Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Greetings All, Has anyone recently replaced the front, knee-action shocks on a 1948-49 Custom 8? I need advice on how to keep that coil spring in place once the shock is being taken away...any help will be much appreciated. Any general advice, thoughts about the whole procedure would be most welcome as well.Thanks Michael

A general rule anytime your messing around with springs under tension would be use a spring compressor. It's just a nutted all thread with ears you put inside or out to hold the spring coils compressed.
I'll have a look see, when I go to the garage and see if any other ideas. Mine are connected but exposed/fenders off.

G'day Galahad,
to PackardInfo.

I invite you to include your '49 Custom Eight in the Packard Vehicle Registry.

If one kept the weight of the car on the lower control arm, the coil spring would not be an issue would it??

Hello. I have done this on my 49. Method 1: You can make retainers from 4 pieces of box tube, and 4 lengths of all-thread (1/2 or 9/16), per side. Have 2 of the box across the top of the chassis rail, the other 2 running F-R under the lower wishbone. Do the nuts up while the weight is on the springs. This way you can lift the car for other work if you need to. Method 2: support the car under the inside of one of the lower wishbones, remove the pivot blocks, lift the car and the spring will drop out. without much fuss. The do the other side.
Gary

Greetings Jim,

Thank you for the response. I will look to see if I can find a set of spring compressors....somewhere. My thought, without experience to confirm, was/is that if the hydraulic floor jack is beneath the coil spring...that is should remain stable...if no weight is on that arm to which the shock is connected. Any thoughts on my thoughts would be welcome.
Thanks, Michael

For maximum leverage, the stand should be as close to the drum as possible, preferably under the knuckle. Putting it directly under the spring is not the best place for it.

That said, spring compressors should be easy to find or even to order online.

You DO NOT need a spring compressor. Just put a jack stand on that corner of the car and let the weight of the car compress it.

See post #51 on my blog.

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... ic_id=4307&order=ASC&status=&mode=0

Greetings, I do appreciate your response. The 48-50 shock is connected in a different design from yours...I do not know if you have seen/worked on that design...as I must do this alone, I need to be absolutely certain that when the eccentric cam comes out of the upper control arm, that the spring will stay put...and it is likely that to get that cam back in, I will have to raise or lower the whole assembly...so any further thoughts would be welcome...again, thanks for the time/help. Best, Michael

for including your '49 Custom Eight Touring Sedan. in the Registry.