steven88

iTrader: (28)

okay earlier i tried putting on some stock springs on my 5.5 gen...and that **** is impossible to get on!!

i have an electric impact wrench...and i locked the compressors evenly on both sides...compressed it...i put the top hats on easily but when i started to loosen both compressors, one of them keeps getting stuck....i end up having to use a wrench but its torqued down SOOO hard that i can't even budge it!!

my car is on jackstands now......is there any tricks to putting these on!?! i swear if all else fails, i'm gonna bring my suspension to a shop...and have them assemble everything...i also tried lowering my spring compressor position, just so i can get clearance (cuz the top hat always gets in the WAY)...but its still no go there!

any information on this topic would be grealy appreciated! thanks

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

OEM springs are REALLY tall. I was able to get them on though.

steven88

iTrader: (28)

what was your trick? damn i'm gonna try ONE more time before i take it to the shop...my car is on jackstands, and i have an extra car to roll to school in...so i can wait for awhile...i'm hoping i can get some advice from the org...i mean, an electric impact wrench + universal joint + spring compressor is all i need right?

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

The compressor I own looks like a large V, where the opening of the V is where the spring goes - horizontally. Kind of like a clamshell. No trick, just made sure the coils that it was latched on to did not come in contact with the strut or the top hat.

edit:

google image

steven88

iTrader: (28)

AHH? wtf is that?? wow but i am impressed...that looks like it will definitely give mad clearance between compressing, and the top hats...how much is one of those? it comes with two right?

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

Nope, just that compresses the spring. If you notice there's 4 hooks. One big 24mm on an impact compresses it real quick (the nut is on the other end of the thin rod in the middle).

steven88

iTrader: (28)

ahh i get it...so the spring sits horizontally...and two hooks on each side?

did you rent yers at autozone? i hope they have it...btw, 24mm on the top nut? i have to buy that since i dont have that size...

no clearance problems with this tool?

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

Correct. I didn't rent it, I own one. The nut on mine is 24mm. No clearance problems, just make sure its not on the outermost or 2nd outermost coil because then, they will hit the strut or tophat when you decompress.

steven88

iTrader: (28)

thanks! i'll check around tomorrow...btw, do you have this harborfreight one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=43753

i hope i can return it...haha...i wonder if autozone has this tool for rent

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

Mine is REALLY old..buddy of mine gave it to me when he closed down shop. I think it's got a Lincoln Tech sticker on it

steven88

iTrader: (28)

just wanted to update this thread...i ended up getting the springs assembled at pepboys...$40...I know that is alot for such a small task...but I didn't care...I was ready to just call it quits cuz that stupid spring compressor was PI$$ING ME off like CRAZY!!!

I was going to do it myself with the special spring compressor djfrestyl showed me...but none of the harbor freights in my area stocked that part...So pretty much I was forced to go to a shop

Anyway, my advice to you guys, DONT EVER install a damn stock spring without that special spring compressor!!! My back hurts like a *****

VQ35vsall

Putting stock springs back on any car is a pain in the A@@

steven88

iTrader: (28)

Yes, very...Installing aftermarket springs are sooo much easier compared to these...omg!!

biglux1

I dont know why u had such a hard time but me and a friend didnt even have to compress the springs we just had to push on them and it took about 30 minutes for all 4

steven88

iTrader: (28)

wow...you are very dangerous and STRONG at the same time....I hope you are not talking about a maxima

kingrukus

iTrader: (41)

not impossible, but very tedious. i was in the process of swapping back my oem spring/struts, and it seemed like I had to compress the springs forever and a day to get them to fit back between the perch and top mount. note to self: use air tools on a spring compressor to speed up process.

steven88

iTrader: (28)

I did use an electric impact wrench...like the whole compressing part is cool...its when you put the compressed spring onto the shock...then put the top hat nut back on...and start to un-compress the spring...****'s impossible cuz the autozone spring compressor tightening bolt gets in the way

I tried like 3 different positions before I gave up...next day I called all the harbor freights in my area and none of them had that spring compressor in stock...so I just ended up taking it to a shop to have it done...my body was too sore

owais

iTrader: (20)

I ran into the same problem, so i used 3 auto zone spring compressors and it worked for me. Just takes a lot tightening and loosening of the spring compressor to get it just right.