Working on suspension struts?

[Lazy-Ferret]

My Jeep has Struts on the front suspension, and I have never had to work on struts in my time of working on cars.

I am looking at a suspension lift, and it entails having to compress the springs on my front struts, but I am reading a lot of conflicting stories about doing this.

I have a set of Spring compressors, that look like these...

and have used them for years, never worrying about them, other than using the obvious respect for the job they are doing.

On the various Jeep sites, they seem to think that you should not even consider working on the suspension, unless you have a proper hydraulic strut press, as doing it any other way is just too dangerous.

I have found a few videos on YouTube, where people use the more basic compressors, but they seem to have the ones with a safety pin like this..

They look safer but I like mine, as the bit that sits on the spring is quite wide, and tends to stop it twisting or sliding round the spring, which the thinner ones I used to have did.

So, has anyone done struts with a hand spring compressor, and would you attempt it with the type I have, or invest in the second picture, or even something you think is even better (although I am not sure I can justify buying a hydraulic one).

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

I have, with a pair just like yours, common sense will see you through mate, just don't compress more than you need to! The hardest part is getting a socket on when they are on the spring :lol

 

[Banshee]

I'll be honest I have the exact same set and have used them a few times now to remove the rear springs from my Maverick and my Terrano but I have had 2 very close shaves with them!!!

I could have easily broken my jaw if my head had of been closer

Use them with extreme caution, I kid you not, when I use them now I use a full face motorcycle helmet, just watch your fingers too

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Cheers guys. You are right about getting to the bolt to wind it up, fortunately the ratchet rings I have help with that.

Are strut springs any different to normal suspension spings? E.G. stiffer, more compressed, what ever?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Cheers guys. You are right about getting to the bolt to wind it up, fortunately the ratchet rings I have help with that.

Are strut springs any different to normal suspension spings? E.G. stiffer, more compressed, what ever?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I don't think you will have to compress them as much as you think before you can undo the top, but I've only done them on cars, 4x4 might be different 'cos of more travel :nenau

Ratchet spanners rule :bow :lol

 

[macabethiel]

That takes me back!

They have been given away over a decade ago but I had a pair similar to those in your picture. I helped my brother do a full set of new springs on an Opel Manta A. (Correction - he mostly watched me do it!)

They worked well getting the old ones off as the tips had broken plus they were rusty so they did not move as I started to compress them. Fitting the new springs however was a different story they would slip down the coils or of I tightened them up even slightly unevenly one would shoot off. I was lucky not to loose a finger!

What annoyed me was he took the motor back to Northern ireland where he was stationed and promptly sold it to a Squaddie who wrote it off within days of buying it.

 

[elty001]

I've got a pair like the second picture.
Never had any problems removing springs from struts with them.
Alot of force at play so treat them with respect and you will be fine:thumb2

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Thanks for the answers... It's so hard in this over safe molly-coddle world to know what is safe as long as you respect it, and what is basically just plain bloody stupid, so it's good to know others have done it.

I have decided to do a compromise, I am going to make a set of plates that slide up and down the threaded bar, which will have roofing hooks through, so I can fix the spring into the compressor, a bit like this one, but the hooks will be vertical.

 

[Banshee]

Now that's an idea I'd get behind!!!!

 

[solarman216]

Nice idea but in my experience there is never enough room for the basic spring compressors let alone additions, struts might be different though as can be done off the car, best of luck, Rick

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

That's a pretty neat solution :thumb2

Make sure to take some pics!!