Which spring compressors?

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

Soldato
Joined
19 Jan 2003
Posts
17,601
Location
Bristol, UK
The next tool I'd like to add to my arsenal is a set of spring compressors.

Can somebody please recommend something ideal for the home mechanic that'll not get too much use.

Thanks.
 
I bought a set from Halfords I think. Worked fine.

I think someone on here has them, rG-tom maybe, I dunno.
 
Just get the right ones, there are two general shapes depending on the head.

Get the bigger ones. £35 from halfords or something?

edit whoops springs not valve? just get the two wee blocks. ;)
 
papercutout said:
I have a pair of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PRO-QUALITY-HEAVY-DUTY-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-SET-NEW-/380139396652

But I'd be tempted by these, the ones above are pretty big and bulky and sometimes I struggle to get them on the springs neatly, which is pretty worrying when you are compressing them!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-PC-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-CLAMPS-310MM-PROFESSIONAL-/150581449122
Click to expand...

I've used both sets and in honesty dislike both. As you say, larger ones are a PITA to get in location some times. The smaller ones though always worry me that they will slip off easier.
 
papercutout said:
I have a pair of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PRO-QUALITY-HEAVY-DUTY-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-SET-NEW-/380139396652

But I'd be tempted by these, the ones above are pretty big and bulky and sometimes I struggle to get them on the springs neatly, which is pretty worrying when you are compressing them!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-PC-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-CLAMPS-310MM-PROFESSIONAL-/150581449122
Click to expand...
I've got something in between the two of these. They are way tonky enough to deal with most car springs.

The other option is to undo the nut on top of the strut slowly and wait for the *BANG!* when it all comes apart. The only downside is you have to cut the spring down to get it back on so you have to lower the car at the same time :cool:
 
Those cheaper ebay ones have a poor design imo they should look more like this if they claim to be heavy duty.

spring_compressors.jpg
 
The ones above are the best I've used! Got a pair of those too, but with very worn hexes on.

Johnny always knows best! With my E30 I cut the springs to just above dislocation point, so they'd not QUITE dislocate, but I could put it back together by hand easily enough :D (I was also running shorter shocks)
 
papercutout said:
But I'd be tempted by these, the ones above are pretty big and bulky and sometimes I struggle to get them on the springs neatly, which is pretty worrying when you are compressing them!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-PC-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-CLAMPS-310MM-PROFESSIONAL-/150581449122
Click to expand...

I bought a pair of these and they were rubbish, more than that they were dangerous.

I put them on and slowly compressed the springs and they started to bend, as I noticed this one of the nut/hook things pulled the threads off the screw which put all the load on the other one and caused it to snap.
 
I bought some draper ones from ebay for £20, work perfectly. You can wind them on with a socket or by sticking an extension bar in the end.
 
Thanks guys, what do you think a local garage would charge if I took in the removed spring/shock assemblies? I have read some horror stories on these cheapo compressors coming off!

I am replacing the front top mounts on my van.
 
Thanks again for the replies.

What would you expect to pay for a pair of top mounts. Fiat want £75 each!

Eurocarparts want £65 (I think that's for a pair too!).

Ball joints at Fiat are £35! I think GSF are about £5-£10 from reading around but haven't called them yet.
 
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