Spring Compressor Suggestions

[LittleKix]

Anyone know of a good spring compressor? I see 3 or so different styles but I wasn't sure which is the "best" or "most universal" etc.

I plan to use them for the front coil springs when I start with the front suspension. Im hoping that I can find a universal one so that I can use them on my Subaru's as well.

One that intrigued me from jegs was Specialty Products 40260 but seems odd to me.

Used the standard Performance Products W89322 before.

Also saw this one that I had no clue how its even used....Performance Products W89311



Thanks for the thoughts





http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...89311/10002/-1

http://www.jegs.com/i/Specialty+Prod...40260/10002/-1

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...89322/10002/-1

[Enginerd]

You don't need a spring compressor for a C3. Just use a jack under the lower a-arm to take some of the pressure off the ball joints while you undo them, then lower the jack. The large spring pocket prevents the spring from going anywhere, even if the jack were to fail. You can wrap and secure a chain around it if you are really worried.

[BJC99Hardtop]

Sounds like you might not need it for the C3, but I can attest to the usefulness of the following model.

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...89322/10002/-1

I used mine on both my wife's Armada and my Titan to rebuild the front struts. Worked like a charm and was pretty cheap too!

[LittleKix]

I have heard of using the jack method, however I have a family friend (actually a pretty good car mechanic) that was removing springs and had a catstrophic failure that threw the spring into his face (always point both ends of springs away from people). He's ok, but now always uses chains on springs.

Needless to say, when regarding large springs I am a bit ultraconservative.

[Enginerd]

Originally Posted by LittleKix

I have heard of using the jack method, however I have a family friend (actually a pretty good car mechanic) that was removing springs and had a catstrophic failure that threw the spring into his face (always point both ends of springs away from people). He's ok, but now always uses chains on springs.

Needless to say, when regarding large springs I am a bit ultraconservative.

That can happen with some suspension/frame designs, but is not possible with the C3. The spring sits inside a large frame pocket that completely encloses a large portion of it. There is not physically enough space for it to "escape." The worse possible failure would be for the jack to catastrophically fail and allow the a-arm to jolt downwards.

[010752]

Originally Posted by LittleKix

Anyone know of a good spring compressor? I see 3 or so different styles but I wasn't sure which is the "best" or "most universal" etc.

I plan to use them for the front coil springs when I start with the front suspension. Im hoping that I can find a universal one so that I can use them on my Subaru's as well.

One that intrigued me from jegs was Specialty Products 40260 but seems odd to me.

Used the standard Performance Products W89322 before.

Also saw this one that I had no clue how its even used....Performance Products W89311



Thanks for the thoughts





http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...89311/10002/-1

http://www.jegs.com/i/Specialty+Prod...40260/10002/-1

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...89322/10002/-1

This is the correct one for a C3
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...89311/10002/-1

The other 2 are external for use with struts. Don't know what your Subaru has, but would guess struts, most modern smaller vehicles are.

Stock C3 springs are too long to not use a compressor, although possible, but using the compressor, it's much faster and easier to orientate the springs in proper position.

[gtr1999]

I have used a jack but made up my own compressor which works better and is safer. It's not my idea, I just used some better parts.
A length of threaded rod will work but I ordered some acme rod & nuts from McMaster-Carr and made the compressor.
Basically you get a steel plate to use with the threaded rod then weld a nut on the plate and one on one end of the rod to use a ratchet on. Place the rod up through the spring in place of the shock, a washer on the top of the shock tower and crank it up to compress the spring.

[Mattydale]

I had a 1971 Big Block (with AC) coil spring pop out while lowering the a-frame and it crushed my hand... put me in the hospital. The Big Block springs are a lot higher pressure than small block springs... I don't know what you have... but be careful. I almost lost my hand.

[billcarson]

my home made spring compressor took all the excitement out of this job.

[billcarson]

[gtr1999]

yeah that is like the one I made but yours has more detail then mine,other then I used acme threaded rod.

[billcarson]

just a drilled out plumbers waste cap to keep the rig centered made the external bolts overkill.i figured after 60 years i would not want to go out this way.