All the classic or early Ford Mustangs (1964 1/2 to 1973) have coil springs for the front suspension and either as part of suspension rebuild or body lowering project the coil springs will have to be removed. This process is relatively simple and both sides can be removed and replaced in about 3 hours.
Tools Used: Car jack, Jack stands, Wheel chocks, 3/8" SAE socket set, 1/2" SAE socket set, SAE wrenches, Coil spring compressor, Mechanics creeper (optional), Safety glasses, Mechanics gloves, New or replacement spring (if needed), New or replacement shocks (if needed), New or replacement spring insulators (if needed)
Change the Front Springs
Removing the Coil Spring
Place the vehicle on a smooth level surface, turn off the car, put in park, set the parking brake, and put the wheel chocks on the rear wheels. Collect required tools and parts (see resources for parts). Put on safety glasses and mechanics gloves.
Remove the two bolts top shock bushing, and then remove the two bolts for top shock bushing bracket. Remove the bracket.
Before jacking up the car, break loose the lug nuts on each front wheel.
Carefully jack the car from the front cross member where the front wheels are about 3 to 4 inches off the ground. Place the jack stands on each side at the jack point behind the front wheel at the rocker panel. Lower onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and wheels.
Remove the lower shock mount bolts. The rear one can be difficult to reach. Use a long socket extension and universal joint to remove it. The shocks should now come out through the top of the shock tower.
Following the directions, install and compress the coil spring with the spring compressor. Remove the two spring lower bracket nuts, and the spring should easily come off the upper control arm and out of the shock strut tower. Don't lose the spring insulators. Handle the compressed spring very carefully. Uncompress the spring and remove the spring compressor. Repeat the same process for the other side.
Installing the Front Coil Spring
Compress the spring to be installed with the spring compressor. Replace spring insulators and reinstall the spring in shock tower. Replace the lower spring bracket nuts onto the upper control arm and uncompress the spring.
Reinstall the shock through the upper shock tower hole. Replace both brackets and bolts and tighten all to correct torque. Reinstall the wheels and lug nuts. Check all bolts twice for tightening.
Jack the car off of the jack stands; remove stands and lower the car. Do final tightening to torque of wheel lug nuts.
Remove wheel chocks and test drive the car.
Tips & Warnings
Generally, replacing the springs does not alter the alignment; however, if after test driving the alignment feels off (pull or drift), take the car to a qualified alignment shop to have checked.
Always wear Safety Glasses.
Always be careful with a car on jack stands.
Treat a compressed spring like a bomb. There is a lot of stored energy that if released can cause serious injury.
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