Coil compressor

hello all!

I've been searching TW for the past hour or so trying to find a brand of
Coil compressor someone has used with success on a 16 Tacoma. I have the following coil compressor and figures it would work but it doesn't fit (

$34 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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000...e=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2EM5369MHFYA2ERJAEMY&th=1).

If someone has a brand they used with success and would be willing to share, I'd be very appreciative.

Thanks!

 

I just learned a trick and it worked perfect not using a coil spring compressor use your truck , there's a video floating around here on how to do it and I watched it and it worked perfect better than any spring compressor . use the lower control arm and leave the shock mount it in the upper mount just take that nut off and lower the lower control arm and it comes right out it's so easy it's wonderful.reassembly is a breeze if you're putting any spacers are changing the coils just put it right back together put the nut back on done

 

Thanks @Hiluxski! I saw that video as well, I'll give it a go.

 

Ugh. I hate those things. I've gotten those to work... but it's super sketchy.

 

Link please

 

Thanks

 

Used that method a week ago. Works great.

 

I wouldn't recommend those OP they can be very dangerous.
I've used the wight of the vehicle to compress\decompress springs for many years before the videos were made and it's worked very well for me on non strut suspensions also. Lot safer!

Cheers

 

I did a write up on this you can view from my sig links below.

Another option is to find a little tire shop in the hood you can offer 20 bucks to use their wall mounted style compressor

 

This method of using the trucks weight is very effective. There's no way I'd used the 2 piece screw in ones mentioned in the OP. If you aren't comfortable with the truck weight/floor jack method you can always find a local repair shop and have them assemble the struts for you, I can't imagine the labor on it would be too bad.

 

I suggested this to someone the other day. Hood shops are a valuable resource, saved my ass a few times.

 

I'm glad I saw this. I've used the above compressor a few times before and was always scared it would break!

 

$102 8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor Kit Interchangeable Fork Coil Extractor Tool Set

https://www.amazon.com/8MILELAKE-Macpherson-Spring-Compressor-Interchangeable/dp/B01DP2CDJU/

I use one like this (note, not actually this brand!) for 700lb coils. Feels safe to me.

 

I'm gonna either do the weight of the vehicle on the vehicle way like in the video or just pay someone to compress them for me. Not worth the risk.

 

Has anyone tried using the bottle jack that comes with the tacoma to compress instead of using a floor jack? Just asking as I don't have a floor jack and want to replace my shocks myself.

 

I wouldn't do it. Those jacks are a worse case scenario type thing, they aren't stable at all and when you lower and have to raise that lower arm it will put quite a bit of side load on the jack. The factory bottle jack will just tip over, not to mention I doubt it has enough length to actually be able to do this.

 

I've used them for years....dozens of times on all manner of springs. Never an issue.

That said...using the truck's weight trick is certainly easier...at least for this particular vehicle

 

This works. Just remember to go slow. If you have a floor jack that can slowly be released, that helps to go slowly. That's how I've done it.

Edit: Also, I get that coils are sketchy all around, but the rentable coil compressors seem extra sketchy as they hold the tension of the coil. With the weight of the truck method, you'll only be handling the coil once it's not under tension anymore.

 

I’ve used my shop press numerous times for compressing the coilovers and separating the top plate.