johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars Posted May 17, 2007 does anybody have any ideas on how to make a make-shift spring compressor? i'm going to change my front suspension set up but last time i tried i had trouble because i couldnt compress the springs tight enough to lift the strut out of the hub bit. i was using some compressor from halfrauds which work on a basis of tightening some bolts against some u shaped metal which hook s over the spring but they only compress it by about an inch (it is xs suspension btw). now ive heard peugeot use some sort of wire contraption, anybody know how that works and if i could make one? the only other idea i can come up with is getting a chain round the top and bottom coils and with the aid of a large bar through the chain, twist it until it tightens the springs enough. sound like a good plan?? any ideas appreciated thanks johnny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshpug 1,657 Posted May 17, 2007 NO! Never do silly stuff like that! just buy a good set of compressors, sprngs are dangerous things if you mess about with them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathan 0 Posted May 17, 2007 Just buy a set a compressors there only about £20! Your likely to spend ages trying to bodge something which if it doesn't work could fcuk you up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chownr 0 Posted May 17, 2007 I agree wityh Nathan. Buy a proper set of compressors for about £10-20. Do you have any idea how much enmergy is stored in compressed springs? If something makeshift lets go it could well take your hand off if youre not careful R Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars Posted May 17, 2007 balls, ive already spent £12 on these ones ive got but there about as usefull as a glass hammer, any ideas where i can get some decent ones? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jas-E 1 Posted May 17, 2007 balls, ive already spent £12 on these ones ive got but there about as usefull as a glass hammer, any ideas where i can get some decent ones? i bought a set off ebay for about £10 including delivery. Not the best ones in the world but did the job without any problems Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars Posted May 17, 2007 i'll have a browse on there then , anything will be better than the ones ive got which are about 3 inches long! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chownr 0 Posted May 17, 2007 Johnny One thing you can do to increase the amount of compression is to stagger each spring compressor on the springs. For example put one side on the first and third coil and the other side on the second and fourth coil. This should be enough to get the srpings compressed to remove them R Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLPoomobile 958 Posted May 17, 2007 balls, ive already spent £12 on these ones ive got but there about as usefull as a glass hammer, any ideas where i can get some decent ones? A poor workman always blames his tools I found that there is a knack to using compressors and you have to play around with different positioning etc. I also found I'd sometimes compress the spring so far, then loosen one them and move it to take up another coil and compress a bit further and so on. Makes the job a pain in the ass, but it's doable. I totally agree that you shouldn't f*** about when it comes to springs. YOu would probably be safe if you are not separating the spring from the shock as the top mount will stop it going anywhere if the compressor breaks away, but just think how f***ed up you'd be if a compressed spring recoiled and hit you in the face. Not good dude, not good at all Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars Posted May 17, 2007 yeh i am leaving them on the struts anyway so they should be disappearing off anywhere, but my tools really are crap lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pug_ham 244 3 Cars Posted May 17, 2007 The ones below are Draper & the same as the set I have. Also available from Here for £12.71 inc vat. Cheaper than Amazon. Graham. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djinuk 2 Posted May 18, 2007 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COIL-SPRING-COMPRESS...1QQcmdZViewItem thats the style of coil compressor i have always used . very good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacey205 2 Posted May 18, 2007 Same as the ones I used as well, had no problems with them. Michael Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brianthemagical 1 Posted May 18, 2007 do the springs need to be compressed to take the strut out of the hub? i've never done it and never had probs (on 1.9 GTi and saxo vts front struts). my compessers were from screwfix and work fine, even better with an impact gun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hengti 2 Posted May 18, 2007 (edited) do the springs need to be compressed to take the strut out of the hub? i've never done it and never had probs (on 1.9 GTi and saxo vts front struts). my compessers were from screwfix and work fine, even better with an impact gun. it's probably easiest to be taking the spring off once the strut (with spring) has been removed anyway. 'just' disconnect the hub from the bottom arm, thump the hub off the strut and remove the strut once you've taken off the three retaining nuts in the engine bay ed. forgot to mention - disconnect TRE/caliper&hose/drop link probably not easier than removing in-situ on reflection.. Edited May 18, 2007 by hengti Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
