1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Use the car weight to compress your existing coils.
Jack the car up, take off the wheel, put a jackstand under the lower arm under the ball joint, drop the car onto the jackstand. This compresses the spring nearly all the distance you'll need with stock springs. Clamp on a pair of spring compressors (hood kind or U-bolt kind, either will work) as far apart as you can, you can't get 180 degrees but do your best.
Tighten the clamps about one or two turns, and lift the car off the jackstand. You should be able to swing the top of the spring out easily.
BTW, now is the time to figure out the length of the bump stop needed with your new springs....if you go with shorter stiffer springs you'll probably have to cut the bump stops off to give you enough travel or the new springs will cause the stock bump stops to rest on the lower spring perch.
Your new short springs might rest in there without a compressor but who knows.
If the new springs have to be compressed to install, it can be done but it's difficult without the saab tool because the compressors can't compress the spring straight unless they're 180 degrees apart. I made the mistake of trying to compress stock springs with the compressors with the weight off the ball joints and then released the spring with it off the car. Took about two hours and a second pair of spring compressors to get the #$@!#$% spring compressed enough AND only two compressors (all that would fit) fitted such that the spring would go back into place...I was replacing the OEM bump stops (about $64 each new USD). BTW, the new OEM bump stops made a BIG difference in ride...no more slamming/bottoming out.
It's amazing to me the limited suspension travel on 87 900T saab at the spring...only about 2" until the bump stop is touced. Yes, maybe another 2" to hard stop, and maybe 4-5" travel at the wheel. Not a whole lot. Explains a lot, both for ride quality and handling. Good for handling if the swaybars limit lean, bad for ride if you live in urban pothole areas.
posted by 68.50.1...
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