Coil Spring Compressor. Safest/most affordable/functional

Anyone heard of or tried this one from SPC?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfnuERu6BW4

Is 7" of travel enough to compress a TRD sport coil to install 5100s @ .85"

 

Never seen it before, but it looks legit. 7" should be plenty of travel to compress the springs.

 

After a lot of looking, I just ordered this http://www.sears.com/schwaben-pro-series-spring-compressor-kit/p-00902993000P?PDP_REDIRECT=false&s_tnt=39869:3:0

I'll let you all know how it works out.

 

Did it work -- You still alive?

 

Not yet; springs get here tomorrow.
The Schwaben is very stout; whole kit is 50 lbs. I think it will do nicely.
I'll post some pics...if I live.

 

Schwaben...Yes, please let us know if/how this works.

I am looking to see if the "truck as coil compressor" method will work with an FJ -- should, its basically the same front end.

Nice to have an off-truck compressor though -- one I can use without putting on the bomb suit from The Hurt Locker.

 

On my 2013, I didnt even need the spring compressor, the spring stayed in the wheel wheel and the shock just came out, then I slipped the new 5100 into the sprint and raised the arm up and bolted it all in....

 

You used this method? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkVLBOnAifc
It gets the job done; but there are a few things I don't like about that method.
Now; I have a spring compressor I can use on two of my other vehicles, I don't have to trust an idiot grease monkey to orient my spring/shock/top hat/spring cup correctly, I can do it on my time, it's a whole lot safer than the rental POS, etc.
YMMV.

 

Maybe I'm not understanding you correctly, but it sounds like you did exactly as the video I posted.
As I said previously, there are few things I don't care for in that method.
Anyway...this thread is about spring compressors.

 

Damn.

And while we are on the subject....anything from Harbor Freight might as well have a sticker on it that says "Widow Maker."

 

What happened to the spring when that cheap compressor failed? Hope no one got hurt, yikes.

 

I've done that trick on hundreds of toyota, fords, chevys, hummers, etc... easiest way to do it. for the rookies or people not comfortable doing it then the tool option is fine to.

 

Not necessarily a comfort/rookie issue...just nice to have if you want to quickly build the strut off vehicle, or adjust a cranky coilover.

 

One of the things that doesn't sit right with me is jacking your shock stem into the top hat, putting pressure on the rubber underside isolator.
Maybe I'm over thinking it, but it seems to me clamping force would be increased once torque was achieved AND pressure relieved. Too tight? I don't know; maybe, maybe not; my OCD says better safe than sorry.

 

I think your OCD needs to relax a bit.. I get that a little apprehension raising the stem thru the tophat,grommetts,etc; is a little intimidating at first, just guide the stem a little till it starts coming thru the top so you can nut it. As far as pressure on the big isolater, this is a non issue as theres going to be pressure against it any way...

 

So... How is the Schwaben?

 

Fooking awesome.

I had some Sears credit, so I ended up picking one up for $70.

It is beefy and easy to use. I even took some springs apart I had laying around just for fun. It seriously made the lift more enjoyable.

Tips: You will need a pretty high volume air system if you plan on using air tools to crank it. Otherwise, a long handle heavy duty ratchet will work -- thats what I used.

 

Pretty much this.
I used a long breaker bar with swivel adapter. I chucked it in the vise which made aligning stuff super easy. It also allowed me to wrap everything with a heavy duty chain...just in case.