Any Safe/Sane Techniques on compressing coil springs at Home?

I think you can make a safe compressor out of steel angle and 3/4 threaded rod if you are handy and have access to a welder.

 

When I did my suspension, I just took the springs and shocks to a local tire retailer and they removed them for cheap money. I wasn't willing to risk it as I didn't have the correct tools.

 

Would just buying something like this work without the need for welding?

http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-3450-Spring-Compressor/dp/B000CO7VKG​

Then you're not trusting your own home welding not to fail and send the spring pinging up into your own face. Presumably, mass-produced products are designs and constructions that are rigorously tested before being presented to the public. No knowledge or affiliation with that particular tool or seller. Just querying it.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I like to do as much of my own work as I can, but I'm very happy I had a shop with a spring compressor do this job. I helped with this at the shop, and even with a professional upright floor model spring compressor, it was a bit spooky.

Andrew, that tool you referred to above won't work on the 308/328 shocks/springs as the centerbolt needs to go where the shock is located.

Here's what is more suited to the task: http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=BK_7769092_0006537861


And here is the style used by the shop which is much better, but it will still scare the bejezus out of you. This thing sells for $750! I'd leave it to the professionals.



Be careful!
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How much will that cost in comparison to just paying someone to do this work for you? It's not like you will be doing this work on a regular basis that will justify the investment. Unless of course you have other cars that you are working on. Your decision obviously!

 

They charge about $20 to compress one spring for you. I am totally out of space in the garage, or I would buy one of those $800 strut compressors.

 

Go to your local "Autozone" store and borrow a spring compressor. You pay a deposit then when you return it they give back your money.

 

Andrew this kind of compressor does not work on Ferrari springs. There is the shock in the center.

 

Thanks Jeff and Claude.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I Highly recommend taking them to a reputable shop with a Branick or similar spring compressor. Those springs are seriously pre-loaded..

 

Here is what I have in mind. Safe and easy to do. One upper and one lower with two rods thru the holes and bingo. Size the rod to be safe. If you need to completly remove the spring from the compressor make sure your rod is long enough.
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Claude,

I like your design. If you build it with heavy enough metal and are a good welder, that looks much safer for this than a standard spring compressor. Nicely thought out...

I remember that the springs have quite a bit of preload, so once you slip out the retaining rings, you'll need plenty of length in your threaded rods to fully release the spring.

Still easier to let a professional shop do it, but I understand self-reliance, too!

Jeff

 

External spring compressor.

Borrow from Autozone as said below (loan-a-tool).

Don't build with welder...too dangerous.

 

The autozone type rentals don't work with the 308 springs as noted above. Believe me, I tried them all. The coils are too close and too thick to allow the hooks of the compressor to get through them. Finally took them to a tire store and they put them in their compressor and changed them out for $10 each.

 

Good point. However, if the compressor were disassembled first, the hooks could be emplaced, then reassesmbled for compression. I'll also admit that I haven't compressed the springs on my Konis yet, so this is a genaralization.

 

The strut tamer is the way to go. The company I work for makes it and I am friends with the lead engineer of that item. As simple of a tool as it looks there was Alot of RD around the safety of the design.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't see anything here to keep the end piece from rotating through the axis running through the two rods (In other words, if there were a line between the two bolt holes, the part could rotate around that line). It may not fail because of the rotation, but I think it would be scarey! If it were round with 3 threaded rods it would seem more stable. As a kid, I made one out of flat steel bar and threaded rod, and looking back, I probably almost killed myself. It destroyed itself as I used it.

 

The shop that did mine was far less complex that the one shown here. I had the ones that took the spring off with lots of ratcheting, but after spending hours sanding and painting did not want to mess it up reassembling it the same way. They had one mounted on the wall and took less than 10 seconds to put the new shock in the spring and slip in the retaining ring. They are out of business hope they left that thing on the wall, I will go check!

I suggest going to a suspension shop.

cant find a pic on line but it was lever mounted and did not have to do anything but put the assembly in there and it pressed on the two ends of the spring, compressing it popped in the retainer the lift up on the arm......

here are a few I found online that look similar but without the lever, once again the cool ones are only from the UK........

the top one is a draper and it is 400pundsUK! Id buy one if there were not so expensive it sure looks pretty simple to me!!!
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I hope you are not buying stuff for a probably one time only job... Pay one to do it , rent one or borrow one, if you have good understanding with your mecanic you even may be allowed to do it in his shop in slow hours for a good bottle of wine or something like that.
Worked years that way, my own tools are limited to normal set for most jobs and some bigger stuff that is bought because used more often.

 

Short answer is No. ( Unless you have the correct equipment )

You need to use the correct equipment, you do not want a spring bouncing off the car or worse your head. They are unforgiving!

As others have said, as a DIY'r myself remove the assembly and take the unit to a shop that has the correct equipment and let them do it. It's worth the money saved < wink >

If you were closer, I'd offer to help...

GL and be safe,

S

 

You don't need a spring compressor for these because you can remove the spring/shock unit from the car without compressing the spring.

The shock can be removed from the spring using a press although it has to be a large one. But that can be used for many other tasks so is a better investment.