Swapping coils to 5100s- what coil compressor is everyone using(rent)

Im going to swap stock coils over to my 5100s this weekend I've never had good luck with rental coil spring compressors as they are always jacked up when you get them from (O'reillys, Auto-zone, etc)

What is the brands most folks are using? I have no need to buy any since this is a once in every 10 yrs deal but is one style better then another (opening length etc)?


thanks!

 

none.

un-bolt the lower ball joint from the spindle (2 big bolts). Mark the LCA to frame cam bolts. Loosen them, then drop the lca down with a floor jack. Easy MUCH SAFER and quicker than a spring compressor.

 

I have always used advance Auto. Be to be honest. If you can swing it, find a local shop to swap them. For me, I've swapped springs on my truck 3x, $50 is well worth the headache of doing it yourself. If not, it can be done, just a pita

 

This way does work and I've used it too. But just depending on how everything lines back up it can be defficault to get the top stem through the top hat and all the isolaters with enough threads to tighten the top nut down

 

Just keep compressing the LCA / strut assembly with the floor jack to push the stem up through and call it good.

 

This is slightly off topic, but this didn't work when I put 887s on my 5100s. The floor jack started to just lift the truck. Had to use one of those hook type deals.

 

I tried this method the first time I put on 5100s and it wouldn’t work because my LCAd were seized. So as long as your LCA bushings aren’t seized then this is a better way to do it.

 

ah yeah 887's are pretty long n stiff i could see that happening.

Didnt have any issue with my stock TRD OR coils.

 

Spring compressors are known as widow makers in auto shops. A proper strut tamer is best used that is mounted to a stand and has clamps to secure the spring so it doesn't fly out like a 9mm bullet.

 

This is the safe way. I’ve used this many times. Super simple and easy. Here’s a video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vkVLBOnAifc

 

Why do you have too loosen the LCA cam bolts to do this ?

 

So the lower control arm can swing down and out of the way.

 

to add to this. The stock LCA bushings are a bonded rubber type of bushing. That is the inner and outer metal sections are glued to the center rubber piece so it can not freely rotate.

This also brings up the point.

DO NOT TIGHTEN THE LCA BUSHING BOLTS / LOWER SHOCK MOUNT UNTIL VEHICLE IS AT RIDE HEIGHT!!!! these 3 spots are all bonded rubber bushings and will tear if you tighten them at full droop.

 

Got it,Thank's

 

I attempted the jack method on my passenger side last night. Decompressing worked great, new assembly install is giving some difficulties. I've got OME 888 coils on the 5100s but as I lifted the top of the strut would mis-align more with every pump of the Jack. The strut pivoted pretty freely with little pressure from the jack but after a few pumps I could not direct it through the top hat anymore. The 888 coils may be too stiff for this method but I do not know why the strut does not pivot more, the guys in the video below seem to not have much of an issue aligning the strut as the spring compresses. Any ideas on why this may be?

https://youtu.be/jo0FJSi-KYs

 

I took mine to a local shop and had them do it for $20 each side. Easier than using one of those sketchy spring compressors you rent from autozone. I can never get them to compress right.