changing rear FE2 springs - what am I doing wrong?

[MrWooFarkinHoo]

Hi all, went through the "how to's" and changed the rear shocks no problem, except the flat on top of the shockie rod sheared off when undoing it but nothing a hacksaw and chisel couldn't fix. Followed the forum and thought the springs would fall out with a bit of a battle, but no go - had diff sitting on the trolley jack and body on chassis stands BUT left hand brake on, is this a big no no as I have since read? Checked the ellery's and it says drop the lower control arm - 1 bolt from what I can see. Any help or comments appreciated.
thanks Tony

[bandit10]

live axle?? if so body on stands, diff hanging free, undo lower shock bolt, get mate to stand on hub to push down, pull spring out!

[Brett_jjj]

Sit the car on chassis stands and let the diff hang free.Put a jack under the lower arm just enough to take the spring tension, then undo the rear lower control arm rear bolt,remove the bolt then lower the jack and the arm will drop down so you can get the spring out.When re assembling dont tighten the rear control arm bolts until the weight is back on the control arms.(once the car is back on the ground).

[MrWooFarkinHoo]

sorry, yes live axle

[bandit10]

either of the above ways will get the spring out.

[greenfoam]

Should just pull out with the body jacked up and the shocker undone

[Brett_jjj]

Should just pull out with the body jacked up and the shocker undone

Usually the standard type springs arent short enough to do it this way.If lowered springs are fitted you can usually get them out like you said just by jacking up the body.

[MrWooFarkinHoo]

Thanks Greenfoam, but I can assure you it was far from falling out with the rear end chassis stands fairly high - think I'll try dropping the lower arm as I'm doing it on my own.

[bandit10]

Usually the standard type springs arent short enough to do it this way.If lowered springs are fitted you can usually get them out like you said just by jacking up the body.

ive pulled many a standard spring out this way. (just undoing the shocker, with a mate pushing hub down)

[Brett_jjj]

ive pulled many a standard spring out this way. (just undoing the shocker, with a mate pushing hub down)

The ones Ive done with standard springs wont come out unless the arm is lowered.Like the guy just said," but I can assure you it was far from falling out with the rear end chassis stands fairly high ".The workshop manual also says to lower the control arm to remove the spring.

[acarmody]

I am a lazy bastard, I would just buy a $40 spring compressor from SuperCheap .

[Brett_jjj]

I am a lazy bastard, I would just buy a $40 spring compressor from SuperCheap .

Its easier to undo a bolt and lower a jack than it is stuff around with a spring compressor.

[greenfoam]

I dunno maybe you have giant springs, country pack or something. I can always pull a standard spring out easy enough, you might just have to stand on the hub to make sure it's are low as it goes. I haven't had to remove the trailing arm yet and I've done it a few times. It's supposed to be a 15 minute job in theory (I haven't used stands just jack one side like you are going to remove the wheel, then pull the spring out, then do the other side, maybe one side at a time gives you an geometric angle advantage )

[bandit10]

I dunno maybe you have giant springs, country pack or something. I can always pull a standard spring out easy enough, you might just have to stand on the hub to make sure it's are low as it goes. I haven't had to remove the trailing arm yet and I've done it a few times. It's supposed to be a 15 minute job in theory

Ive done it this way heaps to foamy, even with wagon and ute's that have "country pack" springs (longer than sedan) lol

[greenfoam]

Well it has to come out, it's a spring it bends to anyplace you want , just a matter of holding it right

[Brett_jjj]

I know when I put new FE2 springs in my VS it had the standard springs and I had a prick of a time trying to get them out and ended up following a manual and undone the control arm bolt.Now when I jack the car up I can pull the springs out with my hands ,They are just sitting there and just about fall out once the car is jacked up.The FE2's are heaps shorter that the ones that I took out.

[markovr]

anyone noticed that when you put fe2 rear springs in a solid axle car it will lower and soften it enough so if you put 2 people in the back seat your exhaust and anything in the way will hit on speed bumps and it will sit on the bumps stops as the springs are actually softer than standards?

[Cheap6]

One more thing: a reminder, with lower springs and standard bushes, to loosen and retighten the control arm bolts at the new ride height to avoid winding up the bushes more than absolutely necessary.

[RX25SE]

.....and dont stretch the rear brake hose.

[MrWooFarkinHoo]

Thanks everyone, removed lower control arm bolt and then spring virtually fell out - new springs fitted all good.

[wa90de]

If any one could help me, that would be great.
I got a heap of new gear for my VP SS with irs and was wondering where is
the lower control arm bolt to help me get the rear fe2 springs out?
Also, is it hard to replace front struts and springs myself?
Thanks

[greenacc]

Wa90de, as said above your FE2 springs should come out if you undo the shock and pull the wheel down .. just make sure you don't damage the brake hose or rubber boot on the axle. You have IRS so its totally different to the live axle rear end and you don't have lower control arms. The Front is more complicated, and depends if the struts and springs you bought are already assembled or if you need to compress the spring and swap any bits over. Try the back first

[Brett_jjj]

As I mentioned above to the other guy ,with most of the live axle commodores that I have removed the standard or FE2 rear springs from,I have had to undo the rear lower control arm bolts to lower the control arm a bit, and then remove the spring.It takes about a minute to undo it, so its certainly no big deal.Once shorter springs have been fitted ,they will nearly fall out when the rear of the car is jacked up.Another thing, remember to fit the the control arm bolt /nut loosely while the car is supported up on stands or whatever. Only tighten the control arm bolt back up once the weight is back on it and car is sitting on the ground. It can flog out the control arm bush if tightened up whilst jacked up..