How to Compress Coil-over Springs?

[Marty V6]

Hi all,

My Sumo's Spax coil-over shockers have given up the ghost, and are presently weeping oil all over the garage floor. The MOT is up at the end of the month and so I need to get some more shocks for it.

Still looking for likely replacement units, but in the mean time, how do I get the 21/4" ID springs off the existing coilover setup, without losing my teeth, or punching a spring shaped hole in the garage roof? I have a set of standard coil spring compressors - the type used for mac-struts, but the coils on the coil-over are too tightly wound, and the shock body is too close to the spring to use these. Are there special coil-over spring compressors available, and if so where do I get them and how much are they likely to wound my wallet?

Cheers

Marty

[Purple AK]

Originally Posted by Marty V6

Hi all,

My Sumo's Spax coil-over shockers have given up the ghost, and are presently weeping oil all over the garage floor. The MOT is up at the end of the month and so I need to get some more shocks for it.

Still looking for likely replacement units, but in the mean time, how do I get the 21/4" ID springs off the existing coilover setup, without losing my teeth, or punching a spring shaped hole in the garage roof? I have a set of standard coil spring compressors - the type used for mac-struts, but the coils on the coil-over are too tightly wound, and the shock body is too close to the spring to use these. Are there special coil-over spring compressors available, and if so where do I get them and how much are they likely to wound my wallet?

Cheers

Marty

Assuming they are the correct springs for the shocks! As you wind the collar down they should come off tension on the last couple of threads. Just be carefull

[Marty V6]

Yeah, thats the worry though. Having bought the car as a road going project, and having seen some of the things done to it, I wouldnt want to bet that they are the correct springs. However its worth trying to unwind them to somewhere near the end and seeing if there is much spring left. Cheers for the tip.

[Russ-Notts]

Marty,
I had the same problem last year. I ended up taking the shocks with springs fitted to a local garage. They used a bench mounted compressor. My springs were longer than the shocks. In hindsight I wish I'd just bought some new springs with my new shocks. Probably a lot less hassle and probably would have worked out cheaper too.
Best of luck.

[dingocooke]

you can buy a spring compressor (basically two scissor jack type acme threaded bars with blocks on the end) very cheaply at your local car bodging place (Halfords etc)

[Marty V6]

Originally Posted by dingocooke

you can buy a spring compressor (basically two scissor jack type acme threaded bars with blocks on the end) very cheaply at your local car bodging place (Halfords etc)

Steve,

I've got a set of these from Machine mart - unfortunately they wont fit in between the spring coils - they seem to be more suitable to the bigger diameter coils found on mac-struts.

[dingocooke]

I modified mine by carefully grinding the back of the hook block; they fit all coil overs now, even small motorcycle ones.

[427scr]

I made a spring compressor for my COBRA.

Don't bother with them for taking the springs apart. Put the damper/spring unit in a vice and wrap the whole unit in a heavy blanket and very very carefully unscrew the nuts until it goes BANG! This procedure is fun if you have a dodgy heart, mind your wrist and don't point the collar end at anything you care about.

Get two bits of 3" angle iron about 6" long.

In one of the legs of each bit of iron, cut a semi circle that matches the radius of the threaded collar at the bottom and the collar radius at the top. This should be the same size as the inside radius of the springs.

Drill a couple of holes in the leg of the two bits of angle iron either side of the cutout big enough to take some threaded bar M10 or M12 is OK.

Place one of the bits of iron between the top collar and the spring and the second between the bottom collar and the spring, with the shock in place. Insert the two threaded rods and wind nuts down them to compress the spring just enough to get a couple of turns on the thread. (no need to fit the locking ring yet) You should not have to compress the springs much, maybe just and inch or so. You need six hands to do this, a vice and a willing mate helps. Don't ask the wife, the whole theory will scare the s**t out of her! Women seem to be able to detect danger in the simplest of tasks?

With the bottom collar engaged and wound up tight, you will note that the compressor is now trapped. Undo the threaded rod a bit and with a hammer, just knock it out sideways. KEEP YOUR FINGERS OUT OF THE WAY or the resultant blood blister will have you hopping round the garage screaming for your mummy.

Best of luck.

[dingocooke]

LOL!!!!
If I want to frighten myself I go out in my mates microlight!!!

[Russ-Notts]

Originally Posted by dingocooke

LOL!!!!
If I want to frighten myself I go out in my mates microlight!!!

....watch out for escaped coil springs in the airspace over Nottingham.