To all those LR3 owners that did the British Atlantic Coil conversion.... Question.. I started on the conversion today and went ahead and changed Speed Sensor, Brake Wear Sensor, Rotors, and Pads. I started with the driver's front. I have the airbag out and the +2 Inch Heavy Duty Springs in. I'm following the Printed instructions that came with the kit from British Atlantic so the only suspension/steering thing I removed is the control arm at the knuckle. I have the 3 nuts tightened up top of the coilover. The issue is... now the bottom "hole/mounting spot" of the coilover is about 5 inches below the mounting point of the lower control arm. It's as if the control arms (top and bottom) won't come low enough to get the long cross bolt in to secure the bottom of the coilover to the lower control arm. The rotor and dust-shield are off so I am able to get a "crowbar" in through the knuckle and pry downward. The control arms come down 2 to 3 inches. I can stand on the crowbar and the control arms come down 3 to 4 inches. But I need about 5 inches. Did any of you that put on the +2 Heavy Duty Springs have this issue? I can't really jack upwards on the bottom of the coil because of the odd angle of the coil over (no flat surface for a floor jack to make contact on in order to jack). What do you think? Should the Front Control Arms be able to lower enough to get the cross bolt in on the +2 Coilovers with heavy duty springs? Do I just need a longer crowbar and more weight on it to lower control arms? OR should I try to jack up on the lower part of the coil over to compress the springs some (i.e. meet the controls arms half way in the middle)? What do you think?

 

I have done it two different ways.

I have jacked up the coil over and pried the control arm down to meet in the past.

I have also had the control arm unbolted, attached it to the coil over first than pushed the whole thing up and into the frame mounts

 

Haha, first time replacing a coil spring? Sounds like my first time.

Anyway, your problem is that you NEED to compress the coil spring to install it. There are many tools on the market to do that, but it's still dangerous as hell, try not to die. There's no "easy fix" to that, and I highly recommend you don't use a jack, as they aren't anchored and will moist likely slip out at high speed.

 

Actually they are installed on the strut and bolted into the mounting bucket. They really can't go anywhere

 

Absolutely have to compress the springs. The HD springs make it even tougher. Take your time and watch the spring compressor as you tighten them. The goal is to finish the project with all of your fingers...hands....eyes...still attached. As an aside, look at how the new assembly will line up so you position the spring compressors correctly. I lined them up wrong the first time and the strut assembly wouldn't fit because they were in the way.

 

Can anyone offer a recommendation for a specific spring compressor for this job? I just received the AB +2 inch heavy load old man emu set. I'll only have a weekend to do this job so I am trying to have everything on hand. TIA