coil spring compressors?

[gmartin1215]

I will be removing my rear coil springs soon. Dropping the axel with the shocks and sway bar disconnected does not drop far enough to remove the springs because I have spacers. I see a lot of different coil spring compressors on the market. Given that a compressed spring is a loaded cannon, and a cheap-made tool is inviting danger, what type/brand spring compressor would you recommend?

 

[PatDTN]

I just did the coil springs on my '09 Tahoe. I rented the pair of compressors from O'Reilly for free and they worked great. You do have to alternate turning one side then the other and make sure they're as close to 180° apart as possible to make it safe.

When I was doing the job my garage air compressor was down so I got a good workout hefting my Kobalt 1/2" drive battery impact. Turning by hand will really kill you. Put plenty of oil on the threads of the compressors to make sure they don't gall and seize.

 

[Foggy]

Remove the shock bolts one at a time... With out the shocks the axle will drop right down
and you can remove and replace the springs with your hands.. No compressor required

 

[PatDTN]

Remove the shock bolts one at a time... With out the shocks the axle will drop right down
and you can remove and replace the springs with your hands.. No compressor required

As an additional point this wasn't true for me. I removed the shocks, disconnected the sway bar, and still had to compress the springs.

 

[swathdiver]

Remove the shock bolts one at a time... With out the shocks the axle will drop right down
and you can remove and replace the springs with your hands.. No compressor required

He's got spacers in there Foggy, he needs a little more clearance. I almost snapped my ABS wires dropping mine down for clearance!

 

[homesick]

LOL I saw a picture where a guy used 6 pair of ViceGrips. I still have nightmares over that picture.

joe

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@gmartin1215 I picked up a set of spring compressors from harbor freight, I ended up using an angle grinder to shorten them because the posts were long and getting in the way, cutting it a bit short makes things easier.

My advise is to unbolt everything, put the jack under the pumpkin and while the tahoe weight is on the rear axle go attach your spring compressor hand tight and then rest the frame on jack stands while you lower the rear axle, the spring will stay compressed and will fall right out, let the jack squeeze the spring by jacking the pumpkin and just slap the spring compressors on it. Super easy

 

[TollKeeper]

LOL I saw a picture where a guy used 6 pair of ViceGrips. I still have nightmares over that picture.

joe

This is worse..

 

[TollKeeper]

So back on topic..

What I usually do, is after i have the truck frame supported by a jack stand, remove the tires from both sides, remove the lower bolt of the shock, and one of the stabilizer links on each side disconnected, all while the center pumpkin is supported by a jack.

EDIT: DONT FORGET THE ABS CONNECTORS! (thanks @swathdiver )

Then I will have my wife, or handy person, stand on the axle end, and start lowering the jack. This will lower it down another couple inches.

 

[swathdiver]

So back on topic..

What I usually do, is after i have the truck frame supported by a jack stand, remove the tires from both sides, remove the lower bolt of the shock, and one of the stabilizer links on each side disconnected, all while the center pumpkin is supported by a jack.

Then I will have my wife, or handy person, stand on the axle end, and start lowering the jack. This will lower it down another couple inches.

Don't forget the ABS connectors! Almost broke mine dropping the diff down with the floor jack and the old ones were sagging bad!