I have done a search on the forum, and found a forked spring compressor. #1--Is this the easiest tool to use, or is there some other method that is easier? The damned shock towers are a bi...hassle, to work around. I tried the long screw with the flippy hooks at each end, but couldn't get the second set of hooks in the spring. Now I have "McPherson Strut compressor" that is 2 sets of a bolt with a hook on each end, one mounted to each side of the spring. Turning one flat at a time due to space is really bumming me out. Still haven't got even one spring off, and then, I will probably have problems getting the new ones one due to placement of the compressors getting in the way and bumping the shock towers. Also, as the two hooks come together, the bolt sticking out the bottom gets longer, and is almost hitting the lower arm. And, I still have a ways to go before the spring will be compressed enough to remove it. #2--Should I drop the car and put the compressors on loosely, then jack up the car and be halfway there already when the weight is off the wheel? Or maybe put stands under the frame and jack up the spindle? #3--the triangular cover/guard that goes around the springs and bolts to the engine bay with 6 bolts...Can I leave that off permanently, or does it somehow add structural strength to our flimsy maverick frames?
you need to use a differant compressor the one where it goes down the center where the shock goes. that one will work.
I bought one of these for my tool box ... have used it several times it works perfect ... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...tem=4557662486&category=34200&sspagename=WDVW
It basically works identically to the original Ford type spring compressor tool. The only drawback I see is that if you only want to use it to swap out coil springs you must first remove the upper A-arm to get the coil spring out ... If you use it to hold the coil spring up and out of the way while swapping front suspension parts it works perfectly ... that is what I used it for ...
A word about internal spring compressors. For our application The one like KD makes need to be reversed to work properly. The screw end needs to go on top and the free spinning end needs to be on the bottom. Once you reverse them you need to put another nut on the bottom and either weld or pin it so it cant back out. Next you can shave about 1/8" off and round the outer edges on the upper hooks . It will drop in and come out much easier if you do this. Lastly, before you drop it in or are trying to remove it, slide the lower hooks up until the hooks are past the lower nut and compress them against the screw and hold them in place with a zip tie. THese thing will make use of these compressors much easier. Oh, one more thing, dont use impact wrenches. The extreme pressure and hammering effect will rip the threads out at the worst time. Voice of experenced here.
Mavaholic, That is the "EASY" way??? I was afraid it wasn't going to be simple. Seems like many Maverick Jobs, especially those involving the shock towers (spark plugs, headers, valve covers included) become major hassles. Can't wait to drop in that coilover rack and pinion system and lose the towers! I guess I will buy my own compressor so I can make the mods you are talking about. I don't think AutoZone would appreciate my modifying their loaner tools.
If you don't plan on needing it more then once, just do like he says in his ebay discription. put one compressor in then take the end off the second and drop the shaft down and thread it on inside the spring. once I figured that out my advance loaner tool took only a few minutes to to get positioned. Be careful I left the top compressor hook on top of the shock tower and put a block between them to keep them from moving. I have seen nasty things happen when compressors slip. This is a project my son and I are working on and I made him go somewhere else while I was doing this job. As others have already said SAFETY is super important here. Be very very careful.
I am sorry, I just don't get the verbal description, Ingroller. Please clarify, as I am in hte middle of this job right now. First, you are talking about the compressor with the screw and the two flippy hooks on each end, one that is threaded and the other is free floating? Correct? If I understand you correctly, you are putting the threaded flippy hook down the top of the spring first, then putting in the top flippy hook inside the top of the spring, then applying the spring from the top? Is there an issue with the screw being too long, and pressing at the bottom landing/spring perch? Also, where are you hooking the springs, as low and as high as you can, or can you come in 2-3 springs either top or bottom, or both? Also, was the top hook left on top of the shock tower for a reason? IF so, how do you remove the spring afterwards? Do you just angle the spring out then let pressure off the compressor? Is this also how the e-bay item works? I was unsure if you can move the bottom out while it is compressed. Thanks in advance, for all the help.
Sounds like you have the tool I had. 2 threaded rods with metal clips that fit slightly around coil sping. remove the shock, put one down the shock tower leave the top clip/hook on top of shock tower, take the bottom hook off the second one and put the rod down, now thread the clip back on and insert in spring, you should now have both nuts on the rods sitting on top of the shock tower. put something strong between them to keep them from moving together and slipping. basically you are wedging them to the sides of the shock tower. now your heads are on top of shock tower and it makes it much quicker to compress. Now this works for compressing to cut off a coil or do other work but obviously won't work to remove the coil completely
Snap-On makes one like this: I had a friend help me with the rod and hooks tool, we pulled it up from the bottom turning the nut on top of the shock tower. I secured one side of the coil spring with a medium sized chain and bolt to the frame just in case it turned and wanted to 'Jet' out of there while we compressed it to get the upper control arms out. Seth
That makes 5 different types of compressors I have seen in the past 2 days. I guess nobody has made a really easy one that works around our shock towers.
