I've never removed the coils from the front of any Maverick that I wasn't cutting up for parts, so I have a question... I looked in the service manual to see how this should be done, and it recommends to remove the upper control arm, Do you really need to do this? or can you just compress the spring and get it out? I know the shock has to be removed along with the spring cover panel. (I might attempt this today if it's not too hot out)
I did it three times (stupid spring supplier) with the control arm on. the hard part is just getting a spiring compressor that fits in that tight area. I modded the one i had, so now i own it.
I would use the center spring compressor type. I believe after you remove the shock and cover you can compress down the center and simply remove the spring...
that was the type i bought. the center bolt had to be cut down so that it wouldnt press on the upper arm assembly as i compressed the coil. otherwise it will put pressure down on that then POP out HARD. sorta hard to explain without showing you, just be careful
Ok, I NOW know what you mean, what P-I-T-A!!!! I had a spring compressor that I thought would work, not a snowballs chance in hell....so off to the tool store I go, and I bought another style, nope..it didn't work either, I had to cut the bolt down so it wouldn't bottom out on the spring perch, I just treid it again, and I need to adjust things a little better, 4 beers later, and the springs are still in the car, oh well I can play with it all week while I wait for my power steering hoses to get here......
I used a spring compressor from Autozone's loaner tools. Since I could not cut the bolt I simply took it apart and added a large stack of washers to it to move the bolt up.
Frank that is the same one I used. I added a stack of about 12 washers under the 3 provided washer to make it easier
That's exactly the one you need. Many of the inner spring compressors have hooks on both top and bottom, and they don't work too well on Mavericks.
You can do what I did on my second one, which is stand in the engine compartment and unbold the upper control arm (with the spring fully compressed); then stand back and watch the spring richocet off of the far wall. Not exactly "safe" though...
I have one of the compressors that go inside the spring. Weld a nut onto the end of the threaded rod that doesn't have a head and position the compressor so that end sticks out the top of the shock tower. No need to remove the spring cover.
Thats the exact same as the one that I bought, I find it still didn't work...maybe I need to try again...
i don't know what to tell you. it worked great for me. i tried one with the claws on both ends, that thing could get someone killed maybe adding the extra washers like mav. 1970 did will help you...frank...
