Failing to remove stock suspension

Forshaw · Postby **Forshaw** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:41 am

Trying many variations and it's not budging, any tips? Cheers

Forshaw · Postby **Forshaw** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:41 am

Upper ball joint not wanting to move

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:47 am

1: That spring compressor isn't on correctly, take it off before you kill yourself with it!
The Jaws go onto the SPRING not the perch.

2: You can't use 1 compressor of that type, they must be used in pairs and evenly tightened. If unevenly tightened, or just one is used, you can bend the shock rod.

To remove the shock you need to remove the long bolt that goes through the upper control arm on the car side.
It will be stupidly tight, but once it's undone you can slide the bolt out, then pull the upper control arm outwards to give plenty of room to then pull teh shock out.

Forshaw · Postby **Forshaw** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:51 am

Cheers, we knew the spring compressor wasn't on properly, we are really desperate!

vrmmmpshhh · Postby **vrmmmpshhh** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:00 am

You haven't removed the ball joint or the long bolt at the back.. Superman couldn't help you without one of them removed. Long bolt is the easiest method. Throw the spring compressor in the bin.

Forshaw · Postby **Forshaw** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:13 am

Longbolt worked, thanks heaps guys!

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:19 am

My NA is the first car I've ever dine any serious mechanical work on & I found reading plenty of different info from various forums gives lots of little tips. I've never used the long bolt method, so can't comment on which method is preferable. I've always broken the top ball joint apart, push down in the lower arm and manouvre the shock out. No need for compressor. Possible with one person (if I can anyone can!!) ... But for a few beers the extra hands certainly make it easy :smile:

The placement of that spring compressor sends frightening shivers ....

Good luck.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

Pamex · Postby **Pamex** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:22 pm

Yeah, I always use long bolt method.

To the OP, I'd suggest you read like crazy before your next project. There's heaps of how-tos around on miata.net and just through searching Google in general. Definitely do as much reading as you can next time, particularly if you ever tackle safety areas such as brakes and steering.

Never, ever do that with a spring compressor again though. For your education/ entertainment, there are some amusing videos on Youtube of compressor use gone wrong. There was no way that compressor was going to do what you needed to anyway. If you're seriously having difficulty, see a professional as that can go bad very quickly.

Forshaw · Postby **Forshaw** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:38 pm

Advice taken

Quite lucky we finished it off with no injuries haha, we didn't know it could end that badly.

Cheers, Aaron.

noobee · Postby **noobee** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:07 pm

Forshaw wrote:Advice taken

Quite lucky we finished it off with no injuries haha, we didn't know it could end that badly.

Cheers, Aaron.

yep,if you think about medieval methods of killing people such as a crossbow,a compressed car spring,even a light mx5 one has a lot more stored energy just waiting to slip free.
Mick