Help Desperately Needed - Coil Spring Compressor

[ukkid35]

Does anyone have a compressor designed to work with 8cm diameter springs? If so please can I borrow it?

I have tried using

http://www.lasertools.co.uk/(X(1)S(fgscxn55vansbp4...

But after modifying it so it almost fits the 8cm diameter springs, I managed to transfer one spring to the new shock, however that took six hours total (including the time to modify the compressor), and several attempts to transfer the other three resulted in abject failure. The compressors become unstable and spin round on the springs.
.
I'm running out of time, as I have a trip booked for next weekend, so any help would be very much appreciated.

[Pupp]

Are the platform rings seized then? If not, wind them down the body until the springs are away from the retainers?

[ukkid35]

I need to transfer to the new shocks, getting them off is only half the problem. But yes, the grub screw securing the platform ring is seized so I can't remove the second green spring. Even if I drilled it out, I'm only slightly closer to getting it on to the new shock. What I really need is the right tools, I'm not after workarounds.

[haircutmike]

Paul, agree with Pupp for those pair but the ones you brought round today should work if you've modifiyed the claws on the compressor.

[BliarOut]

Next size drill up and a good C spanner would be much quicker

[ukkid35]

BliarOut said:

Next size drill up and a good C spanner would be much quicker

That only does half the job.

I can't get the spring on to the new shock compressed enough to get the platform in place.

Like I said, I'm really not looking for workarounds, there must be a spring compressor that exists for 8cm springs.

[spitfire4v8]

ukkid35 said:

I can't get the spring on to the new shock compressed enough to get the platform in place.

Why have you got the spring platform on the protech wound up the body?

[ukkid35]

spitfire4v8 said:

Why have you got the spring platform on the protech wound up the body?

Once the top platform was in place, I kept compressing the spring and winding up the adjustment ring so that the spring was compressed to the same degree as on the original shock. This was just to get the ride height about right without having to do all the adjustment on the car. However I agree that is not essential, I just find it easier to do off the car than on the car.

To disassemble the original shocks I have to compress the springs more than during reassembly, because the AVOs have seized rings (so I have to remove the top platform), and the Bilsteins have circlips locating the lower non adjustable platforms.

[phillpot]

ukkid35 said:

I'm really not looking for workarounds, there must be a spring compressor that exists for 8cm springs.

You might call this a "workaround" but I found two small ratchet straps work perfectly, the sort that thread onto themselves, not the ones with hooks.
Thread them through the spring one either side and tighten up, put spring onto new shock wind up adjuster and release straps...no problem

(and no scratching or damage to spring paint/powdercoat)

one picture = 1000 words.........



The "two finger" clamps in your link are (imho) no good at all for small diameter springs on coilovers, they are designed for much larger springs on McPherson struts etc.
Something like these might work better (fingers may still need a little "adjustment").

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 30th September 19:10

[ukkid35]

Many thanks to everyone for their input, especially philpott for his truly alternative suggestion, but mainly to djstevec who lent me his coil spring compressors, which I have since butchered (I think I might own them now!)

As usual my 928 buddy (on another forum) was on the right track, the critical thing is to use a three piece compressor approach. However nothing seems to fit 8cm springs without significant modification, djstevec's Laser compressors are far too thick to fit between the coils, so I had to open them out with the other compressors first. But difference was that the assembly was completely stable as long as I kept the tension evenly balanced.

Total time taken to transfer four springs was in the region of twelve hours, including time spent modifying the compressors. I am surpassing my own record for slowest ever DIY mechanic.

This has taught me that there must be a market for an 8cm spring compressor for the home mechanic. Most aftermarket springs are that size after all. Just need to whip up a design and get it over to China...

[phazed]

Glad you got it sorted Paul.

I guess that's why I used a pair of joiners clamps on my Monos.

[Basil Brush]

phillpot said:

You might call this a "workaround" but I found two small ratchet straps work perfectly, the sort that thread onto themselves, not the ones with hooks.
Thread them through the spring one either side and tighten up, put spring onto new shock wind up adjuster and release straps...no problem

(and no scratching or damage to spring paint/powdercoat)

one picture = 1000 words.........



The "two finger" clamps in your link are (imho) no good at all for small diameter springs on coilovers, they are designed for much larger springs on McPherson struts etc.
Something like these might work better (fingers may still need a little "adjustment").

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 30th September 19:10

I wish I'd thought of using straps. I managed to swap one of mine with the laser compressors but it did mark the powder coat.

[Lunablack]

ukkid35 said:

Does anyone have a compressor designed to work with 8cm diameter springs? If so please can I borrow it?

Best TVR spring compressor I've seen is this one.....

Each spring removal takes about 10 to 15 mins, and about the same to refit..... So 30 mins per shock as a max

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3H4vp0baRVE

Edited by Lunablack on Sunday 30th September 22:53

[ukkid35]

Looks great, could really have done with one of them, but where from??? (Hope I won't need one any time soon though.)

[phillpot]

Reckon these could be handy

[tinker-27]

I have a proper spring compressor for doing this type of shock ( mainly bike shocks) , if any body's stuck drop me a line and I can swap them for you ,

[ukkid35]

phillpot said:

Reckon these could be handy

I had assumed that they wouldn't be up to the job, but I've since been told that bike spring rates can be just as high as car spring rates.

[gerbenhi]

Hi there,

Ordered for new Bilstein shocks from Ben Lang, using the original springs as they seem fine then ended up with the same issue.
I didn't want to use the tyraps or the ratched leashes, being afraid of the dangers occuring when one breaks.

After watching the film made by big500 I changed a small bit to that concept: take 2 old brake discs, increase the centerhole in one them to 71 mm and cut of the disc from the flange.

Get 4 pieces of 40 cm threaded end M12 8.8 , 16 nuts and 12 washers and bolt the threaded end to the disc. Put the threaded ends in the unmodified disc (used 3 nuts on each end) , position the tool to the workbench allowing the coilover to be put through the centerhole.

Put the shock/spring in the centerhole and mount the flange with the 71mm hole over it. Put the washers and nuts to the threaded ends and tighten them equally. I did this in pairs so 2 take the force and the other 2 provide safety.



It works well, takes litle effort and is easy to create.

[ukkid35]

Genius. That is just great, unfortunately I overcame my hoarding instincts recently and took all my old discs down to the 'recycling centre'.

[saaby93]

phillpot said:

You might call this a "workaround" but I found two small ratchet straps work perfectly, the sort that thread onto themselves, not the ones with hooks.
Thread them through the spring one either side and tighten up, put spring onto new shock wind up adjuster and release straps...no problem

(and no scratching or damage to spring paint/powdercoat)

one picture = 1000 words.........

Has anyone else tried this method?
Using 25mm straps (is that small?) you can pull in the springs but there's still a tendency for the straps to slide around the spring and end up on the same side. Also , although they ratchet up nicely, the release mechanism seems to be all all or nothing. Is there a way of slowly releasing the ratchet and the springs?