What is the easiest way to install the front springs on a 02 F-body? Going to do it myself and save some money <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

Besides taking it to a shop and letting someone else do it, I don't think there is an easy way. If it were easy, we'd all do it ourselves <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Mike M

 

Ok! I will try to be as descriptive as possible. I've got the spindle disconnected from both A-arms. Also the bottom of the strut has been unbolted. Will it just pull out or is the studs in the strut tower actually part of the strut. Or these studs could just be part of the brackets for the upper A-arm. I hope this makes since to someone! Any help would be greatly appreciated. I decidied to call it quits so I just wanted to post up this question.

 

When I did mine, I did not seperate any of the ball joints.

Remove the front wheels.
Remove the "end link" from the lower control arm (this is to disconnect the sway bar).
Remove the front brake caliper (and pads) and secure it (Do not hang it by the hose!!!)
Remove the 4 bolts under the hood (on the fender), on the drivers side you will need to loosen the master cylinder to remove 2 of them (don't remove the cylinder, just the nuts and "tilt" the cylinder out of the way...mine had to come off the studs, yours may not....just be gentle).
Now, simply push down on the wheel studs and the shock, upper control arm, upper control arm mount and spindle will "swing" out of the fender area (as soon as the 2 studs pull through the fender, it just "drops" out). Loosen the 2 bolts that hold the shock to the lower control arm, and lift the upper control arm mount off of the top of the shock mount and turn it 90 degrees (to allow you to lift out the shock).
Then, just change the spring with spring compressors as per a shop manual (Be careful, springs contain dangerous levels of stored energy and can kill you if you don't have them secured with the right spring compressor, etc).

Use anti sieze on the top shock bolt to prevent rust (you may want to change them again one day).


Then, mount the shock to the lower control arm (after spring change) and put the upper control arm mount back on the top of the shock and firmly "shove" it under the fender. With a little work, the top two studs will drop into their respective holes. Then, tighten everything to manufacturers specs.

This is what worked for me, you may have different results. This worked perfectly for me, the first one took me 2 hrs to change (tried pulling ball joints, etc), the second one took 30 minutes....

Good luck.

(There is no warranty with this approach....You should always follow the manufacturers recommended service proceedures....just thought I'd mention that....).

 

I have a 99' and It was a b^#c# to change springs and shocks. I broke many bolts but, that was because nothing had ever been changed or even taken off of it. My car was not nice to do that with!