How to install front coil springs on your classic Mustang & Cougar

Today at Alf's Mustang Garage, we are assembling the front suspension on a 1967 Mercury Cougar. The procedure you see demonstrated can be applied to all the early first generation Mustangs, Cougars, Falcons, and many early Ford and Mercury vehicles.
Things I used in this video.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Coil Spring Insulator amzn.to/4401xes
Upper Control Arm amzn.to/3JrrR8J
Coil Spring Perch amzn.to/46fBK3k
Lower Control Arm amzn.to/3NHA0Zd
Spring compressor tool www.npdlink.com/product/coil-...
GoPro Camera & accessories amzn.to/2NwysVu
Lighting set up amzn.to/3ph54R2
Basic mechanics tool set amzn.to/3ob7q2B
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We want your thoughts and comments. What kind of project are you working on? What Mustang are you daily driving?
Alf's Mustang Garage is not responsible for any mechanical or technical error that you may encounter when working on your own car. You are responsible for your own quality control and your own proper repairs.

[@nancy.raygun8079]

Really love your videos, makes working on my car much less intimidating. Thank you!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Thank you! Glad to hear you find them helpful.

[@anthonycrudo2728]

I have followed your videos for a few years now. I have a 1963 Falcon and use all mustang parts. I am doing the whole suspension right now and I always think I can figure it out, but in the end I pull up your video and get the job done right. I subbed a long time ago but really need to thank you for saving my butt!!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Oh awesome! Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to write. It's comments like this that give me motivation to keep going.

[@kimessendrup6841]

Well done - the best video I've seen on this process. Thank you for posting.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

You're very welcome! Thank you!

[@danielperkins6330]

Excellent demonstration how to properly and safely install a coil spring on a mustang suspension. Thanks again. Dp.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Thank you!

[@bikeclochard]

Alf, I'm maybe never going to do this to my 6 cylinder Mustang, but I always watch your videos for not only enjoyment but motivation to get work on my car done also! Thank you for putting up these videos and always responding to questions!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

You're very welcome. I'm happy to hear they are helpful even if you're not going to do this specific job.

[@UNITED2009100]

I have a 1968 Torino GT 390 4 speed I bought new. Still have it! Always liked the car setting a little higher, front and back, than stock. Currently use a "knuckle buster" coil spacer on each side in the front, but have always wanted to install new springs that would give a little bit of lift without the coil spacers. This spring insulation tool looks great. I just need to find someone to supply the springs I want. Nice Job with the video!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Very cool! Have you tried Detrot Springs?

[@codystiles9580]

Great video needed to know how to do coil springs for my 66 mustang

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Awesome! Glad we could help!

[@davejarvis5139]

What a great clear straight forward video. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Thank you very much!

[@mickmiddleby7348]

Geez you made that look so easy.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Well it actually kinda is with the right tool 🤣

[@robertclymer6948]

Right Mick! Like everything he does! Alex's KZbin channel is the best I have found for Gen 1 Mustang DIY videos! He should have at least 100K IMO. If it was not for Alex (he really does answer questions) my 67 Mustang would still be sitting on jack stands. No Lie!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Thanks Robert I really appreciate it! One of these days we can get to 100K 😃

[@peteybrian]

Every video helps. Thanks so much!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

You're very welcome!

[@shawnlaynejohnson]

Love seeing you work on a Mercury..! Thankyou for you help with the u-joints on my Comet.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Thanks Shawn! I assume you got it all figured out?

[@ddaytona1]

Great video. Very clear. What these spring videos always seem to miss is the removal of the spring tool from the old spring after the old spring is removed from the car. Always was the most dangerous part for me.. the spring always seems to cant to one side during removal. I'd run a chain through it and around a tree or something for fear of the spring rocketing away..

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Oh ya. With any other style of tool, it gets a little scary. This tool pretty much takes that fear factor out.

[@mustangsally4259]

Awesome Sauce!! Thank you for making this video.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

You're very welcome!

[@blue68yellow73]

Love the new blue border on the thumbnails. Great videos.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

I listened 🤣

[@stallionranchwoodworks]

Great job, clean looking Cougar.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Thank you! She is nice and coming together very nice!

[@raulgonzalez2052]

Great video. Im installing springs on my 73 cougar. My "jaw" compressor stripped. I ordered one from auto krafters. Yours is the only video, i've seen that installs the spring. I know its just the reverse process of taking it out. But, you never know what you might run into. Awesome job.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Excellent thank you! Glad it helped.

[@raulgonzalez2052]

Quik question: Before tacling coil springs, I replaced the rear leaf springs, new bolt, isolators and shackles. I noticed driver side rides about an inch higher than passenger.... any thoughts?

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

@raulgonzalez2052 did you torque all the bolts with the suspension loaded or unloaded?

[@raulgonzalez2052]

@AlfsMustangGarage Good point. Body was up on jackstands. I'll check on that. Read some forums where they suggested it was by design... didn't seem right. Thanks!

[@robertclymer6948]

Hi Alex!!! Wow, it is in such good shape and solid. Love that spring tool! Thanks for leaving a link in description box. Can't wait to see the rest of this build. Thanks for sharing your expertise and time for us. Cheers and blessings from the city of Detroit Muscle!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Thank you! Ya this car I going to be awesome! Should be out of the paint booth in a month or so and then we can start assembly.

[@robertclymer6948]

@@AlfsMustangGarage Is it a keeper or going up for sale? Interested. Thanks

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

It's a client's car so they plan on keeping it.

[@robertclymer6948]

@@AlfsMustangGarage Thank you.

[@Craspan]

👍

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

👍

[@FE428Power]

I think I like Alfsl's Cougar Garage better!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

🤣 I actually have two 67 cougars in the shop right now!

[@FE428Power]

@@AlfsMustangGarage I'm a cougar maniac. Hope to see more cougar content!

[@solidsnake1120]

You and Andy Kruse are an invaluable resource to the classic Mustang community man. What brand suspension do you recommend I should upgrade to for coilovers to get a modern street feel - like a stock 2014 Mustang GT feel?

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Awesome thank you very much! Ya Andy is definitely a machine to be able to pump out the videos like how he does. I'm afraid I don't have much of an answer for you when it comes to making a classic Mustang feel like a modern Mustang. That isn't something I'm well versed in.

[@robertclymer6948]

Yes Sir! Andy is another great source of Info!!

[@markstanley2471]

Excellent video. Was the inner fender area already prepped or did you do that? If you did, I hope you will turn that into a video too.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

It was already prepped. It was prepped and is being body worked and painted by another shop we work with. They are doing the body and paint, and we are doing the assembly. They do great work.

[@Crewezing68]

That bush thing on top of the coil spring compressor to help turn the nut, where did you get it?

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Comes with the tool. Link in the description.

[@user-yn5kb7ep2l]

Hey Alf im just now putting my coil springs in and i noticed my spring perches have no zerk fittings, is this normal?

[@dougboyer4002]

Hey Alex I was wondering if you have a place that you purchased the spring compressor. That’s a very different one than I used to remove the old ones. Thanks so much your videos are always so helpful. I’m rebuilding a 1970 Mustang 302

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

There should be a link in the description of this video, but I bought that from National Parts Depot.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

Sounds like an awesome project too!

[@dougboyer4002]

@@AlfsMustangGarage yeah I found it there as well. Just 124.00 dollars is so much to pay for something that I’ll only use a two times.

[@hughphillips67Mustang]

Hey Alex. I have a stock 67 289, with the Autolite 2100 still on it. The choke is acting up. So I'm debating on going electric. If I switch out the carb completely, which carb would be a good drop on without making a bunch of modifications? Holley 600? Edlebrock? I don't know what sizes of aftermarket carbs would fit.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

If you are running a completely stock 289 2 barrel carburetor and the carburetor itself seems to be fine, why don't we just install an electric choke to your existing carburetor? Check out Mike's Carburetor parts for electric choke conversions on the Autolite 2100 www.carburetor-parts.com/2100-choke-parts

[@hughphillips67Mustang]

@@AlfsMustangGarage that would ve a great option. Thanks.

[@ericsimoneau4818]

If im just replacing coil springs will the upper control arm need to come off and will i need to re align the car

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

You can definitely replace the spring without removing the control arm. I always advise to have the alignment checked after replacing anything on the front. Even if the new spring is a factory replacement, things can change slightly, and most shops will check the alignment for free.

[@ericsimoneau4818]

Thanks for the info. I have that tool on the way and a set of scott drake progresive springs.

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

@ericsimoneau4818 very cool! You'll love that tool! Way better than anything else out there.

[@danwright5656]

Where do I get that tool?

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

National Parts Depot. There is a link in the description.

[@FaustKnight]

My 65 doesn't have the Eccentric bolts for the LCA, is that correct?

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

That would be correct for a 65. They didn't start doing those till 67.

[@FaustKnight]

@@AlfsMustangGarage I'm rebuilding my entire front end next week, thanks for confirming and for all of your videos!

[@AlfsMustangGarage]

You're very welcome! Good luck!