good spring compressor

[zandi]

where about do I go to get a good spring compressor? pepboys loans out the shittiest ones in the world, the mcpherson strut compressors that u buy from them are shitty too.....if anyones had experience with either a loaned tool you a tool bought from one of those big chain parts stores u know what im talking about. I need a spring compressor that will fit well within the wheel well...but then,

is it even absolutely neccessary to use a spring compressor to change strut mounts ? considering im using H&Rs which are shorter too

[DanGillan]

autozone rents them out too, they do the trick, and its free, you just put in a deposit and they give it back when you return it

[KenC]

Depending on how short your springs are you might not even need one. I don't need one on my tockicos. IEs dont need one either.

[zandi]

I went to autozone, pepboys, and kragen, they all have the same shitty one


looks like that, those black things that hold the spring doesnt allow it to fit int he wheel well

[nando]

yeah those things are garbage.. I own one like that, they are scary to use and they can also damage the spring. there are some that work more like a scissors that look like they work a lot better, but I'm not sure where to buy them.

and not all springs just drop in, my H&Rs needed to be compressed quite a bit before they fit into the struts.

[Sean]

NAPA!

My friend and I joint purchased a pair of compressors. I'll get a pic when i get a chance.

The "arms" are hook shaped, so they fit in very tight coils and compress down real hard.

Check out NAPA, they got what you want. We got ours on sale for like $30 too. :D

[erik325i]

You don't need a spring compressor if you are using H&R sport springs. I just finished installing my H&R sport/Bilstein sport setup and I only needed a spring compressor for the rear springs. I just wrapped a towel around the old spring/strutmount while I was unbolting it. It popped off into the towel. When installing the H&Rs, I just had to lean on the spring enough to have my little brother bolt on the strut mount. You can do it.

[DanGillan]

those autozone one's work fine. take the strut out of the car and do it. i've used it many times and never had a problem.

[Digitalwave]

those autozone one's work fine. take the strut out of the car and do it. i've used it many times and never had a problem.

Ditto.

[zandi]

Never had a problem my ass, the bolt on those compressors doesn't allow you to put the spring back on the bearing and uncompress it because the wheel well gets in the way

[bimmer8604]

Never had a problem my ass, the bolt on those compressors doesn't allow you to put the spring back on the bearing and uncompress it because the wheel well gets in the way

Thats why you take the whole strut assembly out of the car, you dont have to take the compressors anywhere near the wheel well.

Unless you are talking about the rear, you can probably get away with undoing the sway bar and your rear shock and the TA should lower enough to get the spring out.

Kyle

[BMW BMXER]

Ya the rear you don't need a compress for the stock springs even if you lower the TA enough.

I used the above ones for my springs, one was bent even.. It was tricky but it did the job.

I removed the whole assembly from the car, don't know why you wouldnt.

[Dave]

those autozone one's work fine. take the strut out of the car and do it. i've used it many times and never had a problem.

Ditto.

What they said. I have a similar looking set that I got at Sears. Works just dandy in the front if you remove the strut assembly.

[zandi]

Remove the strut assembly? How do you do that without compressing the springs in the first place. Someone please explain this to me as I really don't know how.

I'm guessing:
remove wheel, remove tie rod, remove sway bar link, remove control arm?, remove 13mm nuts on top of strut?

[Digitalwave]

The spring isn't going to come out, its held on by that big bolt on the top and the top spring hats. You have to disconnect the sway bar, and knock out the tie rod end and the control arm ball joint. Its so easy, I can have the both front struts out of the car in 20 minutes.