spring compressors?

I posted this in the suspension section but got no reply.

What spring compressors have ya'll used that held up well?

I went to install my 882s on my truck the other day and was going to use a spring compressor of a friend's that used u-bolts. Once the struts were assembled the coils were too close together to get the u-bolts out. I tried again with a compressor I rented from autozone yesterday. It looked like this:



I had the same problem with it. The hooks were too thick to remove from the coils once assembled. So what compressors have ya'll used and where did you get them?

I saw some at advanced auto parts that looked like they could be removed, but also looked flimsy. I'd be scared to use them

 

We are not allowed to discuss this method here.

 

Once you decompress the springs, try to take the bolt all the way off and the hooks should come out. Also, try to connect them one coil lower.

 

I did

 

I feel your pain. I had a similar problem with the same coil compressors when installing my OME 880s. What I did is, once the coils were assembled, I unscrewed the threaded shaft until one it came out of both of the hooks. Then I just took the two hooks off the coils. Only thing I could come up with.

 

There must be some difference between the 880s and 882s cause I tried what you did and it was still too tight to get out.

 

Those are junk. I had to pry the coils apart with a bar to get them out. I ended stealing a Mac 4-Ton Hydraulic Compressor. Took less than a 5 minutes each side. If you were closer I'd do it for you.

 

Has anyone actually done this?

It looks like I gotta find someone with one of these.

 

I sure as hell wouldnt

 

The u bolt style ones are crap for large springs ie unsafe. The ones you get from auto zone are next best to the wall or bench mounted version. Try sliding the hooks more toward the middle of the spring to get them off for the autozone version.

 

The u-bolt ones of my buddies were very strong. not like the ones I've seen in stores. his held up much better than the autozone ones. they were almost easy to tighten. I did a quick search and couldn't find any pictures of one like his.

and seriously.. I tried like everything to get them off. are there no other designs?

 

I am thinking of the ones they sell at pep boys, they are for lil civic springs.

 

I had the same problem. especially since OME shocks are so wide. I took the entire shaft out, and then rotated the hooks around the spring until i got it to the narrowest part of the shock and wiggled them out. Was a bit of a bitch. Kind of wish I had done it the way that video describes with the floor jack! that looks so easy! to bad it was posted in august and i did mine in june.

I never got an alignment after though like it suggests... but then again i didn't unbolt and of the control arms.

 

Use a wood splitting wedge to give more space between the coils, that's what I did, hit it in till the compressor head could fit on the coil, as high as possible, hit it out, then start compressing, when you swap everything out, and need to get the compressor heads off, just put the wedge back in and they'll fall out.

 

I used that method not too long ago when I replaced my top plate. Pretty easy.

 

I was gonna say the same thing! Much easier and safer then the cheap compressors the op is refering to. there is no chance of the spring flying out and hurting you. Pretty simple to me!

 

That's what I'm going to do next chance I get

 

You could allways do it like THIS

 

Anyone ever try to use aircraft grade banding straps? I have seen the guy on Wheeler Dealer from DiscoveryHD use banding straps on the front suspension with the car on a lift.

I used the cheapos from Harbor Freight to get my springs off my ICONS to have them rebuilt, but, the damn things distorted so much, and no way I am going to use those again to get the springs back in.

 

Some I use to take them apart on the floor with an impact, and assemble them in a wall mounted strut compressor.
Some I actually used the lift to compress it (KIA amantis)
Most I used a wall mounted spring compressor. I haven't used a cheapo Harbor Freight one in years....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=XEQq0_xeg6g