Coil Spring Compressor

Hi, I would like to replace my front struts on my '93 LX and the manual
says I need to use a special coil spring compressor. I've found the part
they reccommend but it's $300. Its different from the standard coil
spring compressors as this one has a pair of flat circular plates that
do the compressing as opposed to the $39 hook type. Has anyone done one
of these jobs w/o using a $300 part and how did it go?.

thx

You don't need a spring compressor to replace the front struts. Read this:

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/10678/




"remove" > wrote in message news
> Hi, I would like to replace my front struts on my '93 LX and the manual says I need to use a special coil spring compressor.
> I've found the part they reccommend but it's $300. Its different from the standard coil spring compressors as this one has a
> pair of flat circular plates that do the compressing as opposed to the $39 hook type. Has anyone done one of these jobs w/o
> using a $300 part and how did it go?.
>
> thx

>From "nigelmann"

>Hi, I would like to replace my front struts >on my '93 LX
>the manual says I need to use a special >coil spring compressor

No spring compressor is needed if changing struts, what you will do is jack the
front of the vehicle up and place jack stands to support the front. Take the
floor jack and place under the control arm to support it and undo strut bolts
and remove.
You will need to remove caliper and rotor to gain access to lower strut bolts.
About the hardest thing to do on this is removing the nut on the top of the
strut shaft. If you are replacing old struts you can usually take a hack saw or
die grinder and cut the side of the nut for easier removal.



TIM -aka-
MUSTTANGUY "at" AOL "dot" COM
http://www.PonyPerformance.com

> No spring compressor is needed if changing struts, what you will do is
jack the
> front of the vehicle up and place jack stands to support the front. Take
the
> floor jack and place under the control arm to support it and undo strut
bolts
> and remove.
> You will need to remove caliper and rotor to gain access to lower strut
bolts.
> About the hardest thing to do on this is removing the nut on the top of
the
> strut shaft. If you are replacing old struts you can usually take a hack
saw or
> die grinder and cut the side of the nut for easier removal.

Impact wrench works wonders too.

MadDAWG

In article >, MadDAWG wrote:

> Impact wrench works wonders too.

Just changed the struts on my dad's 99. Took the strut out by removing
the two nuts and bolt on the plate. put the strut shaft in a large vice
and then used an impact wrench to remove the top nut.

rent the part from NAPA Autozone or Pepboys.

Use the right tool for the right job and avoid the pain and hassle that comes
from trying to cut corners.

Some good advice all 'round..... Just the usual warning that a compressed
coil spring such as one of these harbours a great deal of energy waiting to
escape. One mistake could make it hard to count past nine (ideed can make
counting difficult - period).

Work carefully and be sure that the car is well supported on appropriate
supports.

Good luck.

"remove" > wrote in message
news
> Hi, I would like to replace my front struts on my '93 LX and the manual
> says I need to use a special coil spring compressor. I've found the part
> they reccommend but it's $300. Its different from the standard coil
> spring compressors as this one has a pair of flat circular plates that
> do the compressing as opposed to the $39 hook type. Has anyone done one
> of these jobs w/o using a $300 part and how did it go?.
>
> thx

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 08:58:19 -0500, remove
> wrote:

>Hi, I would like to replace my front struts on my '93 LX and the manual
>says I need to use a special coil spring compressor. I've found the part
>they reccommend but it's $300. Its different from the standard coil
>spring compressors as this one has a pair of flat circular plates that
>do the compressing as opposed to the $39 hook type. Has anyone done one
>of these jobs w/o using a $300 part and how did it go?.
>
>thx

Like others said; If you only change the strut and not the spring then
you do not need a spring compressor.
BEsides, autostores around here loan them out for free.

Remove NO-SPAM from email address when replying