Alright guys. I need some help with this one.

I'm trying to put the detent springs back in my doors. I bought the door spring tool and tried compressing the springs to put them back in. They still won't go. The furthest the tool will compress the springs is about 75%. The coils aren't touching each other but are very close. I actually bent the tool trying to get them to compress further. They still come up about 1/4" too wide to fit into the detent mechanism.

How do I get these things back in?

 

I had some trouble with mine, too. I had to open the jaws really wide and get most of the spring inside of it. Don't put one end of the tool on the outside of the spring, otherwise you won't be able to get it out when the spring expands. It took me a few tries.

 

This stupid tool was a waste of $10. I'm just doing it the way I should have in the first place with a vice and string.

Don't know how that thought slipped by me

 

Watch that spring doesn't slip!!!!!that thing comes out of there like a bullet,be careful !!!!

 

Yeah I know. I'm backing off the vice slowly in case the twine snaps.

Now the problem is the twine stretches when backing off the vice allowing the spring to decompress slightly. A little better than the tool but now I'm coming up an 1/8th inch short

 

I tried doing it and it slipped,I let the body shop do it.Make sure your windows are down !!!

 

I was thinking a bad ending would = either a broken finger or a broken window.

 

Got the driver side spring in OK. Rolled down the window and as soon as I cut the twine you could see it was plotting to slip because it wasn't seated right on the little doorside nub. Pried at it with a screwdriver, smacked it with a hammer and it popped into place.

Going to do passenger side now but OMG, I haven't had a driver door that held itself open in the 5 years I've owned my car!

 

Just want to give an update and props to summit.

i explained the situation to them and other than "What was the issue with the product", they credited my account no questions asked for the flimsy door spring tool without even requesting an RMA.

For future reference to anyone going this route, a vice and high strength twine is the way to go. The tool is a bit on the lousy side.

And for the record, I put both jaws of the tool in the uppermost coil without actually placing it on the top of the spring. Like I said, the tool actually warped and bent before the spring was compressed enough to go back into the door.

 

Good to know. I've had my spring tool for at least 15 years to the point where the nut has ate into the tool. I know not to bother with a cheaper one now when I replace mine.