Thread: Shopping for coil spring compressor

This sounds very, very tempting !!!

Someday, when I have the time I want to make one of these. Love the design and looks pretty simple.

I actually prefer the hand method. I like the extra forearm workout. As an added safety note, be sure to compress the spring evenly side to side. My biggest fear when I hear people doing it with power tools is that someone out there will accidentally compress one side and shoot the spring across the room. It's mostly an unreasonable fear, but I like to be pessimistic when it comes to safety .

Quote: Originally Posted by john.m Looked like which ones? There are 6 or 7 different designs being discussed. This type. http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Tool-...7435788&sr=8-1 These are the ones that the parts stores rent out. They work, but just because they're wider doesn't mean they won't slip sideways, because they did when I used them. In hindsight, I should have greased the threads and gone slower. On the Miata...

Quote: Originally Posted by Nice91 Someday, when I have the time I want to make one of these. Love the design and looks pretty simple. Ohhhhh ! Shop Porn

Got the $10 version (on sale) from HF. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3980 Gone around the '91 twice, and worked OK. Similar to your #1 and #2. Fussy to setup the first time, and "putzy" to get the safety hooks arranged, but did the job. Not sure I'd trust those safety "slides" in #3 Your #4 design looks like the easiest to use, but no safety hook to keep things setup? HF has a...

I've uses #3 before and it works well. Luckily I have an electric impact gun. Nice and quick. I don't think I would want to use ANY of the manual spring compressors with hand tools. You can do it, but it seems like it would be a bunch of work.

#3 by all means. You can also get them from Sears. Make sure you compress the springs evenly and keep it pointed away from you or anyone/anything you care about.

I tried teh harbour freight ones a couple of years ago and the threads stripped before I could complete all 4 corners. They were junk, but that has been my expereince with several items I have purchased from there. Dan

Ugh. I wouldn't use any of the first three and as has been said, you can't use #4. It's pretty scary watching those threaded rods bending over as you tighten the nuts. I would (and did) get one similar to this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/OTC-6494/?image=large Much easier and not as scary... If you do use the threaded rod thingies, you can speed up the process by installing them with the car on the ground and the springs...