Fox Coil Springs Really Suck to Install!

I spend my whole day today with my dad trying to cram (almost) stock height coil springs back into my fox body cougar after changing front bushings. It has been an experience in frustration, pain, and anxiety.

We started by using a traditional spring compressor. it was very apparent the geometry would not allow the spring to seat. Even worse, the hooks would start to slip, and as soon as any force was used to loosen the compressor, the whole thing broke loose all at once. The brown pants factor was waaaaaaaay to high, like defusing a bomb.

Then we rented strut compressors from Advance Auto. If we positioned them in just the right positions on the spring and cranked them down to just the right spot, we could hook the spring barely in the top seat and the control arm. Then you jack up the arm and use a bar to push on the bottom of the spring to hold it in place carefully.

You then have to stop and move one of the compressors toward the front of the spring, then take off the other compressor or it will hit the control arm, finally continuing lifting until it is high enough to throw on the spindle and strut to hold it all together.

It took all day just to get the springs seated correctly. To everyone with lowering springs who say they just “drop right in place without a compressor”, I hate you :)