I have a 1990 Ford F150 pickup. That self adjuster cable is broke on the left side. I got the part and was going to change it today. I just found out that I cant get one of the upper springs off. I've worked on chevy rear brakes and they allow enough of a straight section of the spring to get a vice grip on it, and pull it off. This ford spring, the thicker one, has no end to it to grab with a vice grips. In other words, the hook is almost at the end of the coil part of the spring.
Yea, i know they make special tools for this, but I dont have one and being rural, I dont care to drive to the nearest larger city, which is
30 miles away, especially since we have icy roads at the moment. Is there some way to get this spring off without a tool? I could probably put the vice grip on the spring and bend the hook, but that would likely ruin the spring.Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions?
I think the smaller spring can be removed with the vicegrip because it has a longer end to grab. But of course the hook from the heavy one is on top of the thinner one. I am trying to remove them from the "anchor pin", if I am not being clear.
Thanks
WB