Which spring compressor?
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From: South Alabama
Which spring compressor? I was looking in a couple of automotive parts catalogs and there were two different kinds of shock-spring compressors, one for vinal coated springs and one for non-vinal coated springs.
Which one should we use and is this distinction really important (I've never seen this issue addressed)?
Which one should we use and is this distinction really important (I've never seen this issue addressed)?
i also went to autozone, but i bought the tool for 35 bucks, its 40 bucks to rent it. Doesn't make sense to me but hey its 5 bucks cheaper to buy it and now i have it for what ever future car i work on..
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I actully rented 2 diff ones from AZ for mine, neither worked out. First one the diameter of the coil was too big to fall into the valley on the hooks, started slipping as i cranked it so I didn't trust it. Second one was much beefier but the hooks wouldn't fit in between the coils. When u "rent" a tool at AZ the price you pay is just a deposit, you get 100% of it back when u take the tool back, atleast around here. I eventually took my struts and new springs down to local midas, for $20 mechanic swapped em out for me on his lunch break.
I think you guys are missing the question. What do these spring compressors look like? Are they identical but one has protective coated "fingers" to not damage the spring? That would be nice to have so that you don't damage the powdercoat or the paint on the spring.
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From: South Alabama
Originally Posted by JasonWW
I think you guys are missing the question. What do these spring compressors look like? Are they identical but one has protective coated "fingers" to not damage the spring? That would be nice to have so that you don't damage the powdercoat or the paint on the spring.
At this point I don't know what they look like, thats kinda why I started this thread. I don't even know how much of a real issue this is, I've never heard of the two different kinds and I figured someone who has changed their shocks or springs would be familar with it. I've been considering buying Konis and I wanted to get more familiar with the exact procedure.
I've made my living in maintenance for years and its just my nature to cover as many of the variables as possible prior to performing the task.
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Verdad Gallardo I think this is the most common type of compressor:
You would use an impact gun to tighten one side a little and then the other side. Back and forth so as not to **** the spring sideways. I think that's what AZ rents.
You don't want this type as it won't fit:
This one is badass, but pricy at $260:
This is what I used, but isn't needed:
This is a nice style if you can find it. You can compress it on the car easily:
You would use an impact gun to tighten one side a little and then the other side. Back and forth so as not to **** the spring sideways. I think that's what AZ rents.
You don't want this type as it won't fit:
This one is badass, but pricy at $260:
This is what I used, but isn't needed:
This is a nice style if you can find it. You can compress it on the car easily:
Teching In
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Originally Posted by JasonWW
I think you guys are missing the question. What do these spring compressors look like? Are they identical but one has protective coated "fingers" to not damage the spring? That would be nice to have so that you don't damage the powdercoat or the paint on the spring.
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From: South Alabama
Originally Posted by LTorres
In all the years I changed struts/springs I could remeber the PC springs and custom lowering springs we changed being done on a specific tool. This specific tool?? Same as the other spring compressor in our shop...the only difference was that it had 3/8"thick teflon at the point where the tool touched the springs. They could actually be removed and replaced (depending).
The only thing you need to look out for is that some progressive springs have the coils wound very tightly and you need the "fingers" on the compressor to be thin enough to grab them.
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From: Gulfport, MS
Originally Posted by BubaGumpShrimp
i also went to autozone, but i bought the tool for 35 bucks, its 40 bucks to rent it. Doesn't make sense to me but hey its 5 bucks cheaper to buy it and now i have it for what ever future car i work on..
Thats because you get the $40 back when you turn it back in.