Hi,
Can anyone recommend a place where I can purchase a pair of these?Here in the UK the designs are for weedy little springs and are not up to the job.Could do with a good quality pair.Thanks.

 

e bay for used, snap on dealer ought to be able to get you some new ones, northen tool, harbor freight. only problem there is the shipping and the time it takes to get to you.

 

I honestly wouldn't recomend harbor freight or northern tool. I had one from harbor and just as got close to having the spring compressed enough one of the hooks broke. If the spring wasn't still in the car I'd have been in trouble.

In looking at the hook that broke, it was a cast part. So I'd stay away from the el-cheapo's at all cost. Well........that's if you value your fingers.

 

look at it this way, you can buy a clamshell one (which i recommend) from harbor freight for $40, or you can order an otc one from hands on tools for $200, and the dent in you pocket will hurt alot less then the dent in your face when the cheap one breaks



http://www.handsontools.com/store/sh...duct_id=736470

but im lucky, ive got access to one for free

 

Not that i endorse this metod or anything but a good jack with a skilled operator works in a pinch.

 

Advanced Auto carries them.

 

Spring compressors are something you don't want to scrimp and save a few extra bucks on. A compressed spring is like a bomb waiting to explode, so if you're going to buy one, make sure it's of decent quality.

Here's one I can personally recommend from KD tools:



I've owned and used this same one for many years. It goes for about $60 dollars here in the states. Very strong and safe design. Since it goes through the center of the spring, it easily fits within tight spring pockets, especially front springs on our 3rd gen. cars.

 

Okay, lets try this again:

 

This is actually the correct method. Jack under the inner portion of the a-arm (between the mounting ears) and R&R the pivot bolts.

RBob.

 

I use the jack method on third gens, though I do have two different sets of spring compressors. Neither works well for this design, the jack works very well. I can change both front springs in about thirty minutes, and as long as you have the car up high enough for the spring to extend, it has very little energy left to hurt anything. If you do it right, thry'll practically fall out on their own.

 

Thats exactly the design I had in mind.Have KD tools got a website?Thanks everybody.

 

http://www.mytoolstore.com/kd/kdindex.html

http://www.kd-tools.com/

 

I just picked up an Ampro T75761 compressor like the pic above from advance auto parts. It was nice having my work arrange a business trip to the USA just when I needed it.....

Si.

 

LT1guy
could you explain the jack method please. i rented a spring compressor last weeked had the spring fully extended and could get it out now the top of the spring isnt seated right and i cant fix it i had the car real high and the a-arm fully extended but i didnt wanna take the a-arm off well now my ride is messed up

 

Sorry I didn't see your post...hopefully you've got it fixed by now, but here goes.

I put the front of the car up on jackstands, high enough so the a-arm can swing down perpindicular to the frame to clear the spring.Place the jack under the a-arm,with a small gap between them. Remove the cotter pin from the balljoint, and loosen the nut several turns but dont remove it. Give the top of the nut a good smack with a hammer (you leave the nut on so as not to damage the threads), and it will usually unseat...you'll hear it. If it doesn't do anything, smack it again. It usually doesn't take much to break it loose, since the spring is working for you. Remove the nut, and SLOWLY let down the jack, and pull it out. You may have to push the a-arm (using a long pry bar, jack handle, etc...the spring still has a lot of stored energy at this point, esp if it is a stock (longer) spring, and you don't want to be too close) to fully release the tension on the spring. Usually they'll fall out at this point. To reinstall, seat the spring on the a-arm, put the jack back under it, and slowly raise it into place. You can pry on it slightly to make sure it seats itself in the upper spring pocket, if necessary. If it doesn't seat properly, sometimes you can persuade it with the pry bar...if it won't go, release some tension on the jack and try again. Once the springs are seated and you've bolted everything up, let the car down to check the ride height. If its about the same, or slightly higher ( a 1/2 inch or so,if you're using the same springs), you'll probably be ok. Once the weight of the car has been on it, and its been driven, they'll typically fully seat themselves. If its much higher than that, they're not seated and you need to try again.

 

Ive got that exact same tool.but mine is from CAL-VAN.Dont know if they made it or not.BUT it has served me very well over the last 12 years.Just remember to keep the threads coated with anti-seaze compound.