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I figured that, for that price, it was worth it just for the adjustable shocks, and if the springs turned out to lower the car, it was gravy. So I bought them, and when they arrived, I had 14 days to build a spring compressor and disassemble and test all four shocks. Those springs are beefy enough that they support the weight of the car without bottoming out. And you need to compress the spring even further in order to remove the nut or retainer. For these reasons, you’ll often read that compressing springs is an inherently dangerous activity best left to professionals. Once the spring is seated, you’ll want to compress the spring using a vise or clamp.
Also, check that the tips of the spring are still lined up with the top and bottom perches as you are jacking up the shock assembly. As you do this, you can go back to the wheel well and make sure that you guide the top shock mount bolt through the top opening. If you don’t guide it through this opening properly, you’ll basically be pressing the top shock mount bolt right into the strut mount . There’s always some level of risk when working on cars, but I feel this supplemental warning is warranted when dealing with springs.
The Safe Way to Compress a Strut or Coilover Spring
If you’re looking to compress a strut spring without a dedicated tool, there are a few ways you can do it. One is to use a pair of vise grips to clamp down on the spring, then use a socket and ratchet to compress the spring. Another way is to use a C-clamp to compress the spring. Strut springs are one of the most important parts of your car’s suspension, and they need to be in good working order to ensure a smooth ride. Unfortunately, over time they can become damaged or worn out, which can lead to a bumpy ride.
The tool requires very little effort to use, and the jaws securely grab onto the spring. The design also allows you to have something to hold onto while you're doing the job, which is very convenient. This compressor comes in a carrying case, which is a big plus. The Branick is expensive, however, and you should be aware that it may be more compressor than you need before you purchase it.
Diy spring compressor
Be sure to use a protective pad on the spring to avoid damaging it. Once the spring is compressed, you can remove the spring from the strut mount. If a coilover has a preload or if you are dealing with a strut that requires a spring compressor to remove the spring, this tool adds safety and speed. It's also handy for setting preloads on a drag car or changing spring rates during a track day without using a spanner.
The sway bar is connected to the steering knuckle via the end link. The cam adjusters need to be loosened in order for the LCA to rotate. The lower ball joint needs to be disconnected in order to separate the LCA from the wheel hub.
Lower the Opposite Side of the Car
How to Soften Car Suspension Install softer shocks and struts. As the primary component that affects your vehicle’s ride quality, shocks and struts have a very big impact. Adjust the shocks to a softer setting, if you have adjustable shocks. While you could take your car to a mechanic to have the springs replaced, this can be a costly repair. If you’re handy with tools, you can replace the springs yourself and save a lot of money. The process is actually pretty simple, and all you need is a few basic tools.
While each vehicle might have its own strut design, most struts are typically held by 3 bolts at the top and 2 at the bottom. You can access the top bolts by lifting the bonnet of the vehicle. This process provides you with the required clearance to loosen the bolts.
If you use a commercially-available spring compressor designed for your application, you’re on the safer edge of the envelope. Conversely, if you hastily jury-rig something using ratchet straps or, worse, hose clamps (don’t do either of these things!), you’re risking disaster. A plate (or "fork") style spring compressor is the correct way to replace your strut springs. Hook style compressors do not work on most BMW springs! This set is supplied with every thing you need to get the job done like a pro. Interchangeable jaws are easily changed to correct size for the application.
For the savvy home mechanic, removing the front strut assemblies from the vehicle is easy. The nerve-racking part of the repair is compressing the spring so it can be transferred over to the new strut. It is very important to choose the correct spring compression tool to accomplish this part of the repair. The other spring compressor tool is a hand tool that uses hooks to hold the spring, while requiring you to ratchet down the hooks to compress the spring.
The No Spring Compressor Method is a way of disassembling your shock assembly without the use of a spring compressor tool. In your coilover/shock assembly, you have a spring that is compressed by a shock between the upper and lower perches, which are connected to the shock. This assembly of shock and spring can be mounted to the frame of the vehicle and then to the lower control arm . The perches may look different from depending on the type of shock assembly you have, but they serve the same purpose with some models offering some level of adjustability. If your car has coil springs instead of struts, you can use a coil spring compressor to safely compress the spring. You can buy a coil spring compressor at most auto parts stores.
This will be the same position in which you lowered the LCA previously with the floor jack. Eventually, the spring will be fully decompressed and you no longer have the danger of spring under compression that can shoot out at any moment. You should be able to move the spring around and be able to feel that there is no compression on the spring. The center nut may need an additional wrench or allen wrench to keep the bolt from turning while you loosen the center nut. These steps are essential to getting your LCA to be able to rotate down and out of the way.
First, you will need to find a way to secure the strut in place. This can be done by placing a piece of wood or a block of concrete underneath the strut. As you can see, learning how to lower a car suspension is an easy process; even changing the entire suspension system is something just about anyone can do. The key to this procedure is to have all the necessary tools nearby. Depending on how lower the new shorter springs are, it might be necessary to compress the spring once more before you can reinstall the nut. Should this be the case, all you have to do is compress the spring until it enables you to install the nut.
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