Making a Jaguar (XJ) front spring compressor

Would this tool do the job?

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/139345/mercedes-telescopic-road-spring-compressor?page=1&scrollTo=1922042

I'd be tempted to use the threaded portion externally to the main clamp, and simply use some steel bar welded to the end of the threaded section. You could then make it as long as you needed, whilst still being able to use the full length of the scissor jack thread for squishing the spring

I wouldn't worry about the domed section, it seems to only be there to allow the spring base support to pivot if it needs. Make the base "industrial" and it shouldn't matter

Thanks for all the input guys. I had a look under the car the other day and coupled with a bit of searching online it seems that it might be simpler to deal with than I first thought.



There are indeed a lot of weird bits on it, but they are actually at the top. The oblong thing with the point seems to be to lock against the pressing on top of the subframe (you can just make this out in my pics). Don't know what the bit above it is. Integral with the thread to act as a stop/limiter perhaps. The first flat washer I don't know but the large part is designed to sit inside the lower spring seat-pan pressing and I guess the 2 holes it in are simply to clear the two bolt heads you can see in the pics. The dome below it must just be to help things swivel as you tighten up the spinner and the lower arm moves to the parallel position.


view of spring seat-pan from below



rough width of hole



and length



tool comes through hole on top of subframe


driver's side viewed from front



passenger side

There is 16mm rod/stud available on and it would fit through the holes no problem so would maybe be better to move up a step from 12mm to 16mm.

I'm not a fan of (mig) welding nuts as the heat ruins (hardens) the threads but this month I aim to learn to braze and was thinking of buying an old cast lathe wheel or valve handle and brazing an M16 nut into the centre

Damn. The one on Ebay this week went for £94 and I missed the bidding as was at the parents for Sunday dinner. Can't see another one coming up any time soon so back to plan A - make one

I had a closer look at the parts today to check the numbers on them and it seems my assy isn't an original Churchill one, which would explain the less elaborate spinner.

I have an OTC/SPX one. Can't find a lot online about the tool I have but OTC are apparently a division of SPX - a company who make specialist automotive tools.

One link shows the tool to be over $700 before shipping etc!dealer link


The link above shows the tool to be suitable for XJ III/XJR/XJS and has the teddy-bear part to the side and the doughnut on the tool which suggests they were alternative parts. Not sure really but on the series 2 that I have am pretty sure the doughnut would have to go below the teddy-bear rather than above it.

Am sure it'll all be clear when I use it.


doughnut above teddy-bear



doughnut below teddy-bear


pacman 204-008/1




rod 204-008/2





doughnut 204-008/04



mushroom 204-008/5



teddy-bear 204-008/10


So there we have it. A later version of the original tool which appears to be identical apart from the spinner. Interestingly the thread is still Imperial. I make it an 11/16 BSW (11 TPI). The nearest metric equivalent would be M18 threaded-rod which is readily available.

With a lot of cutting and filing you could cheaply replicate the doughnut and teddy-bear (in two pieces) out of steel plate/tube but the mushroom would be tricky. Where would you get a steel ball that size and how hard would it be to drill an 18mm hole through it?

The spinner could be made up with and M18 nut but that wouldn't be a good as a deep threaded 'barrel' like the original.

Lastly. Somone on Ebay USA is selling the bit I'm missing for a reasonable $24 but they want $33 to ship it to UK