Spring Compressor

Anyone used one of these spring compressors for replacing the shocks on a Miata? http://i16.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/bc/5f/d9_1_b.JPG
Looks like this could be a decent alternative to what we have been using!

That looks like it work much better than our current alternative.

It also looks like it work great with coilovers where the setup is much tighter... at least on my H&R's.

Where can we find that thing?

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

Where can we find that thing?

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Saw them on Fleabay. ::Whisp::

Harbor Freight. Had one and left it in California. I didn't like it. Can't remember specifics but it just didn't work well.

I have some of these and think they work well.

http://www.northerntool.com/images/p.../158654_lg.gif

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Originally Posted by black roadster

Harbor Freight. Had one and left it in California. I didn't like it. Can't remember specifics but it just didn't work well.

I have some of these and think they work well.

http://www.northerntool.com/images/p.../158654_lg.gif

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I played with those, they can be a PITA. Do you recall why you didn't like the clamshell style? We it just a crappy harbor freight tool or was it something else?? :wink:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

I played with those, they can be a PITA. Do you recall why you didn't like the clamshell style? We it just a crappy harbor freight tool or was it something else?? :wink:

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From what I remember it was a really heavy and unweildy tool. It was difficult to tighten since it wanted to spin around on you when you started to tighten it and the hooks were hard to get hooked on the Miata springs.

I remember thinking if the whole tool was welded to a stand and bolted to the floor it would be easy to tighten but as a free tool it was hard to handle once you started to compress the spring

The other ones I kept aren't great but they are a whole hell of a lot easier to used than that clamshell design.

As for the quality, it was a solid tool and well made but it just didn't work that well on the OEM springs I tried to remove. As mentioned, getting the hooks on the spring was difficult.

IIRC I tried it once, got fed up with it and went back to my old rod style compressors. Since it was a gift, I never returned it and left it with my roommate in California.

BTW, Here is Harbor Freights tool.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=43753

Money no object and a big garage, I like this one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45860

This one looks intersting too.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47890

..and here are the tried and true cheapies. They actually work pretty darn good for the price.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3980

I recall the guy that modded my VW had one of those clamshell type deals bolted to his shop wall... worked like a charm (when bolted to the wall...)

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

I recall the guy that modded my VW had one of those clamshell type deals bolted to his shop wall... worked like a charm (when bolted to the wall...)

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Yeah, Any spring compressor bolted down would be much easier to use.

I vote for the wall type. They're the easiest to use, but expensive and unwieldy. I've used the hook type twice, and they're scary but functional.

I figure the next time I do this I'm going to either run down and slip the guys at Midas a $10 to do them on their wall mount machine, or I'm going to find someone who has one and get to know them well...

C

http://moverssupplies.com/images/big/bl1.JPG

Have you ever seen one of these come loose?

Do it if you want, but make sure you're nowhere near me when you do.

C

I bought a set of the $10 spring compressors from Harbor freight a couple of years ago and they worked great for me. My friend borrowed them to put some 700 lb springs in his Rustang and the little hooks gave out during the install, nothing too dramatic though.

I just rent a compressor from Autozone now, they're the same type as the harbor freight ones, but with a more robust design. I've never had a problem.

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

I recall the guy that modded my VW had one of those clamshell type deals bolted to his shop wall... worked like a charm (when bolted to the wall...)

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I have always put the spring assembly in vice to hold it, just seems to me one bolt would be easier than turning two. I may go get one and try it on my next shock project.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

I may go get one and try it on my next shock project.

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Sounds like that will be sooner than later!

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Originally Posted by Titus

Sounds like that will be sooner than later!

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I have a set of Bilsteins setting on the workbench that need a place to go! ::Daisy::

*Sniff... sniff...* Do I smell a tech day coming soon??

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Originally Posted by ccage

Have you ever seen one of these come loose?

Do it if you want, but make sure you're nowhere near me when you do.

C

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With the blanket, I mean...

C

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

I have always put the spring assembly in vice to hold it

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This kind of vice?

http://www.albertspage.it/sigle_tv/f...i%20vice13.jpg

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

*Sniff... sniff...* Do I smell a tech day coming soon??

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:D

This sentence is here just to increase the post size beyond the minimum 3 characters. Thank you for reading this far. Have a nice day.