[slik]

How hard is it to remove the coil springs on a 71 nova, like would I need to use a spring compressor or not. Any one done this before.

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

Yes you will need a compresser. Place car on jack stands with hydraulic jack under the lower controll/ball joint. Remove shock absorber. Remove sway bar. Remove lower ball joint from spindle. Remove tie rod end from spindle. Let jack down. Remove compressed spring. Reverse procedure to install

[Robinson Robin]

Yes and no.....to do it safely you should use a compressor but it can be done with out. I rarely use them but I stress this is no particularly safe and no recommended. If you want to do it when out use the jack to slowly lift the car (with upper or lower ball joint undone) until and the load is off the springs just make sure you have completely freed the ball joint from the tapper. When the load is completely off the springs you can usually just pull it out while pushing the lower control arm down with the other hand. Once again I just want to mention that this is not the safe method for doing these.

[poncho62]

I usually find that the old ones will come out without a compresser, but putting in the new ones is another story..

[Drfenders]

Most of the springs I've replaced drop right out. I usually put the vehicle on jack stands, remove all the parts iaw the shop manual, then use a big floor jack to lift the side i'm pulling a bit off the jack stand. Break loose the lower ball joint, then SLOWLY let the jack down, obviously you stand off to one side or the other. After the control arm is all the way down, you can generally just yank the spring out. Slide the new spring in and jack it up into position, install the ball joint and other parts, to include the cotter pins!! and you are on the road.