Would you trust this coil compressor?

Those are difficult to work with if you have the progressive TRD Springs........I would not recommend it after my experience with them. They got the job done, but those brackets are so thick that the spring starts to bind on them as you're compressing them.

 

i couldnt get the clamshell one from harbor freight to work at all dude....so now mine is just sitting on the shelf collecting dust.

 

No, I wouldn't trust the compressor in OP. To many angles in those cradles and they look a bit thin. I think I've broken wrenches that looked beefier than those.

The ones I see most frequently in this thread appear to be

$40 OEMTOOLS 25550 MacPherson 10.75" Strut Spring Compressor, Automotive Suspension System Maintenance Tool, 2-Piece Universal Spring Compressor Tools with 9.75" Maximum Safe Opening, Forged Hooks

these. I just used them this weekend on my Sport springs... had to compress/decompress 4 times (oops) and never felt like they were going to slip. Very solid. I did it by hand with a regular socket wrench... not recommended entertainment but do-able.

Friend of mine had the and it worked well a couple of times but the last time he used it he couldn't fully release tension and wound up having to cut the cradles off one end.

 

yeah....works fine on its on. usctacoma came here mod weekend....and i couldnt install his lift for him because the damn spring compressor wouldnt fit into the spring to collapse it. i tried for an hour with zero luck.

 

I've used both the harbor freight compressor and the more common type (two threaded clamps per spring). I felt like the harbor freight clamshell type was safer, but I found it a little more difficult because it would bind up when trying to get it on or off the spring. It was easier to compress the springs because it only has one bolt to turn, but I spent more time getting it on and off the spring than I did changing out the strut.

 

make sure the compressors sit opposite of eachother. Position the spring perpendicular to your body so if the compressors slip off the spring wont shoot at you

 

Some shops also rent out tools. My local automotive shop like Kragen does.

 

Hmmm....with all the trouble that some are having with compressing springs, I might have a shop do mine. What is a fair price to pay for having this done?

 

i don't think i could trust myself doing this