Friday, November 8, 2013
How to Replace the Front Spring on a 88 Chevy Camaro
Coil springs provide absorption for varied road conditions, allowing a vehicle to have a smooth ride. When the springs are compressed for prolonged periods of time, they eventually lose their original length, causing the ride to suffer. Replacing the front springs on a 1988 Chevrolet Camaro requires a few specialized tools and should only be done by experienced mechanics.
Instructions
- 1
Place blocks under the rear wheels so the prevent the vehicle from rolling when raised. Lift the vehicle with a hydraulic lift and place the two jack stands under chassis structural points behind the front wheels. This will cause the front wheels to sag due to the pressure of the coil springs and shocks. Lower the lift and reposition it under the control arm. Lift until the wheel is raised to is normal position.
2Remove the lugs using a 1/2-in. ratchet wrench and socket lug. Place the lugs in the wheel and slide the wheel underneath the vehicle for extra safety. Use the appropriate sized Allen wrench to remove the retainer bolts for the brake caliper. Remove the caliper and and place it on a box or brick to prevent it from pulling the brake line. Locate the wheel hub assembly and remove the two bolts located on the flange of the lower and upper control arms. Remove the hub assembly and place to the side.
3Use the 1/2-in. ratchet wrench and appropriate-sized socket to remove the front shock. Pull the shock away from the control arms and place to the side. Slowly lower the hydraulic lift under the lower control arm to allow the spring to release compression tension.
4Remove the lift and place the coil spring compression tool inside the coil spring. Adjust the tool arms to grip on the spring and tighten the compression bolt with an adjustable crescent wrench.Tighten the compression tool until the spring can be removed from the control arm mounts. Slowly loosen the compression tool to remove it from the spring. Installation of the new spring is opposite of removal.
Friday, October 25, 2013
How to Insert a Spring Pin
Spring pins use tension created by compression to lock tight in a hole drilled through two or more components. Before installation, the diameter of a spring pin measures slightly larger than a drilled hole. The diameter of the spring pin shrinks as it enters a drilled hole. This provides the tension necessary to keep a spring pin secure in a material. Numerous designs of spring pins are available but no matter the design, they all use the same methods of installation. Incorrectly installing a spring pin will cause its body to deform and lodge in a part before the pin seats in the material.
Instructions
- 1
Spread lightweight oil over the exterior surface of the spring pin.
2Grasp the spring pin with the jaws of a pair of needle-nose pliers. Ensure that at least 1/8 inch of the pin sits past the top edge of the pliers.
3Align the spring pin with the appropriately sized drilled hole. Tap the end of the pin extending beyond the jaws of the pliers with a ball-peen hammer. Release your grip with the needle-nose pliers when the spring pin sits tightly in the hole.
4Set the tapered end of the spring pin set on the end of the spring pin. Hit the flat end of the spring pin set with the ball-peen hammer to drive the spring pin flush with the top surface of the drilled material.
