Spring compressors? What do you use?

[TimKninja]

HAY GUISE

Ordered coilovers, This will be my 2nd time doing springs. Ive had much practice on the compressors that repair facilities use but never any kind like this...



What brand do you guys prefer? I know my options right now are

Autozone sells them,

Harbor frieght sells them. Not sure if I want to trust a harbor freight tool, but does anyone have any feedback on them?

and Sears sells craftsman ones.

I plan to use them more then a few times as well.

Thanks guys!

[drumad]

The HF compressors are a pain in the ass to use so don't buy those.

The ones you rent from az or aap are perfectly fine.

[Jaxx_]

used cheap harbor freight chinese ones for plenty of suspension work. they're just fine, but if you don't feel like buying some, renting them from autozone or advance will be fine too.

[nando]

none.

lay the strut on the grass. stand on the spring with one foot. use impact on nut - it'll pop free in seconds, and the force isn't that great (since the coils that are compressed are inactive coils, the force is low).

obviously, don't put your face right in front of the spring, but it's not going to shoot 50 feet or anything.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Since your installing coilovers, you don't need a compressor.

Lay it in the grass, turn your head away and hit it with an impact. When I first heard of this method I was very skeptical, being a tech myself I had always been told this was a huge no-no.

Then I tried it, no big deal really. I will do this from now on rather than risk a cheap spring compressor breaking under the full pressure of a compressed spring.

[Exodus_2pt0]

none.

lay the strut on the grass. stand on the spring with one foot. use impact on nut - it'll pop free in seconds, and the force isn't that great (since the coils that are compressed are inactive coils, the force is low).

obviously, don't put your face right in front of the spring, but it's not going to shoot 50 feet or anything.

Beat me to it. Actually I think you are the person I heard this from.

[FLG]

Also have done it before...no biggie.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[nando]

IMO spring compressors are more dangerous, since they're usually of poor quality, and you're compressing the spring to the point where the force increases dramatically (spring rate * distance compressed = potential energy to explode in your face). also, you're more likely to damage the coating on the springs.

[drumad]

I've done it like the above as well.

[TimKninja]

Ill do it as you guys have suggested. Going to HF today anyways, will see how much they are anyways

[Balleristic31]

Don't buy one. Go to oreillys and rent (buy then return basically) one and ull be out no money

[TimKninja]

It was $12 on sale. I figured id keep it in my arsenol of tools.

Also picked up a pickle fork, lol cant wait to see what it looks like after a few blows.

Lolharborfrieght

[gp.plus]

When using the above method, I like to place a cardboard box at the top end of the assembly or release it towards a wall to catch any washers that may shoot out.

[AE86]

none.

lay the strut on the grass. stand on the spring with one foot. use impact on nut - it'll pop free in seconds, and the force isn't that great (since the coils that are compressed are inactive coils, the force is low).

obviously, don't put your face right in front of the spring, but it's not going to shoot 50 feet or anything.

I use a hybrid of this guys method along with spring compressor, meaning I compress the spring just a enough to get some tension and contact points, then I undo the top nut. No parts go flying or anything, just a considerable pop! Remember what your essentially doing is releasing a great deal of energy from a spring, and your goal should be to do this safely. Any method you choose to use, should be done with caution, I for one, value my balls and face too much to let the spring out with some kind of limits or control on the energy being released.

Just remember to use some common sense and be careful or else you'll end up with a spring attached to your head, good luck there unicorn.