[DeTomaso] Aldan shocks help!

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/24/10 9:52:43 AM, rob at dumoulins.net writes:

> How much pressure is on the stock front and back shock springs when the 
> car is jacked up?  Would one need a spring compressor to replace the shocks 
> or remove the stock spring spacer or can you safely disassemble them in 
> your garage?
> 
Quite a bit of pressure, but they're not deadly. About the worst that can 
happen is a badly pinched finger if some sort of kluge is used to collapse 
the spring and it slips. I use a hydraulic press with stad-offs to collapse 
the spring about 1" so as to be able to pull the big split-locks out. Some 
aftermarket coil-overs use a giant snap-ring. The stockers had a 5/8" thick 
headlight height adjusting spacer in there and with it gone, the stock springs 
are still rather tight on stock shocks.
Springs are always held tightly in shocks- adjustable perch or not. The 
only ones in which the springs fit loosly are modified ones, and they rattle at 
best and at worst get cocked on the shock and jam. Some racecars use spring 
retainer clamps on the ends to keep too-short springs from cocking, but 
these then become shock-travel-limiters. Better to get a shock the correct 
length. FWIW- J DeRyke