trouble installing front spring

[cocobolo95]

I'm rebuilding the entire front suspension on my 90 camaro dd. Have run into a stone wall while tring to compress the springs to install. I already have the outside type and through the shock hole type spring compressors, neither of which will do the job because of the modified strut the camaro uses. The spring area at the top is part of the frame with no hole to use the inside compressor. The strut tower has a hole at the top but the angle is too great to, again use the inside compressor. The outside compressor interferes with putting the spring in.
So what should I do to get the springs into their places on my 3rd gen.

[WildBillyT]

Is the lower control arm on? Engine in the car?

[cocobolo95]

Yes engine in, lower control arm and spindle on. I'm contemplating unhooking the lower control arm and using the big jack method to compress the spring. But as I consider this to be dangerous, its a last resort.

[cocobolo95]

Just went out and bough a 3rd type of coil spring compressor. This one goes through the center with hooks at each end. looks promising, I'll know tomorrow.

[95Z]

Best of luck. Fooling with those springs is no fun and not exactly the safest thing to do.

[cocobolo95]

Yeah, getting maimed or killed would definitely ruin my day. So I'll be using the standard safety hooks and wrapping that sucker with some strong rope also, just in case.

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by cocobolo95

Yes engine in, lower control arm and spindle on. I'm contemplating unhooking the lower control arm and using the big jack method to compress the spring. But as I consider this to be dangerous, its a last resort.

It certainly is dangerous but you can use chain or steel cable to restrain it.

[RI 97 trans am]

i would just leave the lower control arm in with the bolts holding it to the car loose and the knuckle still attached to the lower control arm stick the spring in place then jack up on the lower control to compress it and then stick in the strut to knuckle bolts, with this method its not to likely to come flying out just jack up where the lower ball joint is on the lower control arm

[cocobolo95]

Thats how I ended up doing it RI 97, thanks for the input. Job is now done except for putting the calipers back on and bleeding the brakes.

[R3DLT1]

Originally Posted by cocobolo95

Yeah, getting maimed or killed would definitely ruin my day

Yeah tha would totally ruin anyone's day. Compressing spring suck big time. Good luck