Seems like I read on this site the way to remove the front spring without damaging all of my new ball joints etc with a pickle fork. Does this sound right and it seems like it would work. Can I jack up the lower control arm, compressing the spring, then take off the 2 nuts that hold the upper control arm, slide the upper arm off of the studs and carefully lower the lower arm with spindle and upper a arm attached? I would like to cut 1/4 out of my spring and do not want to have to tear up my new suspension components. This seems to make since to me, but will it work ok, or is there anything I am not considering. Thanks

Sure you can, but mine came right apart with a couple of whacks with my 3 pound FT!

I have never used a pickle-fork to take mine apart.

And it would probably be easier/better to take the lower A-arms two bolts out and do it that way..

Guys say it is..

pdq67

The way you described sounds extremely dangerous, plus I really doubt you can get the lower control arm, with the spindle brake and upper arm hanging off it, low enuf without killing yourself when the spring lets go.

Do this(what Paul said, but with more detail):

Jack up the car (high) and support it by the frame.
Take the shocks off.
Loosen the lower ball joint nut 4 or 5 turns, no where near off.
Whack the side of the spindle at the lower ball joint with your 3 lb ford tool till it pops. The nut will hold it and keep everything together.
Put your floor jack under the lower ball joint, and raise it until you can take the nut off the rest of the way by hand.
Slowly and carefully lower the jack until the tension is off the spring.

Note this only works with the car at full weight. If the motor or front clip are off, forget it.

I have taken springs out a few times using the ball joint method. I was trying to keep from messing up my new ball joints with a pickle fork. You are probably right, I don't know if the lower control arm would go down enough to get the spring out. I have already trimmed it some and need to trim a little more. One thing I might say about an alternative to the chain holding the spring. I have a Master Lock coated cable lock. It works great. The cable is coated so it does not scratch anything. Just pull the cable tight, turn the key, and it is held in place until you turn the key again to release.

It seams like your mising the point a little here. The methods described don't use a pickle fork. Using JimM's listed method is the easiest way to go. The spring will seperate the ball joint from the spindle for you. A Ford tool is a Hammer. A coupl of sharp rasps and the ball joint will pop loose with no damage.

Removing the two lower control arm bolts and dropping the arm is the method described in the service manual. They use a special jack fixture to lower and raise the arm, though.

I have not had a problem removing a 1st Gen Camaro spring by removing the shock, disconnecting the sway bar, placing a floor jack under the lower control arm, separate the lower ball joint, lift up the upper control arm with spindle, block it up out of the way with a 2X4, and use a jack to lower the control arm. Spring falls out.

But as suggested, this only works if engine and trans are in the frame along with the front clip.

Removing the spring by loosing the two arm bolts is not the big deal.. Ive done it several times.. Car on jack stands. jack under the arm. remove the shocks. Chain the spring. remove the bolts. lower the jack slowly.. its a little different getting it back in though as lining up the bolt holes can be the most difficult task.. while under pressure from a giant spring right next to them.. just be careful at that point..

Cant comment on the other method.. never have done it that way..

REMEMBER!

CAREFULLY!!

YOU CAN GET KILLED SO CAREFULLY!!

pdq67

PS., and make sure your car is cribbed up solid too b/c it may just decide to move on you!! I always try to leave the opposite end with it's tires on the ground b/c it is spread wider than just up on jack stands!

and make sure your car is cribbed up solid too b/c it may just decide to move on you!! I always try to leave the opposite end with it's tires on the ground b/c it is spread wider than just up on jack stands!

yes.. probably a good idea..

i have gotten pretty handy at changing springs here lately - 3 bad sets :angry:

I built a jig for my floor jack and change them as describe in the service manual. Getting the bolts back in is a bit trickey, but not as bad as you might think. As fas as clearance goes, it is better because you get the benefit of BOTH ball joints and the lower control arm flips right out of the way.

As several have stated BE CAREFUL.