1954 front spring help

You can make the special tool with a pair of 5/8 capscrews and a "hex coupling nut" to fit between. The hardware is assembled so as to make a "screw jack" fitted between the ends of the two ball joint studs. A better version will have a couple of "dimples" drilled into the top of the capscrews so they don't easily pop out of place.

Lube it all with "never-sieze" or moly grease. Slightly loosen the locknuts on the ball joint studs - open up a 1/16 or less. Use a pair of wrenches to open the jack against the two studs - and apply a bit of "preload". Now you can gently tap with a hammer - and they will pop loose one at a time.

Every one of these I've ever built was stolen by the first guy who borrowed it. :D
 
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Lots of great information given here ! I also love to use Home Made tools myself too ! I never let anyone use my homemade tools . I will show them how they were made but that's it . Like someone else said , they tend to never find their way back home !
The best advice I can give that isn't already mentioned is to just stay clear of the outside of the car where the spring will be coming out at when lowering . I have seen them get away before and nothing really stops them either . They do hurt and I have seen some people hit by them .
The ball joints do usually come loose with a hammer or a Pickle fork . You can buy the cheap chinese ones for about $10 or so . Just be careful and you will be fine .

Jim
 
This gadget saves a lot of hammerblows .....

BallJointPressInst.jpg


Made this one out of stuff in my warehouseman's stash at lunchtime. Needs dimples drilled into the top and bottom caps - but you get the idea.....fit between the pins and expand. Won't fit in every possible situation but many spots where it saves beating on stuff...
 
Re: 1954 front spring Feedback

We used a little info from several posts here and today sucessfully removed the front springs. I made a tool like The Master Cylinders and that and a few taps with the 4 lb hammer and it came loose. With the floor jack we were able to easy the arm down to get the spring out. The new Jamco coil is supposed to be a 2 inch drop but it is 4 inches shorter. I assume it has a larger spring constant than the original. Thanks again.
 
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