Coilover spring compressor

[mike01606]

Can anyone advise a suitable spring compressor for a relatively narrow diameter spring used on a coilover.
All three of the sets I have catch the threads on the shock so can’t be used.


I don’t want to buy anymore unless I know they’ll fit!

[E-bmw]

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&a...

[mike01606]

E-bmw said:

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&a...

Cheers.....I’ve been looking at these and the smallest adaptor is the right size but I’m not sure if the damper will fit inside it.
If anyone has one and could measure the inner clearance I’d be made up....

[E-bmw]

Have you tried to back off the adjusters as I would be surprised if there is more than a few mm pre-load on the springs and it looks like you have a lot more than that of visible thread.

[mike01606]

E-bmw said:

Have you tried to back off the adjusters as I would be surprised if there is more than a few mm pre-load on the springs and it looks like you have a lot more than that of visible thread.

Sorry the pics is when it was fully backed off. I have about 60mm of pre-load on now fitted to the car and the platform is really tight as the spring has settled into the rubber perches. To set the ride height I want to remove about 5mm of pre-load and don’t want to risk stripping the thread.
If I can just take the tension off the spring it’ll be easier.
The compressors in the pic above look about the best option but I’m not sure they’ll clear the threaded damper part.
Ive been looking at these and know I’ll have to remove the coilover off the car

[selym]

Sealey motorbike spring compressors. I used them on my VX220 coilovers, and if you are anywhere near Marlow you can use mine.

https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637205034/motorc...

[E-bmw]

mike01606 said:

I have about 60mm of pre-load on now fitted to the car and the platform is really tight as the spring has settled into the rubber perches.

60mm of pre-load is a MASSIVE amount why?

The norm for a coilover is around 3 - 5mm.

[mike01606]

E-bmw said:

60mm of pre-load is a MASSIVE amount why?

The norm for a coilover is around 3 - 5mm.

It’s not actually 60mm but not far off. I measured the pre-load from the bottom of the locking collar to the end of the thread. It’s as per the WSM and as it came apart.
I’ve just fitted new springs and rubber spacers.

[mike01606]

selym said:

Sealey motorbike spring compressors. I used them on my VX220 coilovers, and if you are anywhere near Marlow you can use mine.

https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637205034/motorc...

Thanks.....Those look very promising and I’ll see if they are long enough......best option I’ve seen so far.

Thanks very much for the offer but I live in the NW..

Edit: The jaws on these don’t open wide enough so back to the drawing board.

Edited by mike01606 on Monday 15th April 22:16

[phillpot]

Ratchet straps..............................

[selym]

mike01606 said:

selym said:

Sealey motorbike spring compressors. I used them on my VX220 coilovers, and if you are anywhere near Marlow you can use mine.

https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637205034/motorc...

Thanks.....Those look very promising and I’ll see if they are long enough......best option I’ve seen so far.

Thanks very much for the offer but I live in the NW..

Edit: The jaws on these don’t open wide enough so back to the drawing board.

Edited by mike01606 on Monday 15th April 22:16

Do you have to go for top and bottom coil? I didn't on the Bilsteins, and the Sealeys just compressed the spring enough to remove it. The jaws reached about 1/4 and 3/4 the way along the spring.

[Krikkit]

Mike, I'm between Ellesmere Port and Chester if you want to try my compressors - they're this type:

[mike01606]

Thanks for all the responses....what forums should be all about

phillpot - for a few quid I've ordered some from Amazon. I'd seen this method but I'm not sure they'll cope with the tension on these bad boys.

selym - Ideally yes top and bottom. As they have a lot of pre-load I need to compress as much of the spring as possible.

Krikkit - thanks for the offer. I think that type is the best option but I don't want to waste £80. A really big help would be measuring the internal clearance of the adaptor that does an 95mm and a 99mm OD spring (probably the black one). I'm more than happy to buy if it will fit. I see stuff like this a life time purchases for a DIY'er (and as an owner of several old BMW's living on a road with speed bumps, spring changes are quite regular at our house).

Edited by mike01606 on Tuesday 16th April 12:51

[Krikkit]

OK, just grabbed mine and had a poke with the verniers.

The smallest (BZP) adapters have an internal clearance of 65mm, and the 90-99mm range spring will sit easily in the centre.

The medium-sized (black) adapters have an internal clearance of 92mm, so a 90-99mm spring would just about fit onto the adapter. In use you might find that it wouldn't locate securely.

[mike01606]

Krikkit said:

OK, just grabbed mine and had a poke with the verniers.

The smallest (BZP) adapters have an internal clearance of 65mm, and the 90-99mm range spring will sit easily in the centre.

The medium-sized (black) adapters have an internal clearance of 92mm, so a 90-99mm spring would just about fit onto the adapter. In use you might find that it wouldn't locate securely.

Thank you very much.....I need to get the car out as the shocks are fitted but that small one should be ok with 65mm of clearance. That’ll be tomorrow now.
Is the set branded?

[phillpot]

mike01606 said:

phillpot - for a few quid I've ordered some from Amazon. I'd seen this method but I'm not sure they'll cope with the tension on these bad boys.

If t's the ones in your photo they don't look to be anything special?

They'll do it easy and no scratches on your springs

[Krikkit]

mike01606 said:

Krikkit said:

OK, just grabbed mine and had a poke with the verniers.

The smallest (BZP) adapters have an internal clearance of 65mm, and the 90-99mm range spring will sit easily in the centre.

The medium-sized (black) adapters have an internal clearance of 92mm, so a 90-99mm spring would just about fit onto the adapter. In use you might find that it wouldn't locate securely.

Thank you very much.....I need to get the car out as the shocks are fitted but that small one should be ok with 65mm of clearance. That’ll be tomorrow now.
Is the set branded?

It's not, just the generic eBay job for 70-odd quid at the time. The seller doesn't stock them any more, this one looks identical (down to the case and finishes etc), and it's cheaper: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263124656795

[mike01606]

Krikkit said:

It's not, just the generic eBay job for 70-odd quid at the time. The seller doesn't stock them any more, this one looks identical (down to the case and finishes etc), and it's cheaper: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263124656795

The threaded part is 55mm OD so the BZP small one should fit. I'm about to treat myself and order one. Thanks for all you help......Mike

phillpot said:

If t's the ones in your photo they don't look to be anything special?

They'll do it easy and no scratches on your springs

They turned up after the car went back in. I'll try them on the old springs later..... Maybe I'll delay my purchase

Edited by mike01606 on Thursday 18th April 10:52

[voicey]

Any of that eBay st will work on the smallest adaptor. What you need to be careful of is damaging the "upper spacer" - the rubber sleeve at the top of the spring. If you put the tool too high it will split the rubber. The damage can occur when releasing the spring compression after installing the spring into the assembly.

[Tobs]

Made my own, using a couple of old discs, and some threaded bar. Top disc has the hole bored out just large enough to clear the top spring retainer, but small enough to stop the spring going through. Used a normal bi-metallic hole saw to drill the disc (took a while and you will need to clamp the disc to a bit of wood so you can use this to center the hole cutter.

This worked on some TVR bilstein shocks - not sure it would work on others, but as long as the top spring retainer is smaller diameter than the OD of the spring should work fine.

Edited by Tobs on Friday 19th April 10:48