This coil spring compressor is for cars with a upper & lower control arms, but I think it will work? It's pricy but gets good reviews for it's safety. What do you think?

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-7045B-Fron...glink121126-20

 

Probably not.

The best kind for these cars is the ones with the hook arms, with a piece of pipe used as a sort of sleeve to take up as much of the extra screw length as possible (the problem being, there's nowhere for the end of it to stick through at the top of the spring).

 

hook arms are not the safest to use on a 3rd gen, the link you posted is to the OTC spring compressor, and that works great on our 3rd gens! i have used mine many times and you wont have to use washers or pipe or any rigging to get it to work, plus there is a ball bearing in it and tightening it is easy! i wish i would have bought mine many years before i did!

 

Thanks!

 

$147.18 !!!!!

 

The OTC 7045B is the safest way to go! After a Very close call with two of my fingers getting caught, when the hook style slipped, the OTC was worth the price for safety. My fingers were in gloves and had gone completely numb, I couldn't tell if they were crushed or severed. One of the scariest times of my life. I was able to recompress with the hook style enough to squeeze my fingers out. I had taken my wedding band off, it alone may have severed a finger, six months later I can fit it back on since the swelling has gone back down. Don't cheap out on this one!

After six months of my camaro being up in the air, the spring is back in. The OTC is very easy to compress the spring with the shallow threads, compared to the hook style. You may need a friend to help, since the rod on the OTC sticks out pretty far and we had to take out the a-arm pivot bolts to get it in.

 

Thanks! I used the one with the hooks and one time it slipped off with no injury or damage. Next time I'll get the one you recommend (OTC 7045B)
. Glad you're okay!

 

Here is the OTC compressing the spring (soo much easier). I have a UMI a-arm the pockets are too deep for where you have to put the hook style. The hooks got caught in the pocket and on the top. I couldn't get the hook style out, I wrestled with it A lot!

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/single-...sor-43753.html

 

Thanks whatdayasay! Me too! Here is a pic of my fingers my ring finger swelled up a lot bigger.

 

That red is severe glove burn...lol. I probably would have needed stitches if not for the gloves

 

This is the McPherson style, not enough room to use on our cars, I have read where they bend on our springs. Have you used them?

 

The only safe spring compressor in my mind is a crowbar. Im super nervous using anything else.



If you're worried about scratching up your control arms you may as well just risk your fingers and hands with one of those parts store compressors, though.

 

Are you saying that the harbor freight model is the mcpherson style? The only spring compressor i've used is the one with the hooks.