automotive spring compressors...what ya got ?

[maroon]

if you're using the "cheap" ones you want more than one set. which is what i've accumulated
a lot of times i've used the weight of the car coaxing it in.
them horse shoe ones are good. floor standing ones are not very good on car (obviously)
fantastically safe if you have the strut off.

i've used cable ties and all kinds of things in the past. i've had my hand black and blue doing fronts on an x reg corsa (brand new at the time and got lowered, there was nothing wrong with the original spring) it gave way in the turret with my hand in there. didn't break any bones. but it hurt. badly.

 

[Keithmac]

I've used the Laser ones in the past and never had an issue but not a nice job!.

The Hydraulic ones on here look a nice bit of kit.

Last set I did were coilovers so you just unwind the spring perch to release the tension.

 

[Rrobson]

I always de-tension springs on the car. Leave the car on the floor, undo the top nut then jack the car up. Spring is magically decompressed.
Otherwise I’ve used some beefy c-hook type spring compressors which aren’t great but do the job.

 

[octo0072000]

Coil Spring Compressor 1200kg 3pc with Safety Hooks | AK384 | Sealey

1 Year Guarantee - Carbon steel, hardened lead screws and cast jaws with safety hooks to prevent accidental release of spring under compression.

www.sealey.co.uk

Iv got these
Shows how long I have had them

I paid £35

same here mine cost £25.99 if my memory serves me well had them years

 

[mr haynes]

Angry grinder gets springs off a car quick...

 

[mr haynes]

....just wear ear plugs so you don't hear the bang!

 

[Ross365]

I’ve been working on cars for years but never done coils/shocks, but my beloved old Rover 600 needs new shocks. ​

I’m retired, so got the time, but also got brittle bones . My mate runs a garage and I get mates rates. What shall I do??? The Rover is a MkV Honda Accord in disguise and there's a YouTube video for the rears and that suggests it's not too hard.​

Nobody mentioned either of these three-leg tools from Machine mart;​

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cht233-3-piece-coil-spring-compressor-s/

and​

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-0290-coil-spring-compressor-heavy-duty/

both at around the £50 inc vat. If I did the job myself I could spend some time, grit-blast and repaint the springs and sort any rust on the chassis too.​

Please ignore the bold type; cannot change - long story.

​

​

 

[m_c]

Nobody mentioned either of these three-leg tools from Machine mart;

Several people did, just not specifically the Machine Mart ones.
See all the comments about hook compressors and feeling like you're going to be wounded/die at any moment.

 

[Ross365]

Several people did, just not specifically the Machine Mart ones.
See all the comments about hook compressors and feeling like you're going to be wounded/die at any moment.

Seems like I have brittle bones and a brittle brain too . Looking at the Rover Service book they, call up a "special tool" as a shown.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I’ve been working on cars for years but never done coils/shocks, but my beloved old Rover 600 needs new shocks. ​

I’m retired, so got the time, but also got brittle bones . My mate runs a garage and I get mates rates. What shall I do??? The Rover is a MkV Honda Accord in disguise and there's a YouTube video for the rears and that suggests it's not too hard.​

The set like in my link or shown by mr haynes in post #7 are much better, but you are right that the 600/accord springs are a bit tricky, there isn't much room to get anything in-between the coils.
I don't know if they would fit, I might have an old one kicking around I could take a look and see - too dark and cold to do it tonight though.

You certainly don't need the special tool, I've done them with the standard claw type and a couple of G clamps, but it is dicey.

Edit to say - my memory may not be correct on this, but I think the rears don't have much tension on them, but the fronts do.

 

[Ross365]

The set like in my link or shown by mr haynes in post #7 are much better, but you are right that the 600/accord springs are a bit tricky, there isn't much room to get anything in-between the coils.
I don't know if they would fit, I might have an old one kicking around I could take a look and see - too dark and cold to do it tonight though.

You certainly don't need the special tool, I've done them with the standard claw type and a couple of G clamps, but it is dicey.

The guy doing the YouTube job struggled with his really basic compressors getting them on to the top of the spring, while it was on the car.

The 'special tool', which appears in both the Rover and Honda service books, doesn't look like it would cost much to make (based on 12mm mild steel studding). As I said, it's not so much that doing it myself saves money, it's just that it makes it possible to deal with any rust (on a 25 year old car) while I have the access.

 

[pedrobedro]

The guy doing the YouTube job struggled with his really basic compressors getting them on to the top of the spring, while it was on the car.

Why would you want to compress them while they are on the car ? Either take the strut off with the top nut on and do the job off the car or undo the top nut then jack the car up

Pardon our interruption...

For that money I’d it needs improving you have the basics there

That eBay one looks like the one I got from Machine Mart and I've done a few with it. It copes with the Berlingo strut and they are a nightmare.

A mechanic friend of mine used to put jubilee clips round the spring when using the screw type to stop the hooks from sliding round.

 

[premmington]

I always de-tension springs on the car. Leave the car on the floor, undo the top nut then jack the car up. Spring is magically decompressed.
Otherwise I’ve used some beefy c-hook type spring compressors which aren’t great but do the job.

I never do this - too much risk of top mount bearing flying apart.

 

[Ross365]

Why would you want to compress them while they are on the car ?

Good question - I think it may be that the American dude was full of dope - see 10 seconds and 6.40 in!!! Dope and spring compressors?

 

[mgarym]

What's your opinion on the merits of the cup version or hook version of the hydraulic compressors

 

[mgarym]

Cup

 

[octo0072000]

Coil Spring Compressor 1200kg 3pc with Safety Hooks | AK384 | Sealey

1 Year Guarantee - Carbon steel, hardened lead screws and cast jaws with safety hooks to prevent accidental release of spring under compression.

www.sealey.co.uk

Iv got these
Shows how long I have had them

I paid £35

mine are the same but was £29.99 had them lots of years
also another set but without hooks think they was £9.99 a good 40 years ago had much use

 

[Chippie]

I got the Laser tools equivalent of the Sealey ones above.

Last used on my daughters 65 plate Corsa to swap out the front springs..Easiest change done for a long time…Previously did the fronts on a 54 Fiesta….what a pain!

 

[Nomad]

A mate runs a car repair shop and uses a floor mounted hydraulic cup type as above, he likes it - I'm always nervous using it.
Obviously you need to remove the whole strut from the car to use it, no use if you need easily portable or to work without stripping the suspension off the car.

In the past I've undone the suspension locking nuts with the car on the ground then jacked the car up to release the spring, it worked for me but it could go badly wrong.

I have a pair of cheap coil spring compressors (a pair only, not a set of 3), they work but I prefer to put a ratchet strap around the outside to stop them slipping. Ones with clips to hold them in place would be sensible if you have a choice.

 

[AVI_8]

I bought this last month, bit of a false start when it arrived as the ram had air in it but with some advice from here I got it bled and got a couple of springs changed so at £106 it’s pretty much paid for itself already, it’ll get a fair bit more use over the coming years I’m sure.