How do you compress springs on a Macpherson strut.?

Question

I have done it with the manual hook and bar compressors but they will not compress the springs far enough to fully relieve pressure on the springs seats

I have a set of spring compressors but when they have compressed the springs to tools maximum amount it is not enough

Thanks all, sorted the problem in the end by getting another set of compressors and using two sets instead of the one. When one set were about 3/4 compressed I could get the second set on the parts of the spring that had opened up enough to get the hooks on.

Answer 1

If you are goint to re-fit the spring you can attach the compressor to the spring before jacking up the car - that way you have 'pre-compressed' the spring.

If you have already taken the strut off, or want to change the spring, then I am afraid that you will have to get a longer compressor. Sykes Pickavant make heavy duty coil spring compressors (which I use for 4 x 4 springs). You will have to go to a motor factor such as Partco for these.

Without sounding patronising, remember to tighten the compressors evenly, and when you have the spring off be very careful not to knock it - if it escapes when under compression the results can be pretty catastrophic.

Answer 2

Sorry to smirk, but it's a Pain in thea *** on some cars.
Try to ensure that you are grabbing the springs with the compressors are far open as possible.
If this doesn't give you enough compression, then you have the incorrect type of spring compressors.

Answer 3

You either didn't seat the spring properly or you didn't compress the spring enough before you tightened the top nut, try to tighten the top nut while the strut is mounted in the car, the weight of the front end can push the spring down enough so you can tighten it all the way.

Answer 4

Then you are not using the correct compressers , you should not have to compress springs to there maximum to dismantle the suspention legs , and if you are doing somthing wrong i would be very careful if i was you when working with road springs. they have a nasty habit of unloading suddenly and if you are handerling them incorrectly you could seriosly hurt yourself

Answer 5

You need to use the correct spring compresser .

Answer 6

with the hole strut out of the car you could take it to a shop and have them flop the strut in the spring for you it cost me $10 a strut and they had to cut the old 1 out i kinda bent it!!!! lol

Answer 7

yeah what M & M said. you can rent the tool @ some parts stores.

Answer 8

get the tool from Halfords