coil spring compression tool

Catching that bottom lip of spring while releasing is most dangerous part....

shock in place might be a good safety measure......if possible.

Think some are confused, this has to work in a wheel well with a big ass bucket at top...in your way,,,,,lca is in the way, everything is in the way.....
only victory he can claim is at least theres no sway or tierods installed yet in his way...


All u with 4x4s, pre-runners, 6 lug, have a completely different system....
5lugs have drop in cartridge replacement, the rest of you have to replace/remove the whole strut assymbly.....
Replacement strut for 5lug is about $40,,,,,,6 lugs $200 a side.....
sorry we're so inferior....

 

This is a better tool then the two piece in my opinion. I’ve used both and this one felt like it had a much better hold on the spring.

 

I borrowed the coil spring compressor the OP has and it would not work. The coils are too tightly spaced and it was a no go.

I used this coil spring compressor on my 02 4wd and it worked clunky but decent. It got it all back together but you had to be careful to line them up evenly and it was the kind of job you with you had 3 hands for. But in the end the screw portion of the tool was bent (soft metal Chinese metal). So the quality of the tool is poor but it does work and i never felt like i was in danger using it. I was just careful as you should always be working around compressed springs and i did it out in the yard and never aimed the spring towards myself.

$35 Performance Tool W80555 Strut Coil Spring Compressor

https://www.amazon.com/Performance-...9&sr=1-1-5985efba-8948-4f09-9122-d605505c9d1e

 

Yes. Yes. I did that too. It IS a IQ puzzle. I did use a pry bar. Raising the jack a little at the time to get it cought on the lower lip, then wacking the top into place with the rubber piece already in place. I just never could get enough tension on the spring to get the upper control arm bolted to the frame. My friend is supposed to come out tomorrow night to help. He has a different type of puller. He described it as having 3 threaded rods

 

I took it out that way.

 

I hope not. It did cross my mind. Getting the truck as level as possible with a jack. I shot a laser level beam from one upper control arm bolt, to its brother across the way. Keep in mind there is no engine in it now. Both bolts lined up. Other things could be wrong, but if the bell from the donor truck was cut and rewelded at the exact factory weld point, it should be right.
I did not remove the other front spring from either truck. The picture that shows 2 springs shows the LF spring from the donor next to the one from the truck I am repairing. Both being the same height. this is to show you the amount of compression.
Those tools scare me. Not sure they are safe. I am looking at some tools with a different approach.

 

I must be missing something, I had upper and lower arms installed in place,
everything else pulled out of way, and then slide spring in......
couple hours of swearing......
had to work those pawls out by twisting and prying......about 3 mo ago....when I,did LCA bushings.

 

I had the same thoughts when I did mine. I wonder if the spring, no longer under pressure, expands, or gets stiff with age? Keep in mind mine has been in a "not under pressure mode" for about 10 months. The bolt heads on the compession tool are now butted up against the UCA, so i must use a open end wrench to remove them. No room to get a socket in there.
No worries. My friend is coming by this weekend to help. Either that will do it, or I will buy the fancy compression tool. For sure, its going in!

 

No, its high strength steel, anything short of years of massive off roading and abuse.....
Rwd wont tax it at all...unless u live on a farm.

You just have to find right bite, right position.
Having some help and extra set hands/eyes will make it 4 times easier.

When I did mine, I just went and bought a brandnew OEM brand one from autozone....$40.
I had complete confidence in its safety, little truck, tool was brandnew.....

OEMTOOLS 25550 MacPherson Strut Spring Compressor (autozone.com)


Although I made a variety of metal sleeve sizes and put on that clamp screw to space clamps closer together and away from nut/washer/wrench end...to gain wiggle room around top cap.....
I used metal cutoff tubes left over from ceiling fan extension kit....an inch or inch and half long.
Like I said, it was a puzzle......

 

That is the one I am using now. It came from autozone,but I am renting it.

This is a good idea you have about using a sleeve/ spacer. I may try that. I think if I could gain another 1/2", I would be there. But it takes some serious torque to turn it at all. When I do (with my big 21" bar) it creeks and groans, at one point I could see the threaded rod flex a little. Not safe. If the weather holds Ronald will come lend a hand. He knows more than I do.
I'll keep you posted....

 

you're suppose to grease those screws.......said so on instructions....

And yeah those screws are about inch and half too long for our little struts.....


You can see from pic I had to use two spacers on each side, like 2 to 3 inch......from nut.
And then on driver, one screw had to go upside down to make it work.....
passenger slid in with no such non sense....