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Then, simply tighten the clamp until the spring is compressed. If you don’t have a C-clamp, you can try using a length of pipe. Place the pipe over the spring and then use a wrench to twist the pipe, compressing the spring as you go. Using a pry bar, compress the spring by pushing down on the lower control arm. Place the floor jack under the vehicle and raise the vehicle until the spring is compressed. Once the spring is compressed, you can remove the jack and the spring will stay compressed.
If you’re replacing the entire shock assembly, you can remove the whole coilover without taking the shock and spring apart. You can then proceed with installing a pre-assembled coilover. Since compressors work by compressing your vehicle's springs, they handle a lot of pressure. As a result, you need to get a tool that is tough and strong so you don't hurt yourself or damage the vehicle. The spring compressor shouldn't bend or snap when the coil is fully compressed. But like many other compressors, it doesn't work on all makes and models.
How do you make a small spring tighter?
When the top nut is removed, you should be able to pull the upper strut mount off and safely detach the compressed coil spring from its housing on the strut assembly. If your car has coilovers, you can compress the spring without a tool. Simply loosen the adjusting knob on the coilover until the spring is compressed to your desired height. If your car does not have coilovers, you will need a spring compressor tool to compress the spring. The second rule to using coil spring compressors safely is to make sure the coilspring compressor you are using actually fits the springs you will be working with.
Most of the kits that you can purchase at your local auto parts store are meant for light-duty vehicle springs. Any vehicle beyond that will require heavier-duty tools, so don’t attempt to use a light-duty compressor or you may get hurt. Your strut spring compressor should come with a good storage case that you can use several times without breaking. Having a safe, clean, dry place to store your compressor tool is paramount to its longevity and usefulness.
How hard is it to change springs on a car?
So removing the two nuts on both sides of the castle nut will allow the wheel hub to separate from the lower bracket. This compressor is well built and strong and can compress most springs without any issues. It is big enough to work on truck springs but can also be used on compact cars. Compared to some other brands, it has a tread on the screws that's more open, which helps compress or decompress the springs. Even lifted off of the ground, your suspension springs can still be under quite a load.
The vehicle should be raised and supported on jack stands prior to doing any of this work. The weight of the vehicle will act as the support on one end when decompressing the spring. One downside is that it's really heavy with a coil spring in it. Also, it doesn't come with any instructions, and it does not work on all vehicle models. In addition, it can be very difficult to remove old warped springs with this tool.
Cabin Air Filter Replacement: 2nd Gen Acura CL (Including Type-S)
For the savvy home mechanic, removing the front strut assemblies from the vehicle is easy. The nerve-racking part of the repair is compressing the spring so it can be transferred over to the new strut. It is very important to choose the correct spring compression tool to accomplish this part of the repair. The other spring compressor tool is a hand tool that uses hooks to hold the spring, while requiring you to ratchet down the hooks to compress the spring.
Stymied for a solution, I looked at dozens of videos on YouTube about homemade spring compressors. For motorcycle springs, many folks simply used a pair of ratchet straps looped through the coils and passed around a bolt through one of the eye bushings. However, anyone who has worked with ratchet straps knows that there’s not a controlled way to release the tension. One fellow demonstrated a very clever way of ratchet-strapping a coil-over to a floor jack, snugging the straps, then raising the jack to compress the spring.
Can you cut Springs while on the car?
Once the spring is compressed, you can remove the old strut, install the new strut, or perform whatever other maintenance you need to do. When you are finished, loosen the compressor and allow the spring to expand back to its normal size. Once all the bolts are loosened and removed, the strut assembly should be free to come off. Generally, these shorter lowering springs lower the ride height and provide a more responsive and sporty feel due to their stiffer design. Continue to slowly jack up the LCA until you see the bolt start to protrude through the top strut mount.
If you’re noticing that your car isn’t as smooth as it used to be, it’s likely that your strut springs need to be replaced. If you’re looking to compress a strut spring without a tool, there are a few methods you can try. Place the jaws of the vise grips on either side of the spring, and then squeeze the handles together. Place the clamp around the spring, making sure that the jaws of the clamp are lined up with the coils of the spring. Once the spring is compressed, reconnect the strut to the lower control arm. With a little bit of effort, you can compress a strut spring without a tool.
Mark the alignment cams with a paint marker so that they can be positioned back in place during re-installation. You might need to remove some panels or skid plates under the vehicle to get access to these cam bolts. First, jack up the front of the vehicle and support it on jack stands. You may set them aside, or place them below each side of the vehicle as an extra safety precaution in the case the jack stands fail. Finally, make sure to chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks so that the car will not roll and cause the car to come off of the jack stands. One downside is that it does not have any safety features.
Once done, turn the nut for a couple of threads before using the air impact gun to tighten it. To ensure that your compressor will remain in good working order for the entire time that it’s in your ownership, make sure that it is well lubricated and clean. Dirty or dry threads will become damaged with use, and that can spell disaster if they fail.
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