Spring compressor opinions

[foggydogg]

I'm not a big fan of only squeezing one side of a coil spring.
Here's another version of the one mentioned above,
www.amazon.com/Handor-Spring-Compressor ... 764&sr=8-5

And another version of the Eastwood unit,
www.amazon.com/8MILELAKE-Macpherson-Spr ... 521&sr=1-1


Like OTC, OEM has a good rep,
www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-27036-Strut-Spr ... 38&sr=1-10

www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-25553-McPherson ... 38&sr=1-22

As others have mentioned, if you're only going to do this once in the foreseeable future the shop option might be cost effective.

[Chuck W]

I have one like the OEMTOOLS ones listed above. They work just fine.

[Sveedy]

^ Agreed. Hike up your skirt, Nancy . I've used that set for everything from 4 x 4 springs on my Jeep, to a Subaru. And of course the Volvo.
No issues - no problems - no fear.
After all most rental auto tool places like Autozone or O'Reilly rent that style out as well. If there was really any issue with them, I doubt that they would take the chance renting them to the general public, insurance being what it is.

[crlande]

Bought a pair from Harbor Freight, similar to what Autozone rents. Went slow, avoided being in the way of spring release surprise and did just fine. You got this!

[454cid]

Still won't let me post Amazon links. I surrender.

Try editing your links, and removing the part before the "www".

[matthew1]

Still won't let me post Amazon links. I surrender.

Try editing your links, and removing the part before the "www".

Thanks 454. This does work. FD I edited your original post and did this.

[rrres]

I used the Autozone OEMTools rental compressor when I worked on the front struts. From my experience, I felt safer using an impact driver to tighten the compressor. If you use a ratchet wrench, I can just imagine that there would be struggle, which would make it unsafe...

I've actually seen someone disassemble a strut without using a compressor...he laid the strut on the ground with one end jammed against a wheel laid on the ground ( I think this wheel on the ground is the key, as it is the one that absorbs the unspringing). He then sat on the ground, put both feet against the upper mounting plate, and loosened the upper nuts. The spring kicked a little but the force went to the tire that was on the opposite end...and he didn't die...after witnessing this, I felt really safe when I used the compressor.

[850oldschool]

I have the OTC version of the OEM tools one and I've done 4 sets of VW/Volvo struts with zero scary moments. I trust the lock pins. No way I'd try a Suburban or an F-250 those, though. Good for light springs.

[FireFox31]

My main hesitation with the standard spring compressors is contract manufacturing. As I understand it, contract manufacturing is when some unknown company makes a product and sells it to multiple companies we know and trust, who each put their name on it and charge some arbitrary price. Did one company make the $40 OEMTOOLS 27036, $57 CTA 4037K, $97 OTC 7294, and the $103 Snap-On Blue-Point MSC1? How do I know they're not all some contract manufactured junk? Which one do I trust?

This draws me to the OTC 6494 clamshell because I haven't seen anyone else offering that. It suggests that OTC created it and manufactured it, so it carries the weight of their reputation. It's bulky, doesn't fit all diameters of springs, and puts more strain on the threaded rod thanks to bad leverage, but I have a little more trust in it.

The risks involved with spring compression demands a level of trust which contract manufacturing undermines.

[abscate]

Ask your maker space to buy one of the wall units!

I’ve got the ABN unit and am happy with it. Keep it in the case, clean and oil threads after each use, no impacts on the bolts, like the manufacturer tells you. A drill is fine.