Spring Compressor

All, looking to change out front struts, what kind of spring compressors have you folks used? I saw some on Amazon that looked kind of good, but the reviews showed they were creaking and bending and just overall not too safe. The springs on these trucks are pretty beefy, do not want to cause more problems than it is worth. There are some real nice ones out there, but they are about $1k, I will not use it that much, easier to pay someone at that point...
Just looking for some ideas.

 

I have used these on my truck without issue.

https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-...p/oemtools-strut-spring-compressor/555557_0_0

For me, at least, I have found them to be acceptable if you follow every best practice and only compress the springs enough to relieve tension, not to complete compress them. Always do the work with the springs laying on the ground, feet and limbs out of the way, compressing both sides equally vs one side completely and then other (think u-bolt). They are tight, but they do fit our springs.

 

Used the same, they work perfectly fine. Make sure end pieces are fully seated on spring, keep rods directly across from each and parallel, evenly tighten and un tighten. They rent out those, you essentially buy them, then you get your money back upon return.

 

If you want to buy your own, I found these work well.

$57 BILITOOLS 2-Piece Coil Spring Compressor Tool Heavy Duty Macpherson Strut Spring Compression Set with Safety Jaws and Holder, Max Load.2645LB

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PYR6NVF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

I do believe that is how I ended up with them in my toolbox. They worked so well I figured it was worth having, and they were brand new when I rented them. I watched them walk over to the shelf, pull them, and then take the plastic wrapper off.

 

I bought one of those hydraulic ones from Amazon. Used it a few times when I swapped coil springs on my King shocks. Comes with different forks for different size coil springs. I haven't checked on it to see if the hydraulic jacks are still good. Last used was 2017, 2018. I was planning on swapping to 700 lb springs.

 

Short of getting something wall mounted or hydraulic, this style is the way to go. I have the exact same thing. Way safer than the cheap ones you can buy or rent. I've used them for two spring replacement jobs but...I had to compress the springs multiple times each job to get the shock/spring alignment just right. So I've probably used mine a dozen times and they still work great. And they're pretty damn cheap.

I've used the type below and lived to tell the tale, but anyone who has ever used this type didn't enjoy the experience. And they're what, like $10 cheaper?

 

Bought me a used Branick 7200 a long time ago and it gets the job done easily in a matter of just a few minutes. A very good choice IMO.

 

Those Branicks for for $500 used these days. But that's they way to get it done.

I went for the middle ground and got one of these hydraulic compressors. It's seen some good use already. This weekend I helped a neighbor kid install 6112's; they were set at max height be we knocked them down to 1.9". He fought the standard McPherson strut type compressors for nearly an hour to get one side swapped around before he called me. I brought over the hydraulic unit and it took all of a couple of minutes to pull the shock assembly apart, move the circlip, and reassemble.

$109 VEVOR Hydraulic Strut Spring Compressor - 4.5 Ton/9920 LBS Jack Capacity, 1 Ton Rated Compression Force, Auto Coil Tool for Removing

https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Compre...hvlocphy=106466&hvtargid=pla-4583520404546125

 

Another vote for the Bilittools one.
Just used this the other day. 14mm socket for the bottom bolt, and coincidentally it’s the same size as the top nut on the strut.

 

Thanks everyone! I may buy a Bilittools set, look pretty safe and useful

 

IF a man can buy right, use, and sell it is nearly free. Just need to have good luck and some play money. Good on you for helping a man in need!

 

I had one of these. Bent the whole thing badly on the first set of 6112 I did.

Since I do a ton of suspension, I bought a

$905 Branick 7600 Strut Spring Compressor

Branick 7600 brand new. It's by far the best and safest way to compress a spring. You get what you pay for.

 

Can’t argue with that. Still much better than the small McPherson type compressors, IME. I made it half way through one spring with those and they were bent like a banana. The cheap tower has done 6112’s four or five times, several sets of stock tundra coils, DK 2.0 and 2.5’s, and a handful of others. I must have got lucky.

 

That’s the problem - I can never find a decently priced one when I need it! May have to start using my Milwaukee tool buying approach - just buy it when I find a good price and put it on the shelf.

 

Sorry - wrong thread…

 

For someone with a shop, that's the way to go. For those of us doing our wrenching out in the gravel and no garage storage, even deciding to buy a spring compressor at all is questionable. For me, not having to rent one of the crappy ones, and the small size of the bilitools one made it worth buying. I did a lot of wrenching for years before deciding a floor jack was worth the space it took up, and it's a pretty critical tool for anyone doing most of their own work. I have mine sitting in the living room right now. I have to carry it up a flight of stairs and out the door and use it in a gravel driveway... But I'm still happy with that decision.

 

Estate sales and pawn shops brother! Buy right and you can almost always get your cash back if you need to for some reason. I like eBay too because in the event of a loss it will be very easy to prove my purchases to an insurance adjuster.

 

Made my own for the shock change over I just did. I was kind of a necessity thing as they gave my wife the wrong spring compressor kit at Oreilly's. We live 45 minutes from town and its 45 minutes to get down the mountain to the main highway to go to town. I had already pulled the truck apart by this point. I used 1/2 all thread and hooks from old ratchet straps. It worked great with 0 issues and no flexing of the all thread or the hooks. I did both sides and even had to go back into the first one I did as I inadvertently mounted the seat for the spring upside down.

 

I don't know if the second gen trucks are setup the same way, but there is a method without a spring compressor. On my old T4R and my truck before I had adjustable coilovers I did my suspension work this way. Coilover stays bolted in and you use your jack to compress the spring.