Suspension spring compressor

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:15 pm

I need to get hold of a suspension spring compressor, so I can get some coil springs re-furbed (blasted and coated).

There's loads to choose from out there... Anyone got any personal experience on ones that are good, or ones that are bum droppings and need to be avoided?!

nb: This is for occasional DIY use, so I'm not looking for a manual windy type one, not a pnematic/hydraulic compressing station!

Post by **Vtecmec** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:19 pm

The ones with little hooks, whilst they do the job are a bit dangerous in my opinion, and difficult to use with lowering springs (tight coils).

At a pinch you can use the car itself, removing all the nuts from the strut at the top of the tower before jacking the car up, you can refit this way too, but a bit dangerous maybe?

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:33 pm

Vtecmec wrote:The ones with little hooks, whilst they do the job are a bit dangerous in my opinion, and difficult to use with lowering springs (tight coils).

Yeah, that's some of the differences I'm seeing.

There are ones with small/non-existent single hooks like this;

(which look crap)

and ones with twin proper curly hooks, like this;

(which look much better)

Vtecmec wrote:At a pinch you can use the car itself, removing all the nuts from the strut at the top of the tower before jacking the car up, you can refit this way too, but a bit dangerous maybe?

Ta. This is for a set I have off the car at the moment and want to re-furb before I fit.

Post by **indigolemon** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:35 pm

They all suck, I have the Draper ones myself but I just take the shock to my friendly garage these days. 3 seconds and safe vs 30 minutes and terrifying!

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:42 pm

Bludge · Post by **Bludge** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:47 pm

yeah my local tyre fitting place will normally do stuff like that free of charge if i bring all the bits to them and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Have heard horror stories about that windy spring compressors so never braved gettign a set to try out!

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:47 pm

I've got the dual hook ones. I've never had an issue with them, but you can never get all the hooks on (They're just not the right curvature for our coils). Quite often you could get yourself in the situation where the wound thread can foul on the chassis to, so you have to concider this.

Post by **indigolemon** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:56 pm

Is that cider made by criminals?

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 4:02 pm

Nerd!

Post by **indigolemon** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 4:11 pm

At least you got chassis right