Strut spring compressor recommendation

trik396 · February 15, 2017

I searched and found nothing. I don't want to spend big bucks for something I only need for short time. Iam not going to take struts in to a shop to have them do it because I want to do it! Getting one as rental or whatever won't work because I have tried to do this in past for other tools and they never have them available. Please recommend. Thanks

LongrangeLauber · February 15, 2017

It's at least worth the call to a few l9cal auto parts stores to see if they're available, no way I was gonna buy one for the one time I used it

bndawgs · February 15, 2017

craigslist or harbor freight

Sierra 5.3 · February 15, 2017

I searched and found nothing. I don't want to spend big bucks for something I only need for short time. Iam not going to take struts in to a shop to have them do it because I want to do it! Getting one as rental or whatever won't work because I have tried to do this in past for other tools and they never have them available. Please recommend. Thanks

Auto Zone or OReilly's should have one to rent.

FreeAmerican · February 15, 2017

I just changed out my shocks and struts. A regular car strut compressor really didn't do the job. The front springs are pretty stiff. My compressor worked fine on my Audi but really started to deflect (bend) on the truck springs. So I bought a heaver set and to tell the truth I used 4 spring compressors to safely compress the spring.

FreeAmerican · February 15, 2017

These were $124 at NAPA and really were not strong enough by themselves.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SPC39730

I will also add I was using an impact wrench as well. No way I could have done it with a socket.

Darth_Vader · February 15, 2017

craigslist or harbor freight

I've had a few HF's explode when trying to compress truck springs. Fun stuff..

HoosierZ · February 15, 2017

I made these compressors when I put 5100s on my '08. I didn't trust the flimsy parts store compressors.

trik396 · February 16, 2017

I made these compressors when I put 5100s on my '08. I didn't trust the flimsy parts store compressors.

Nice job. I can probably fab something similar at work but work is too busy to find the time. Maybe. Sometimes you have more money than time

vacuman · February 16, 2017

I changed out my stock struts for Rancho Suspension units a week after I bought my Sierra. 100% improvement over the cheap stock units. Auto Zone will lend you the strut compressor for free, even if you don't buy the parts there. They charge $55 to your credit card and refund the full amount when you bring it back. The set they gave me still had the wrapping on it. The job isn't as tough as some people would have you think. All it takes is a few basic tools, some mechanical knowhow and about three hours. The hardest part was finding a place that stocked the parts.

If you want to take an easy way out, most aftermarket companies offer a 2" lift version that comes with the spring already installed. All you have to do is bolt it on.

ewiski · February 16, 2017

Please dont buy harbor freight spring compressor. Rent buy or borrow somthing better quality. That spring going boing where ever it likes is not anything to laugh about.