need help with coil spring compressor please
need help with coil spring compressor please i have gone through a few this weekend. two compressors failed at the threads, shreaded them like butter. One compressor failed with use of an impact gun. The forth compressor i used was one with the fork looks like a horse shoe it compressed but couldnt release once installed it hit the lower control arm; this one however compresses the spring in an unevenly fashion it curvse the spring. So my question is which one to use and which one is available that can be used with an impact gun? Trying to compress moroso front drag springs for an 80Z28.
any advice greatly appriciated!!!!
any advice greatly appriciated!!!!
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,780
Likes: 7
From: Mi./Al.
When we did a friends SS we had a hell of a time also, if we had it to do over again we would have removed the unit then taken the springs into a shop and have them do the spring swap. I'm guessing around here it would cost $30/$50 to do it, that's a lot cheaper then a casket. JMO
Al
Al
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,055
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From: Hartsdale, NY
I think they sell discount caskets at Harbor Freight for around $20. Its not real wood - only shiney cardboard, however. Anyway, a real steel for that price!
You can take the old spring with you or leave it behind for the next owner of your SS.
You can take the old spring with you or leave it behind for the next owner of your SS.
Originally Posted by jester1
i have gone through a few this weekend. two compressors failed at the threads, shreaded them like butter. One compressor failed with use of an impact gun. The forth compressor i used was one with the fork looks like a horse shoe it compressed but couldnt release once installed it hit the lower control arm; this one however compresses the spring in an unevenly fashion it curvse the spring. So my question is which one to use and which one is available that can be used with an impact gun? Trying to compress moroso front drag springs for an 80Z28.
any advice greatly appriciated!!!!
any advice greatly appriciated!!!!
It's not the easiest procedure. Use the long hooks on the same side of the spring. You need to have the top long hook higher than the short hook and the bottom long hook below the short hook. You also need to hook in on the coils so that they are not trapped when you go to decompress the spring and remove the tool.
Also, when you have the spring compressed and ready to install, the threaded rod will be dead centre in the spring. Not off to the side. The long hooks will be at 12 o clock looking over the spring; the short hooks will be at 6 o clock (not as you install the spring; just as it's compressed with the tool out of the car.)
It's tricky, but since I've done the older GM RWD cars enough, I have zero problems. And lube that threaded rod. Even used properly, they have problems. You can't just decide you're not going to use the right tool because the threads failed.
