Im looking for a good install guide to do lowering springs for an 85 'Bird. Does anyone have a good one with pics and a good description? Or have any tips or hints to help with the instal? I did mine on my 97 but how much different is the 3rd gen compared to a 4th? I would really apreciate the help!! Thanks

 

Get the car on jackstands about 16" off of the ground.
Remove wheels

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. The rear springs might come out just because the rear axle drops down so much. Removing and putting the new ones in and make sure to align the rubber boots on the top and bottom correctly.

The fronts are as simple as placing a floor jack under the A-Arm to support the strut/brakes/rotor/A-Arm...Pop the black cap off of the strut tower in the engine bay and use two wrenches to take the strut nut off of the strut piston. Once the nut is off, lower the floor jack slowly to relieve the spring pressure and when you go down far enough, the spring can be taken out. Pop the new one in and reverse that process.

Someone clarify/correct that if you can.

 

Almost. Have to unbolt rear shocks, either top or bottom. Bottom is obviously easiest...

Otherwise, correct.

 

Perfect guys, thanks for the help. It sounds like it is not too different from my 97. Maybe even a little easier. Thanks

 

Rear is identical. Front is way easier. No spring compressing.

 

I've installed springs on a 3rd gen four times and was never able to do it without using a spring compressor on the front springs. I never HAD to undo the rear shocks either. The rears compress pretty easily, if i wasn't replacing the shocks i just compressed the springs slightly with my hands and got them out.

I used an internal spring compress on the front springs with about 3-4" of spacers under the bottom "arms". If you don't you use the spacers the threaded shaft of the compressor will hit the top spring perch when trying to install the springs. You have to index the front springs correctly or else your car will sit like a 4x4. To do this make sure the bottom coil of the front springs end in the center of the 2 holes in lower A-arm. Also use some electrical tape to keep the spring isolator on top the spring when installing.

Be very careful when handling a compressed spring. There is A LOT of energy in a compressed spring and if for some reason the compressor gives your going to be in some pain. Last november I had the compressor give out on me and crushed my pointer finger between the spring and the a-arm. Lost my nail and took 4 months to grow back. That was the first spring too, i still had to do the other side and then put the original springs from that car into my car. That was not a fun few days.