This may sound like a goofy question to some, but I need to know...
Is it necessary to compress the front springs to safely replace upper A-Arm bushings?
Any tips or sugesstions to aid in the process?

Many thanks in advance...
Patrick

Yes! With the upper arm disconnected there is nothing keeping the lower arm from swinging down from the pressure made by the spring. However, if you support the car by the lower control arm using the weight of the car to keep the spring compressed it would not be an issue. Again however, when working with springs and the huge amount of energy stored in a compressed spring, you would be much better off simply releasing the spring (use a spring compressor or the floor jack method to drop the lower control arm out of the way) and then removing the upper arm with no threat of a spring mishap.

Thanks Rich... Another question though. The engine and the front clip are currently not installed on my car. Is the weight of what is left, sufficient to keep those big block springs compressed? Or am I flirtin' with disaster?
Thanks again...
Patrick

There will definatley not be enough weight to keep em compressed without an engine or a front clip. So you can either wait until you have everything back on or use a spring compresser to get the spring out. If you do it with the compresser, do it one side at a time so you don't have to go through all the work of compressing the spring again to get it back in.

Almost forgot, it's always a good idea to tie a chain from a point on the frame to the spring, just in case something slips.

Thanks for the help guys... Now I have a good reason to go buy a spring compressor.

Patrick

I have my engine, tranny, and front clip off my chevelle, took off the upper arms first, only had a jack under the shock mount on the lower a-arm, the weight was sufficiant enough to keep the spring compressed.

When I put the front end back together on mine, I couldn't get enough compression to attach the spindles (engine & clip off)without lifting the car off the stands. Couldn't find 3 or 4 fatassed friends to sit on the frame either, so I wound up setting the engine (still on roll-around cradle) on a few 4x4's across the frame horns. That worked, but kinda spooky to do. Next time I'll try sandbags, or bribe the 'bro's with beer. graemlins/beers.gif

The easyway to do it is to jackup one side at a time,using stands of course.Put the floorjack under the shock-springseat.separate the upper balljoint and pull the a-arm out.The front shock will keep the lower arm from going all the way down,a saftey chain cant hurt.Jackin with the spring is to much of a pain.Done it hundreds of times!!!

If you leave the shocks attached they will hold the lower control arm, while you replace the bushings. I would still restrain the lower control arm with a chain as stated earlier.

just done mine again. its at help in the index.