I seem to have the worst luck anytime I want to do anything to one of my cars. A simple job that shouldn't take more than a couple of hours drags out for days - like
my recent exhaust install.
Today I started installing my Swift springs. I jacked the car up on four stands, nothing to that except the HKS exhaust is in the way when I place the jack under the differential. Luckily the pipes have enough play with the rubber mounts to prevent damage. Went to retrieve the locking lug key from the glove box but it wasn't there. Searched the console, rear storage, my toolbox, workbench, no luck. Decided to check the glovebox one more time and found it in a white plastic bag. Removed the wheels without incident.
Spent some (more) time reviewing the workshop manual instructions for removing the front suspension. (I didn't have anything to do at work last week so I read the the entire procedure and all the references.)
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Pulled the front wheel sensor cable from the shock clip. When I loosened the bolt on the shock that holds the brake line the bracket bent.
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No way to prevent that since there was nothing to counter hold. I'll just bend it back after I reinstall. Removed the sway bar link completely after determining the bolt would never come out of the bottom of the shock without doing so. The procedure then calls for removing the upper link from the steering knuckle. I loosened the bolt but the pin would not come out without a puller of some kind or perhaps a big punch and hammer, so I abandoned that and simply (ha!) removed the bracket holding the bottom of the shock. I say ha! because my 14mm socket broke while removing the third bolt.
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Finished with a box end wrench and removed the shock/spring assembly. Here's where it gets really fun.
I took out my spring compressors, the kind from Sears which is essentially a long bolt with two hooks, and started compressing. Had to go to my 1/2" drive impact to tighten. I kept tightening more and more until finally it wouldn't tighten any more. Luckily it was compressed enough I could try to remove the end nut that holds the hat but it wouldn't budge which is not surprising since it is torqued to 44 ft lbs. After wrestling with it for a while I decided I didn't have the right tool - an offset box end wrench, so I headed off to Northern Tool which is five minutes from my house. But they don't carry offset wrenches, so it's back in the truck and off to Sears, another 20 minutes away. By the time I return home I've wasted an hour and a half but I have the proper wrench and a replacement 14mm and I'm ready to get back to it.
But that nut is never coming off with me trying to hold the shock with my foot, one hand with the box end and the other trying to counter hold the shaft with an adjustable wrench. Sure wish I had one of these handy-dandy tools:
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But I didn't. I know I'm not suppose to let the shaft turn while removing the nut. A Google search fails to reveal the reason it shouldn't turn but I figure it not coming off any other way, so I grab the impact gun and it zips off in half a second. Did the shaft turn? Who knows. If the shock fails at some point I'll just buy coilovers.
So now I have to remove the spring compressors but guess what - they're jammed. They had to be tightened enough to compress the springs so the hat could be removed but they're so tight the hooks are acting as a lever arm and bending the bolt to the point it's jammed the threads. Even the impact won't budge the bolts. I figure if I buy or rent another set of compressors I can take enough pressure off to allow the bolt to turn so I'm back in the truck and off to Northern Tools again. I'm hoping to find a tool with a little different configuration that will not bind as mine had. NT has three different brands but they all fit inside the springs which is silly since I could never get the shock in with the compressor inside the spring.
So I go to three different auto parts stores - none have any, but they could order me one or in one case rent me one just like the one I have. They also all suggest Harbor Freight which I loathe because 99% of their stuff is junk that lasts until you use it, then it falls apart. But having no other option I hope for the best all the way there and find a compressor dissimilar to the one I have and buy it for $65 with the clerk's assurance I can return it if it doesn't work.
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It did compress the springs enough for me to cut the jammed bolts with a hack saw - they still wouldn't budge - and remove them.
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Then the piece-of-junk Harbor Freight compressor fell apart.
So that's where I'm at right now. I figure I'll call around and find a shop that has a real compressor and can remove and install the new springs for me, then I'll install them back on the car. In the meantime I'll do the rear springs tomorrow and I can return the piece-of-junk Harbor Freight compressor.