spring compressors

[rapidyellow]

got two top mounts to do on my Pug 207 and a front coil to change on my Mrs Pug 308

I have this type of spring compressor, but when I have used them in the past I always feel like its going to be the opening scene from a "Casualty" tv programme, they never fit right and tend to slip round the springs a bit, absolute last resort. Even in this pic off ECP site you can see theres no room for a socket to go on one side properly, just rubbish. [Edit: within the hex there is also a 1/2" square drive for a ratchet to fit into]


type 1


What is this type like to use? do any of you have them? I have seen videos and they look ok.


type 2


What I would really like, is this type, I would be buying a used set, but I note theres two different types, the first pic has cups that hold the spring only which is kinda my preferred option and I am not sure why.


type 3

and the second seems to hold the strut/shocker, and hooks onto the spring at the top, this keeps the strut and spring together until decompressed.


type 4



if I bought any of the two floor mount ones I would possibly try and recoup some money by doing other peoples springs, but I know that if I decided against that I think once I have used them I could just resell, possibly quite easy.

so, pro's and con's against all, please.

cheers

[pptom]

I used the first type for years and share your distrust of them.
I brought the type in picture 2 a couple of years ago for a particular car and have used them a couple of times since. Mine were about £60.
I have loads more faith in them, still aware that you are clamping a great force, but I've not had any cause to whince or hide behind anything, they feel secure.
Main advantage I'd think is that they can be used on the car while the floor mounted ones require the shock / spring to be removed first. Both cars I've used them on needed the springs compressing during strut removal / refitting.

[ballbagbagins]

I also have the first set.

What about taking the leg off the car but then asking garage to take the spring off?

[mr2fc]

All the above is health and safety gone mad, I tell ya!




This is how a manly man does it!!!

[rapidyellow]

May 25, 2023 6:22:38 GMT ballbagbagins said:

I also have the first set.

What about taking the leg off the car but then asking garage to take the spring off?

I do have a mate with a garage who will gladly do that for me and I have done it that way in the past, however I do like to have my own tools and prefer to do the job myself, to take elsewhere I have to time having one car off the road and getting the use of the Mrs car between her work etc, the said garage is around 10 miles away so what could have been a 10 min job turns into an hour or so, or a return job if I have to leave parts etc with him to do.

[fraudownersclub]

Can remember using the top set on a Citroen. Needed to use two sets as the springs were so long. Those were the good old days dangerous as F@#£. I now use the second set in the picture and have done for the last 10+ years. Only issue we had was to break the shear pin with the ugga dugga gun 😂 still like to live dangerously 👊🏼 as you can always use the ramp 😳

[rapidyellow]

I am getting swayed by now possibly buying the Type 2 ones as in my pics above, instead of a floor stander type.

Thanks for your input so far, but more welcome!

[mk2cossie]

May 26, 2023 16:19:38 GMT rapidyellow said:

I am getting swayed by now possibly buying the Type 2 ones as in my pics above, instead of a floor stander type.

Thanks for your input so far, but more welcome!

Type 2 is what we mostly use at work (also have type 3, but most stuff generally doesn't fit!)

Biggest tip for using type 2 spring compressors like above, is only do the retaining screws for the spring cups up finger tight.
That way, if you need to remove the spring cups from an assembled strut (and leave the cups around the spring to remove seperately) they are easier to dismount

[duggers]

I have these
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BL3XWQV/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=fbcdcbf5ecca2a63bfec4c587f4f6649&content-id=amzn1.sym.5e63d04b-217e-48e0-b230-d463f07fd1e0%3Aamzn1.sym.5e63d04b-217e-48e0-b230-d463f07fd1e0&hsa_cr_id=7027376630302&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=51fe21cf-dcba-491b-a23f-46fa393e0018&pd_rd_w=Eh1MS&pd_rd_wg=aUFvi&qid=1685125862&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2_title&sr=1-3-e0fa1fdd-d857-4087-adda-5bd576b25987

A bit less nervy that open ones!

[rapidyellow]

on the Type 2 I note sellers doing them with, or without the rubber pads on the cups, will it make a difference? or will the rubber bits just get lost or wear out?

once I have clamped a strut spring enough to get top mount off, will I be able to slacken the spring off to take the tool off to place on another spring? for example when swapping one spring to another strut.

thanks

[mk2cossie]

May 27, 2023 17:19:24 GMT rapidyellow said:

on the Type 2 I note sellers doing them with, or without the rubber pads on the cups, will it make a difference? or will the rubber bits just get lost or wear out?

once I have clamped a strut spring enough to get top mount off, will I be able to slacken the spring off to take the tool off to place on another spring? for example when swapping one spring to another strut.

thanks

Sometimes the plastic bits make a spring fit better (some springs fit better without the plastic bits).
And I've not yet had a spring i can't get out with the compressor on the bench or vice mounted

A word of warning, not all the spring compressors of the type 2 variety, are suitable for use with an impact gun. I've pretty much always used a ratchet, as I prefer knowing what is going on before it gets too messy...

[rapidyellow]

May 27, 2023 19:08:17 GMT mk2cossie said:

Sometimes the plastic bits make a spring fit better (some springs fit better without the plastic bits).
And I've not yet had a spring i can't get out with the compressor on the bench or vice mounted

A word of warning, not all the spring compressors of the type 2 variety, are suitable for use with an impact gun. I've pretty much always used a ratchet, as I prefer knowing what is going on before it gets too messy...

Thanks, in my other browser tab I am just about to buy a set

and no, I wouldnt be using an impact gun on it either, cant be doing with a long wait in A&E!

cheers all for the advice, and when I get them "on the job" I will post a pic of them in use.

[rapidyellow]

a deal is done, a set of type 2 will be in its way to me in a couple of days.

[ChasR]

Type 2 are very good but on some applications, the cheaper ones can bend. They did on a friend of mine. The pricey ones do not, but they are also very pricey (£200 for a set I think?).

I've always fancied buying a set of the 2nd ones, but they are too pricey. It's also a job I don't do too often either.

[nickwheeler]

Type 1 are just about OK on older cars that use parallel springs that aren't very stiff. They're terrible on modern tapered/pig tail springs, especially if you're fitting new ones.

Type 2 are excellent; secure, safe, quick and easy to use. They're not even that much more expensive.

This is an Omega strut and spring:

[ChasR]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, here is a cheapy set of Tupe 2
Compressors. Without the ratchet strap he put in, that would have been a nasty accident, no doubt about it.

Buy cheap, and hopefully buy twice.

[slater]

Mine are like a cross between 1 and 2. You use two per spring and they are easy to get a impact on to spin them open and closed quickly.

To be honest ive never had any problems with type 1 and i don't really get how people manage to get in such a mess. The first couple of sets i had i made myself out of M12 threaded stud and a few nuts. I guess people just arnt careful enough and tighten them up unevenly or something.

[rapidyellow]

I never updated this thread after I bought my set, it was a while before I used them and then I did 3 struts in succession just recently.

Have to say this tool is an amazing piece of heavy duty kit, and it made very light work of modernish Peugeot front springs.

Here it is in action:


it does come with plastic pads for the three different cup sizes, but they werent needed in my case, at full compression there was no bend in the tool and its threads moved lovely and smooth despite the large amount of pressure.

Took minutes per side when I changed to top mounts. And minutes per pring when I changed a broken spring.

Recommeded for sure.

[ChasR]

Do you have a link?

I've been looking for a decent set of type 2s .

[rapidyellow]

hi, this is the set I bought: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295689509838 worth every penny.

ChasR said:
Do you have a link?

I've been looking for a decent set of type 2s

.