but I have let the axle/halfshaft fall out a little on the drivers side when I let the knuckle fall out...therefore I think the axle is pulled out slightly cause it looks/feels like it is twisted when you spin the hub (not smooth like pass. side)...question is, do I have to pull the axle out and then slide it back in or what? Need help asap, thanks for ANY input guys!

 

[93StealthTT]

THANKS for all the help guys, got it back together....

I cut just a tad over 1.5 coils off each spring and so far it has settled only 1/2" lower in about a day now...how much more should I expect?

 

[hawkeye18]

I cut 1.5 coils off the front and feel I should have cut off more. I wish I had gone with 1.75 or 2. You will still have some decent gap on the front with 1.5 coils...