Shocks/springs when replacing the front control arms

[tommiman]

I’m going to be replacing all the front control arms soon. Do I need to compress the springs at any point?

I don’t want the spring flying in my face or damaging the car. I did a thorough search on this site but couldn’t find a concrete answer.

 

[Nors]

Nope. Just unbolt the ball joint nut, and the 3 bolts on subframe.


edit: on a 1G.

 

[thekellbeast]

Are you using the RRE cast UCA's? I've always felt that somebody should make control arms out of DOM tubing like they do for just about every domestic/truck/hotrod out there. They usually sell for around 200 a pair, instead of the 500 a pair that RRE charges for theirs.

Nothing against RRE though, I love those guys. I just think that a different material could be used to cut down costs, and still accomplish the same job.

 

[tommiman]

I'm not sure the material the control arms are made of makes a difference when it comes to the spring jumping out. Also, I think the 2g has more ball joints than the 1g. 2 lower and 1 upper on each side. Regardless it's the spring jumping out and causing havoc is what I'm worried about.

In either case I'm going to buy one of these sets:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330155526902&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140146270976&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004

 

[thekellbeast]

I'm not sure the material the control arms are made of makes a difference when it comes to the spring jumping out.

Oh it doesn't. I'm just curious to see what you were using, since I'm going to have to correct my front end, and that's one of the things the RRE arms let you do, in addition to being really beefy.

 

[tommiman]

I bought them from a local chassis supplier called ARM-CAN. Not sure about who it's made by.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

So which parts are you replacing?
I'm tempted to pick up that 6pc. ebay set. Let us know how it goes!