Coil spring compressors?

[wackywacerwill]

Rods for me too. The threads were worn on my old single hook ones so now I've a set of double hookers which do inspire more confidence in use.

 

Best tip from me is to have a windy gun on hand for all the chuffin twiddling that needs doing to compress the springs. Be prepared for a workout if doing it by hand!

[rainagain]

I got a set of the two finger type ones, friggin hate them always seem to slip about. What I do now is take the strut off and drop if off at a local garage where for a tenner they swap the spring for me. In the long run I would have been cheaper buying one of those floor mounted jobs, but then I'd need to space to store it.

[gtd2000]

The mistake many people make with spring compressors is thinking they need to completely ratchet them up.

 

All you need to do is reduce the tension which doesn't take much.

 

I can still remember changing some struts with a mechanic mate of mine on a Bluebird in 1990 and he was saying to keep well back when he used the compressors and warned about how dangerous it was etc...

 

Fast forward to around 2009 and I decided to change the rear struts on my Nissan 240SX (S14) and I read the instructions carefully...was really very easy to do and not much risk at all compared to the trained mechanic version I witnessed years before!

 

Edit:

If you ever wanted to know how to change your rear struts on a Nissan S14 with minimal tools and footwear...step this way:

 

Here's one I prepared earlier...

 

http://forums.nicoclub.com/install-walk-thru-rear-strut-replacement-95-240sx-t418344.html

[garbaldy]

don't get these ones as this nearly took my eye out

 

[spike60]

There is no simple ones size fits all compressor, what is ok for one car my not be for others. On my old Opel you took the damper top nuts off and jacked the cars weight off the wheels then simply picked the rear coils out. At the other end of the scale my Merc one were close to the wishbone inboard pivot so the wheel had a lot of leverage on the spring which had a very high rate. I've not seen any rod and hook types that I would attempt to use on those.

[Minimad5]

Had one slip off and hit me in the knee (painful). Three seconds later, it was pointed at my chin!

Also had another one slip and slip off bouncing into a main road outside my house.

At our old unit something similar happened to me, using Lloyd specials !

Massive bang, followed by me shouting "FAWKING ELL" (as the spring clouted my shin) ,and our tame mechanic next door rushed around with the "Iya Mate, you okay" .... fun times .

 

 

 

Back on topic - Sykes Pick' are a really good make, never had a problem with them.