Spring and strut install on 86 Trans AM or any thirdgen Firebird or Camaro

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Ive gotten into many "conversations" with people when it comes to installing springs. Some guys like spring compressors and SOMEHOW get them to work. Some try to push the spring and a-arm into place at the same time. And then a couple other variations of each.
This is how I do it. In my experienced opinion its safe. It always works. Its quick and easy. As long as you use your head, and some common sense, this will work and be safe for you. Its just like my video about installing my motor through the bottom of the car with a hoist. You just have to be careful and use your head.
Im by no means saying you shouldnt try your way. Except for the one where you try to compress the spring and push the a-arm into position at the same time. That one makes NO sense to me. haha.
If you have any other questions or comments please message me or post a comment!
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[@Thirdgen83]

You can do that with lowering springs, but no way with stock height springs without a spring compressor. You'll never get them started in the pocket...

[@speedoflife89]

That's the way I have always done it. Good to see I am not the only one! good work!

[@JEGsGarage]

You are not alone sir! Thanks for watching!

[@mickhirk4734]

I do it the same way as well

[@harryjones2420]

nice to know about the strut, but I need to know how to compress the coil and install it. In this video the spring is already in place.

[@JEGsGarage]

Hey Dalton, the spring doesn't actually need compressing in my example. Its just pushed into place. I never had any luck with the spring compressors on these cars. The stock springs are a bit harder to get in than lowering springs, but still doable with this method.

[@po3185]

so far ive only remove coil front coil spring once on my '88 Camaro was badly swap 305! and right now im doing a V6 to V8 swap! and i bought base iroc coil spring the factory one with 8 Loop! and bought a snap-on coil spring compressor and its always sliding(the tool that grab the coil sppring from inside) so i said screw that ill do it the wait ive done before my dad showed me this exact methode!

[@JEGsGarage]

+PO Great! Those spring compressors rarely work for me. I used to use them on my jeep builds, but eventually just gave in to using brute force and safety chains. Thanks for watching!

[@chrisbentley3468]

haha thats funny.. 6 months ago i too did a 2.8 to v8 swap on my 85 fbody

[@L1A1]

Very helpful, articulate, and straightforward. Thank you!

[@tidan1]

Great video! Any tips for installing springs with a UMI tubular control arm?

[@carlstahlkopf2502]

How about decompression? I just unbolted the strut and lowered the A arm with a jack like in your video up to the point where the rotor touched the ground. Is there much tension left in the coil or can I just pull it out? Thanks

[@JEGsGarage]

Sorry for the delay Carl. You've long since finished this projecting Im sure. You want to be careful, because even a little tension on that spring holds a lot of energy. The key is you have to tether the spring to the control arm so it cant come flying out. I like using a chain..just bolt a couple links together. A strap will work, but make sure its in good shape and can handle it.

[@carlstahlkopf2502]

Thanks for getting back to me! I haven't actually done it yet, had to work on the rear of the car in the meanwhile (tank, fuel pump, brakes, shocks, etc...everything is being replaced / restored / sanded / painted / you get the picture) I will take them off next week and make sure it's safe. thank you!

[@calebemory2134]

What If you don't have the engine weight ?

[@JEGsGarage]

Coming out will be similar. Going in might be a touch more difficult. If you are installing lowering springs, you may still be able to jack it up far enough to get the strut engaged. If not...you'll need to add a few hundred pounds to the k-member.

[@harryjones2420]

I have noise coming from up there, do I need spring insulators? Do you ever use them?

[@JEGsGarage]

Hi Dalton. What kind of noise? I use the factory spring insulators up front and in the rear. The insulators up front are just thin rubber rings more or less.

[@rfoster2323]

awesome man keep up the good work

[@Thirdgen83]

Good video.

[@mitchellbrown8124]

Honestly i hate videos like this. "So this is how you do _____" Then they start the video with the most important part skipped; GETTING THE SPRING INSIDE THE CONTROL ARM. Anyone can jack up a control arm, but properly indexing the spring and correclty guiding it into the top of the spring mount would of been 10x more helpful...

[@JEGsGarage]

Eh...guiding it into the spring pocket isnt rocket science. And indexing it isnt really the focus of the video. I didnt really feel those were the most important part. The most important part was how I install them without a spring compressor, which is what 90% of the manuals and techs will tell you to use. This is one of those videos that is somewhat specific to the thirdgen f-body crowd, although I guess it could apply to many others. I agree my videos arent as detailed as someone like Chris Fix, but I rarely have enough time to properly set up my shots, take my time, etc. I was blocking the camera for most of putting in the spring, which is why I cut it out. Sorry about that!

[@mitchellbrown8124]

JEG's Garage I want to apologize... I was attempting this method at installing pro kit on my 88 and made a mistake. I started out with the spindle, strut assembly on the arm. Once I took of the spindle I was able to VERY EASILY literally pop the spring right into the upper mount and then index it in the arm. I gave it two pumps and then placed the spindle on. Then it worked no problem! Just want to apologize because I got mad following along and I thought the spindle was on from the beginning. This was a great video and really helped me out. Thanks again and sorry for being rude!!!! Lol

[@JEGsGarage]

+Mitchell Brown Haha no worries. I like all comments even if they are criticism. It's how I try to learn what people want to see. Glad you got it together! It's a pretty easy method ESPECIALLY with the shorter springs.

[@shetzer73]

Have you ever tried these? www.amazon.com/OTC-7045B-Front-Spring-Compressor/dp/B000GTJ5I8

[@JEGsGarage]

No I havent... but it looks like they might work ok for this type of setup.

[@peteypavello]

You dont want to use compressers because you are afraid of them snapping but youll put a spring in with a strap tied to it. I think ure just cheap lol

[@JEGsGarage]

Yup! I am cheap! However, if I were so cheap as to not buy the correct tool that worked WELL for the job, I wouldn't be driving a modified LS swapped car now would I? The tool is actually free to rent at Autozone. Its so crappy that free is too much for it. It doesn't work well with the thirdgen's k-member and spring set up IMO. And, I have had more than one Chinese made compression tool fail. My trusty strap/chain has worked for YEARS. In case you aren't sure... By the time the strap has to do its duty, there is almost ZERO energy left in the spring. Even if it were to fly out, I trust that webbing more than a piece of cheap threaded rod. Thanks for watching!

[@peteypavello]

thats why you buy a legit high quality spring compressor... also renting tools unless they are super expensive is a complete waste of time because usually they are messed up from previous people using them. High quality compressors are quick and easy. cheap threaded rod holds skyscrapers to the ground lol. get a good quality compressor use both of them and use them right and they wont ever fail.

[@JEGsGarage]

GetmuscleGains Eh...Ive never had a need for an expensive compressor. I don't really work with coil overs...though with my Subaru I'm going to have to. Either way, I OWN good outside compressors for doing jobs like that. In this particular example, its a waste of time. I even had the "right" compressor one time. It was frustrating and I ended up doing it my way in the end. I work with threaded rod every day. Under tension, I HAVE had cheaper threaded rod let loose (don't think they use cheap threaded rod for skyscraper footings). If its not snapping, the threads are being eaten by the cheap compressor arbor haha. You said use "both of them", so I'm assuming you're referring to outer compressors. You cant use them on these cars. There is an inner one that you finagle up through the a-arm, and HOPE it you get it situated up in the pocket before cranking on it. P.S...not saying its the only way to do it either :)

[@DerrickRG]

Why spend money on shit you don't need. His method works just fine, so buying the tool is foolish.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

@@peteypavello it isn't necessary and the danger hype applies to idiots who often seek a safe space,still suck their thumb and generally have zero common sense and mechanical apttitude(or you in this case) Ive removed dozens of springs from the front of these cars and a strap,chain,ratchet strap etc are all suitable to retain the spring if it decides to go airborne

[@trichomeboss2731]

So u installed the springs without a compressor?

[@JEGsGarage]

Yup. That's what I did. They are lowering springs tho... Not sure I could or would with stock height/rate springs.

[@BillyLee25]

I was wondering, since I am replacing the front springs on my 91 t/a soon, can you remove the front springs the same way? Just put a jack under the A-arm, remove the strut bolt, and slowly lower the A-arm with the jack? Do you have to use a compressor to the remove them? Thanks.

[@JEGsGarage]

You can. BUT...keep in mind the stock springs are a good bit longer than the springs in my video. You will really want to tether the spring to the control arm with a chain, and be prepared for a POP when it does come loose. But yeah, you can do it this way. Just be safe and smart. Tie that spring in good!