Is it nescessary to compress an aftermarket spring during install? I have a Helmes manual and they say to compress the spring when you disaseemeble the assembly from the shock/strut, but it says nothing about compressing the spring during install. My question is why would i need to compress during disassembly, but not during assembly?

 

You need to do it both times.

 

you can do it without a compressor, just get some large zip ties and tie it tight and have someone stand on the spring while you take it apart and it will just pop off instead of flying across the street. thats the quick ghetto way. install you must have one if your installing the stock spring but for lowering springs its usually short enough that you can get away using another guy to push it down as you tighten

 

Last I remembered, people in the ghetto even used spring compressors.

I don't recommend doing a suspension job without the proper tools and instructions. Doing this the wrong way will insure serious injury or death.

Do it the right way.

 

You can rent spring compressors from Autozone, so why spend money on Zipties? You get your money back when you return the tool you rent.

 

I heard the spring compressors that you can rent are hard you use. The one i saw in the manual looks pretty easy, but how many different models are they? I know it's only about 12 bucks to buy one from harbor frieght but i dont wanna wait 5 days for it to ship.

 

Doesnt help when every one you rent is broken and the employees are clueless when you tell them it doesnt work.

 

Never had a problem with them...

 

the compressors they rent out here are the ones with the large threaded rods with the nuts and its so worn and dinged up that the nuts bind up on the threaded rods. Everyone I rent are all beat up like that. The employees on the other hand, didnt even know what the spring compressor was when I asked for it and had to point to one and even then, the package that says "macpherson strut tool" seems to throw them completely off

 

I had eibach/AGX and with that combo you dont need a compressor to put those on. Only to take apart the stock setup DEFINITELY get a spring compressor for that. The stock springs are LOADED and if you just undo the nut on top, you are HIGHLY likely of injuring yourself. dont screw around with that kinda stuff, some things you just shouldnt go cheap on. this is one.

 

the autozone where i live always seems to rent almost new tools out...like everyone else said you should do it right

 

i wanna see (from a safe distance) someone zip tie time mother-******* cuz im gonna laugh when they get knocked the *** out buy the strut mount bolt