Strut Coil spring compressor

[barron64]

Looking to pickup a quality coil spring compressor to avoid dealing with the crap you rent from the local auto parts store. Seems like there are a lot of choices of the same Chinese compressor tool, different name, from Amazon and eBay. Taiwan made tools offer much better quality compared to Chinese btw. Of course American made would be great if you could find it. Anyone have any suggestions?

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[Rapid Red]

It begs the question of how much usage will it get, I'm with you about the quality. Buying tools (an oxymoron) like HF are for limited usage and throw away.

Just saying.

Other than that, considering they are a tool. That all pretty much have the same basic design. Look over the offers spot the difference and go from there. Something will stand out as being a better choice.

 

[barron64]

Guess I will just judge the reviews and cost… then roll the dice. Anything better than what I borrowed from Advance auto parts when I last had to compress the springs to install camber plates.

 

[ice445]

The Maddox harbor freight one is actually pretty good. I know this because not only did it work for normal stuff, I loaned it to a complete moron who used it to swap heavy duty off road coils for their truck, a use case that vastly overloaded the tool and yet it survived despite the rods looking like bananas during compression.

 

[paulm1]

It's a crap shoot, even the best tools break. My brother is a master nissan & subaru mechanic, luckily only had his finger broken when the nissan shop's wall mounted professional spring compressor failed.....after undergoing and passing their normal scheduled tool inspection process. The "cheap" spring compressors may be less reliable but you can easily get 2 tools for $60 and use 3 or 4 rods to increase the reliablility / safety factor IMO.

 

[JOKER M1]

Been several years since I used it so can’t remember how well it worked but that could be due to the amount of bourbon consumed at the time.

 

[Scooter MGee]

Perfect for home use.........

OTC TOOLS #6494

 

[br_an]

If I were looking for one I'd check out that OTC Clamshell

 

[barron64]

Picked this up on Amazon… pure Chinesium steel! I will give an update on how it works when I get around to installing the BMG springs.

 

[PC_GUARD]

Been several years since I used it so can’t remember how well it worked but that could be due to the amount of bourbon consumed at the time.

Alltrade tools makes reasonable stuff. Typically theyre Taiwan made and not China, however theyre doing a LOT more China now.

Same with Great Neck. Great neck basic stuff is trash, but OEM brand is pretty good for your home shop guy.

Wouldnt scare me one bit to have Alltrade or OEM, or Maddox for that matter. Other Hong Kong louie's i havent any idea

 

[Cruizer]

Picked this up on Amazon… pure Chinesium steel! I will give an update on how it works when I get around to installing the BMG springs.

I just used these last weekend. They worked out great. For $60 I'll keep them. The rental ones from the box stores will not work on our struts. The bolt (threads) runs in to the strut plate the spring sits on. I highly recommend.

 

[Rapid Red]

Alltrade tools makes reasonable stuff. Typically theyre Taiwan made and not China, however theyre doing a LOT more China now.

Same with Great Neck. Great neck basic stuff is trash, but OEM brand is pretty good for your home shop guy.

Wouldnt scare me one bit to have Alltrade or OEM, or Maddox for that matter. Other Hong Kong louie's i havent any idea

Taiwan builds some good quality & accurate machines lathes & mills. Personally would not have a problem considering or buying things they produce.

.02

 

[PC_GUARD]

Taiwan builds some good quality & accurate machines lathes & mills. Personally would not have a problem considering or buying things they produce.

.02

Yup agreed

 

[Cruizer]

Op, do yourself a favor and get some alignment bushings for the cradle if you plan on dropping the whole thing like the videos show. Or, you can get the full lockout kit. I'm waiting on mine. Noticed mine was off, going to try and get close today until my alignment bushings get here. Glad I haven't had the alignment done yet. Waiting for the front to settle a little.

 

[Mustangfreek]

I need to do mine soon, and although I like more tools, I don’t plan on doing many sets, and if I don’t like the next set, I’m just going cool overs

I was just gonna hope a local shop would change them for a few bux

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