Well I am a big boy @ 265, but thats got nothing to do with not needing a spring compressor. Wow, since nobody knows about this technique not sure if I wanna share it now.

I have never used a spring compressor to install springs on a 'Balt or J-body. Not even on my own brand new car that had 500 miles when I swapped em, I dont use them on my car or customers cars.

The rears are cake, jack it up, pull wheels, pull lower shock mounting bolt on each side. pull down on axle, remove springs. The axle doesnt swing down or the springs "pop" out when you undo the bolts, not even on an LS, and on a Sport or SS theres almost no pressure at all on springs with axle at full droop, no pressure=no danger.

Front springs: With car resting on ground with wheels on remove the top nut on the strut shaft(just the one large nut, not the strut assembly mounting bolts) you can do this one side at a time or both at once, doesnt really matter(both at once it probably easier without a lift) Now with top nut off on each side you just jack up car till you can get wheels off. As you do this the spring pressure is released. Take off the wheels, take off nut that secures stabilizer links to struts. remove two bolts that secure struts to knuckle. If youve got an SS/Sport you can now safely remove the strut and completely uncompressed spring by hand if youve got an LS/LT youre going to need a pry bar(most likely) and a small sheet of metal to protect the axle boot(the LS springs are taller than SS springs and will push strut into boot if you arent careful) with boot protected you simply remove the strut from knuckle by pushing bottom of strut in(towards engine) and once youve cleared the boot your home free, youll now be holding the strut and the uncompressed spring, remove it from wheelwell and place with other one on your work surface.
Just lift off the old springs, make sure the lower insulator is still in place, install spring to strut, add strut bearing on top of spring with "tab" facing opposite(180deg) from strut mount and slip back into the wheelwell, guide the shaft up into the strut tower, and bolt strut to knuckle.
Now is the only time you NEED another set of hands OR another jack. If using a second jack, place jack under control arm and slowy jack up until the strut shaft pops through top of tower and you can thread on top nut by hand until the "nylock" area. Reattach stabilizer to knuckle and wheel to hub, slowly lower car and once its supporting its own weight again, torque down the top nut.
If using one jack and helpers, install strut assembly into tower and bolt to knuckle, bolt wheel to hub and SLOWLY have your helper lower car, as you stand or crouch by wheel with your hands around strut/sping or wheel(its safer to grag the strut through the wheel) and looking into the top of the strut tower you guide the strut shaft through the mount as the car is lowered. once its on its wheels and shafts are through tower, reattach and tighten top nut.

The only way this is dangersous is that you are using a jack. Its ALWAYS dangersous when you use a jack. But there is ZERO CHANCE of a spring compressor breaking or being misused and releasing a spring under tension this way. And there is no where for the spring to go even if some random Jersey radon or Ciba Geigy pollution has weakened your jack. The strut is still bolted in car and the shaft, several inches of strut tower as well as the wheel and tire keep the spring from flying out of your grasp and crashing through the windows of the Crystal diner.

 

Is anybody cruising down from bergen county?
I might come after all (no dyno though)

 

I'm a maybe as well. I may have to work plus I'm still trying to watch over things with the car since hitting that pipe

 

cobaltss 16 ill be driving down from bergen/passaic county im about 1/2 mile from 208 and glen rock

 

we are getting very close!!

 

That makes sense, and it's a lot easier than my "Huge guy" theory,

Thanks for taking the time to share it w/ everyone...

 

are we still doing the springs on that guys car? maybe Matt will atleast let us pull it into the shop so we are not in the parking lot getting rained on, not that i care about getting rained on, but it would definately be nice. actually, did anyone say anything to Matt about what we are planning to do? haha, just incase we need some of their tools.

 

yea, let me know about the springs guys, because he was supposed to come up my way to do them. i don't wanna be sittin around sunday just to find out he had them done elsewhere

maven, good tips, and great write up. guess i never tried that because i have spring compressors, but sounds easy enough for someone that doesn't.

 

Oh snap! Your right inbetween both my mom's house and dads house! U should come to a BCC meet sum time!

 

well why dont you come down to the Dyno Meet?

i agree....very good write up and tips.

 

^^^ he prob has work on Sat. Mad weddings on the weekends.... So i figure he's working

 

what does he do?

 

yea, i'm working saturday.

i am a videographer/editor. here's a quick clip from the meet this past sunday

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6616193aDgrPqQ8

 

i'll have to watch that tonight at home. work firewall sucks!!

 

It's a sweet little clip and it's not even close to what he's capable of...

 

well then, i am looking forward to checking it out. maybe i can get up with him and do a cool video of my car on dvd and play it in my car at shows.

 

thanks bro. i was hoping to have more interview style clips with people and their cars, nobody showed any interest on the gto or other boards though.

 

Doesn't surprise me at all. I'd love to see what you can do, if you could get together w/ another Cobalt or get control of a whole Cobalt meet. You could make some sick stuff to get up on the web to gain our cars some respect.

Unfortunately, the **** you find online right now is a bunch of drooling idiots making us look bad or poor videos of the ones that could actually gain us rep...

 

So what time is everyone planning on staying until, when do you think your gonna hit up a restaurant for dinner??

I have to work Saturday now because i was out yesterday, So i wont be able to make it till LATE in the afternoon. Is there any kinda schedule yet?

 

starting up at 8:30....and judging by the list of people getting dynoed (i believe i'm the only one getting tuned also) we should be done by late afternoon/early evening. but we'll most likely hit up a restaurant shortly afterwards.

 

well i know that i am trying to get a big meet april 26th in new york in fishkill. maybe if we can get somemore people there you can do some interviews and stuff. just a thought. We are also palnning a big BBQ meet on june 14th at a park in poughkeepsie, ny.

well hopefully i can be down there around 8:30 or 9 and if we are done early i up for dinner

 

What he said...

Members:

1. BRN169
2. MISSMATCHEDFACES (no dyno)
3. SSdan (no dyno)
4. DTM2188 (Bad ass Evo) (may dyno)
5. powerz
6. steddy2112
7. naturalhigh88 (no dyno)
8. nybull05
9. BIG-DAVE
10. rallycobalt06 (+Tune)
11. Koncep Vega
12. 06blackg85ss
13. forced_induction
14. Billig ss/sc
15. cavy-to-SS (may dyno)
16. Maven (no dyno)
17. DaFlyinSkwirl (no dyno)
18. elecblue06 (may dyno)
19. stage4ss
20. RuSSo-29 (no dyno)
21. cobaltssredtint
22. drycell1218
23. llredvsbluell

Guests:

1. forced_induction - Rob / 2000 Corvette
2. rallycobalt06 - Josh / 2007 Grand Prix GXP
3. Koncep Vega - Brett / Cobalt

 

ok so we'll probably at the most have 20 people getting dynoed and only one (that is me) getting dyno tuned. my name is Matt by the way, i'll wear a shirt with my name on it, haha.

 

Well, if Matt can some how manage to squeeze me in for a Tune, I'll Dyno + Tune. But if I can't get a Tune, i'll just hang out down there. I'm gunna be meeting a few ppl up here and we should be getting down there early. But I'm not sure how Late I'll be staying till. Got some things to do at night... I guess I'll just play it by ear....

 

give Matt a call and see if he can do a dyno tune on your car. it's hard to say if there'll be time. i'm planning on being the first one there so we can get my dyno tune out of way. do you have my number? i was going to tell you to call or text me tomorrow afternoon reminding me to bring your stuff.