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Sofia74
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Joined: August 30, 2015
Posts: 565
Location: WV
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 Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 2:37 pm Post subject: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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Installed the spring plates today and test fitted the diagonal arms. The spring plates need to be lifted to install the diagonals. My question is since I don't currently have the correct spring plate tool, can I improvise? I had thought about a floor jack but the car is too light right now.
Reassembly is harder then disassembly.
Is there a trick or should I get / borrow the right tool?
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djkeev
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Sofia74
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Joined: August 30, 2015
Posts: 565
Location: WV
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 3:46 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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I don't have a C clamp that big. I do have some pipe clamps. my thought was those things are little too awkward for this job……. but I do have ratchet straps.
I like the idea. I'll have to think about how to keep the straps from slipping. And from getting in the way of bolting the diagonal arm. Ever done it this way?
Thank for the idea. |
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Max Welton
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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djkeev
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Sofia74
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Joined: August 30, 2015
Posts: 565
Location: WV
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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| yeah. Thats a lot of energy stored in that swing plate when its under tension. Tough call - buy the tool or improvise…. |
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djkeev
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sputnick60
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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A D shackle through a bolt hole in the arm to hook one end of the ratchet strap. A long bolt through the upper body mount to hook the other is the method I used to lift the trailing arms up to the rest stop. Once sitting on the stop reassembling was straightforward. There is a significant amount of tension that needs applying and that needs to be done carefully in case of a slip. Keep human parts well clear
Nicholas
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Sofia74
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Joined: August 30, 2015
Posts: 565
Location: WV
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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so is the hard part getting it to the rest stop? From there I could release the strap and attach the diagonal?
still debating getting that tool... |
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djkeev
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Sofia74
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Location: WV
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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| Is that a good position to bolt to the diagonal arm? at some point you need to push it off the rest stop I assume. |
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VeloMikey
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Joined: March 19, 2012
Posts: 651
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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Loop a chain around the pan and the axle of your floor jack. Jack the end of the spring plate up and push it in.
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chrisflstf
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:52 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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| Quote: |
| Loop a chain around the pan and the axle of your floor jack. Jack the end of the spring plate up and push it in. |
I've had to do this on a full bodied car |
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Max Welton
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olspeed
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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| Sofia74 wrote: |
| Is that a good position to bolt to the diagonal arm? at some point you need to push it off the rest stop I assume. |
The stop should be the lowest point that the arm should travel( why you have to pry it over the stop to remove) the chain over the shock tower and back to the jack is the best way to go in my opinion but no matter what be careful as this thing can hurt you!
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bnam
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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I have a steel tow cable. I wrapped the cable over the mount and under my jack. Then as I raised the jack, the cable would pull down on the top of the mount compressing the plate. I did this just to get the plate back on the rest. Once it is there, I tightened up the cover plate and made sure plate was firmly on the rest. THen removed the jack and cable and attached the axle (65KG in my case). Same should apply to the later diagonal arm.
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djkeev
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Sofia74
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Location: WV
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: Installing a diagonal arm without a spring plate tool? |
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djkeev - I checked out your thread. It helped. I now see what was being described. The special tool is only used to put the spring plate on the stop. That could be done with a jack and kept in place with a c clamp. I think I get it.
However, the picture above from your thread threw me. My swing plates are reversed compared with this picture. I mean that fourth hole on mine is high on the spring plate. yours is low. Are yours switched right and left or are mine? |
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djkeev
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