Ok i'm getting ready to take the front suspension arm off of my 86' to replace the lower balljoint. I need to remove the spring, and i dont think the chiltons manual says anything about a spring compressor. It only says to run a chain around the spring to keep it from popping out and hurting someone. What is the best way to do this? should i get a spring compressor or do it the chiltons way?

quote Originally posted by MXRose3: Ok i'm getting ready to take the front suspension arm off of my 86' to replace the lower balljoint. I need to remove the spring, and i dont think the chiltons manual says anything about a spring compressor. It only says to run a chain around the spring to keep it from popping out and hurting someone. What is the best way to do this? should i get a spring compressor or do it the chiltons way?

Just like they said put a chain around it and the cross member so it wont pop out put a jack under the arm and lower the arm down very slowely standing off to the side just in case it does come out, if you go slow it will not thats how I did mine. Hope this helps.

Ok, thanks for the info... getting my chain ready now..

I finished my fronts 2 weeks ago! Just for the record I lowered my a arm as low as it will go and had the chain through the spring and I still needed a pry bar a few feet long to pop the spring off the perch.