Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

In progress of spring install, have a question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 12:26 AM
  #1  
slikrider20's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Default In progress of spring install, have a question

Alright so i got my Hotchkis springs and and currently installing them, holy crap it isn't as easy at that tutorial makes it sound. We got the front - left side done, took about 2-3 hours i'd say.....but the left side we are having problems. We got the springs compressed but the nut on top of the spring by the rubber shoe is rusted and will NOT come off...we tried spraying a bunch of Wd-40 on it but it just gets to a certain point and will absolutley not come off. Even with power tools.. I hope we didn't strip anything out in the process, any reccomendations on what i can/should do? How much would a tire place charge to mount the new spring on just 1 shock? This is so frustrating!

And another thing, it's so hard to compress those hotchkis springs there is NO room to get the compressors into the coils, kind of had to ghetto it out to make it work which i HATE doing on stuff like this...

Last edited by slikrider20; Mar 12, 2008 at 12:32 AM.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 12:53 AM
  #2  
porksoda's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (39)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,458
Likes: 2
From: Clovis, NM
Default

ALOT of people run into these problems including me. I tried compressing them at home with the compressors to mount the shock in and it just wasn't happening. And to make it worse the nut was also rusted. I just took the 2 springs and shocks to a shop and they mounted them all up for like $30. They had to cut the nut off since it was so rusted. After that I took the assemblies home and threw them in.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 11:56 AM
  #3  
wowsers's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Little Creek, VA
Default

over spring break i was going to install my strano springs and i had the same problem. i even took the struts to a couple shops, and noone would touch them because they were afraid theyd snap the bolt. i ended up having to reinstall the struts just as they were because i ran out of time. i hate my life.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 12:43 PM
  #4  
slikrider20's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Default

ok, heres a little update....i took it to a shop, and they got it done for me. Now i went to install everything back on the car....no problems. Except for that darn Sway bar, i get it tight, but those long bolts with the rubber things on them doesn't seem to sit in evenly. But i decide to go for a test run. Car sits much lower but when you hit a bump it just sounds like something is completely loose up in the front, doesn't sound right at all. It's almost like a whole bunch of popping sounds...anyone else have a problem like this?
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 12:50 PM
  #5  
67pontiac's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Default

have u tryed just a little heat. Or leave it on the car put a jack under the lower a arm an try loosening it while still under presure.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 12:50 PM
  #6  
z28bryan's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,934
Likes: 0
From: MA
Default

What kind of swaybar?
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 01:00 PM
  #7  
slikrider20's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Default

Stock Sway Bar.. It has to be this, everything else is plenty tight and aligned perfectly..

Also, if this helps, i can't re create the sound by pushing up and down on the car..The spring is mounted fine on the rubber cup....It only does it when i drive it..hard to explain the sounds, just basically sounds like something is really loose somewhere
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 02:01 PM
  #8  
badazz99ta's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery, TX
Default

did you replace the front swaybar endlinks. that might help. i just replaced my rears with moog from o'reilly's and that helped a lot.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 04:44 PM
  #9  
slikrider20's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Default

Well, i got the back done, pretty easy, had to really pry up on that spring to get it out of the mounting thing on the axle. The stance looks awesome, i will get some pics soon.

Just got to go take the front wheels off and see what that sound is .....
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2008 | 07:15 PM
  #10  
slikrider20's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Default

heres a few pics...

before:







after:







now that i look at it, it looks like the right side is lower than the other. still haven't figured out the sound. i'll just have them look at it when i get it aligned friday.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:40 AM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE