pptom
Part of things
Posts: 469
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Oct 17, 2021 19:03:12 GMT
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I've got a couple of cars to change springs on. Always used the cheapo threaded rod ones in the past and I've always hated them with a vengeance, so I want to 'upgrade' to something half decent and dependable. I've also been there with ratchet straps and car jack's with motorbike monoshocks. Time to get sensible. They will be needed both on the car and on the bench. Creme de la crème is obviously Sykes Pikavent but I haven't just won the euromillions and they will no doubt sit in my garage for 5+ years unused. I've seen the generic copies for about £70 which consist of a set of 3 different sized cups in a red box. This is the sort of money I have, but have read some less then favourable reviews. Can anyone give me any pointers please? Or have some real good ones near Northampton which I could rent? Tom
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I'd go with the cheap ones but don't chuck your old set. Basically every spring has an ideal spring compressor and a generic tool is never going to be the best thing for every spring. If you're imagining a future where you will never want for any other spring compressor you probably shouldn't! When the spring or strut is out of the car you can do much more controlled work on a floor standing hydraulic press. Things like replacing the shock or top mount is a breeze when you have access to a floor standing press. These are cheapo ones which I adapted to work on Saabs. The sleeving gives clearance to prevent them fouling on the bodywork.
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Oct 18, 2021 11:19:50 GMT
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I've used the threaded stuff for years, and so long as you're careful, do them up evenly, degrease first etc I've never had problems I did see a YouTube video a while ago with someone making a floor mounted spring compressor using a post style Jack with plates welded top& bottom, but it didn't really look that much more secure than the generic ones. I did have some specific Renault ones a while ago, but sold them on because they just wouldn't fit anything I'd got
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Oct 18, 2021 11:54:46 GMT
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I always end up using a combination of these Draper 31497: and these Draper 1471: and more often than not, some of this 10mm Nylon rope too. Depends on the car and how much room there is to play with. Once they're off, it's obviously a lot easier.
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pptom
Part of things
Posts: 469
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Oct 18, 2021 12:10:53 GMT
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Thanks all. The mx5 is fairly conventional in that I can get the struts off and do the springs on the bench, so can use the threaded ones for this. My Audi is a pain in the Arris though. Need to change the rear springs. They need compressing before removal and there is limited space partly due to it being 4wd. There is only access from one side of the spring. Obviously there is a special Audi tool, which is probably worth the same as the car. I was thinking that the cup type might do the job?
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Oct 18, 2021 12:47:08 GMT
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Sometimes if you open the other end of the control arm you can drop it down and the spring falls out. Wonder if that's the case with this Audi?
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pptom
Part of things
Posts: 469
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Oct 18, 2021 13:26:33 GMT
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Scanning through a few US Audi forums it seems that the only 2 options are spring compressors which fit in the tight space or partially remove the subframe + loads of other guff. The subframe is on stretch bolts which technically need replacing and disturbing it affects it's alignment.
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Oct 18, 2021 14:09:06 GMT
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Can't quite see from the photo, is it possible to fit the compressor inside the spring and tighten from underneath/through the lower arm? With the weight on the suspension you might not need to wind them down so much
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Oct 18, 2021 14:12:42 GMT
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I can't see what the wheel-end of the suspension is like, but maybe you could disconnect the rear hub from the lower arm which might give you enough space to get the spring out?
Once the lower arm is free to push down as far as it will go, the spring might come out on it's own or you might be able to compress it with the Draper 1471-type compressor.
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Oct 18, 2021 16:25:20 GMT
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I've used big jubilee clips to keep a spring compressed in the past, compress it off the car, cut the old spring to get it out then put the compressed spring in and cut the clips off.
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