Chevrolet Repair: 86 chev caprice w/ 305, front spring assembly, cinder blocks, david bartlett

Question
I have just returned from my mechanic and as they are also friends I was shown my broken (snapped off) front coil springs.  It also needs shocks.  They told me not to but I just don't have the coin to have this work done somewhere else.  How dangerous is it and if I do it myself will the heavier springs for a police/taxi fit on my mounts (it is a 305)?  Any advice or guidance is greatly appreciated and if I must bite the bullet in lieu of having the spring pop apart in my face I will have to.  Thank you for your time.

David Bartlett

Answer
Hello Dave,
You can safely replace them in the driveway.
You will need a small tool to pop the upper ball joint out of the control arm, but the spring isn't going to fly out of there and get you.
You need a floor type jack under the lower control arm, and a good jack stand, or block under the frame, so you can raise the car, block it up, and then lower the lower control arm enough to get the coil out.
In order to do that, you must remove the shock first, since it is inside the coil spring.

So using some ramps to start, allowing the removal of the shock.
Then use the jack to lift the tire off the ramp.
Place good blocks,(Not cinder blocks) under the car to hold it up.You will want it that high.
Back the nut off on the upper ball joint, but don't totally remove the nut.
Use the tool,(You can probably borrow one from a parts house, or rent one...won't be much).Pop the ball joint loose from the upper "A"Frame, or control arm.
Remove the nut, and SLOWLY lower the floor jack under the lower arm, leaving the car on the blocks, and the spring will be loose, almost to the point of falling out.
Remove it, and stick the new one in. Look at the control arm nest where the spring sets to get it turned in the correct direction.
There may even be a little retainer clip over the bottom coil.

Jack that control arm up, till the upper ball joint can be bolted back in. etc.

HMMMM. that's about how it is done.

Jack it back up till ypu can install the tire, and set it on the ramp.Then do the other side, replace the shocks, etc.

Probably ought to have the alignment checked fairly soon, since you will be changing the posture of the front end.

Mostly just be careful.

Police heavy duty should fit right in.

Might be a good idea to go to the public library, refference section, and look at the proceedure in a manual.

Van