Spring compressors for KING coilovers?

[Grug556]

Hey guys what brand did everybody use for spring compressors for KING coilover adjustment? I have a hydraulic ram set but after I almost took off my buddies head and launched a 1200 race spring through the side of the garage wall, I was looking for ....other options :couch2:

I was planning on putting the coilover in a vise with jaw pads, then compressing spring slightly to allow minor adjustment. So what did you all use and go with here?

 

[Mutant138]

Bump. Want to see alternative methods of spring compression.

 

[ayeyothisiskyle]

Go to a shop with a strut spring compressor or geta few buddies to invest in one.

Those DIY things that you can rent from autozone or anything from harbor freight are death machines.

 

[Grug556]

Go to a shop with a strut spring compressor or geta few buddies to invest in one.

Those DIY things that you can rent from autozone or anything from harbor freight are death machines.

whats the above thing cost? Where to buy?

 

[ayeyothisiskyle]

whats the above thing cost? Where to buy?

Just googled a quick canada link for amazon, its a pretty penny but here ya go.

https://www.amazon.ca/Branick-7600-...g+compressor&qid=1560874777&s=gateway&sr=8-63

Google-fu for "Strut Spring Compressor" for better local searches.

 

[nb rob]

I adjusted mine on the bench without a spring compressor.

I used a nail in to the bench with some tubing around it to place the lower mount,
And a rubber strap wrench around the top hat of the coilover. I applied opposite force to the strap wrench and the pin spanner. Make sure the set screw is loosened off exactly as the instruction describe or you can have it skip and gall the threads. I also used some penetrating oil on the shock body threads to help things move along. about 5 minutes each coilover.

When I rebuilt them, I took pressure off the coils a cluster-fk of ratchet straps, and loosened the collar a tiny amount so I could release the ratchet straps. It wasn't bad.

King uses very soft coil rates. adjustment is possible without the compressor.

I've since picked up a stand-alone shop coil compressor off of kijiji ($150!!). I haven't had the chance to use it yet.

 

[Grug556]

I adjusted mine on the bench without a spring compressor.

I used a nail in to the bench with some tubing around it to place the lower mount,
And a rubber strap wrench around the top hat of the coilover. I applied opposite force to the strap wrench and the pin spanner. Make sure the set screw is loosened off exactly as the instruction describe or you can have it skip and gall the threads. I also used some penetrating oil on the shock body threads to help things move along. about 5 minutes each coilover.

When I rebuilt them, I took pressure off the coils a cluster-fk of ratchet straps, and loosened the collar a tiny amount so I could release the ratchet straps. It wasn't bad.

King uses very soft coil rates. adjustment is possible without the compressor.

I've since picked up a stand-alone shop coil compressor off of kijiji ($150!!). I haven't had the chance to use it yet.

Got any pics of the spring compressor? :cheer2:

 

[Thundercloud1985]

I have heard good things about this spring compressor. It supposedly won't scratch your shocks.

Shankly Spring Compressor Tool (2 Pieces) - Heavy Duty Build, Ultra Rugged Coil Spring Compressor, Strong and Durable Spring Compressor

They are on Amazon for $49.95

 

[Ryan at Eibach]

We use this in the desert while tuning and it works great

Welcome to Jacktech !

 

[Grug556]

I have heard good things about this spring compressor. It supposedly won't scratch your shocks.

Shankly Spring Compressor Tool (2 Pieces) - Heavy Duty Build, Ultra Rugged Coil Spring Compressor, Strong and Durable Spring Compressor

They are on Amazon for $49.95

On the amazon page, I ordered the ones next to the Shankly. The black set. I dunno we will see..

:bolt:

 

[Kenstaroni]

Wall mount compressor is the safest. That being said I've adjusted my Kings on the truck without issue. Jack the truck up so the tire is off the ground, get a larger punch and re-profile it to fit into the collar holes snugly, then used a large open ended wrench as leverage to move the punch. It's not nearly as easy as with my Icon's but still very doable.

 

[Grug556]

Wall mount compressor is the safest. That being said I've adjusted my Kings on the truck without issue. Jack the truck up so the tire is off the ground, get a larger punch and re-profile it to fit into the collar holes snugly, then used a large open ended wrench as leverage to move the punch. It's not nearly as easy as with my Icon's but still very doable.

I thought if you adjusted them on truck there was a risk that you could loosen the shock cylinders top cap causing them to leak?

I really gotta get a picture of my old hydraulic compressor monstrosity... my buddy 20 years later still *****es about me almost killing him with it.. spring popped like a bullet, went 6 feet, through gypsum, then drywall then stuck in part of a wall stud. Ooops! Hell its not like I didnt give him a beer afterwards!!

 

[PaulB-2006 T4R]

Hey guys what brand did everybody use for spring compressors for KING coilover adjustment? I have a hydraulic ram set but after I almost took off my buddies head and launched a 1200 race spring through the side of the garage wall, I was looking for ....other options :couch2:

I was planning on putting the coilover in a vise with jaw pads, then compressing spring slightly to allow minor adjustment. So what did you all use and go with here?

Seriously glad no one got hurt, do you have a photo of the damage of the garage wall?

 

[Bayou_Pro]

I swapped my spring out on the truck using the weight of the truck without a spring compressor. Much safer in my opinion and took 15 minutes per side. Off the truck the wall mounted one is the best.

Here's the instructions I followed to do mine and it worked perfectly.

YouTube

 

[Grug556]

Seriously glad no one got hurt, do you have a photo of the damage of the garage wall?

No regrettably not, its in an old house I moved out of in 2012. My buddy though...scarred for life! :fish:

It wasnt subtle , it let go with no warning and flew like a missile!! Impressed with how deep it went. Missed buddies head by maybe 2 inches or so... to hear him tell it you would think I was trying to kill him..

Some people!!! :couch2:

 

[BigTony]

No regrettably not, its in an old house I moved out of in 2012. My buddy though...scarred for life! :fish:

It wasnt subtle , it let go with no warning and flew like a missile!! Impressed with how deep it went. Missed buddies head by maybe 2 inches or so... to hear him tell it you would think I was trying to kill him..

Some people!!! :couch2:

When I was a teenager my dad and I had this happen to us almost; luckily only one out of two of the clamps let go so the spring was held on one side and bowed out on the other. Freaked us out because it let loose w/o warning also, and if it had come fully loose we might not have survived it.

After that we rigged up a floor jack with a chain attached to a piece of heavy steel. We added a piece of wood to the jack plate, which the bottom mount of the shock sat in, and then the upper shaft of the shock ran through a hole in the metal plate, which was chained to the jack. Raising the jack would then press the top spring mount against the steel plate, which was chained to the bottom of the jack, so as the jack plate was raised it would shorten the distance from top of spring to bottom of shock, compressing the spring.

I'm sure words don't give a good mental image and it probably sounds sketchy. But the whole thing was super simple and I was always surprised how well it worked. Must have changed my springs a dozen times with that setup no drama whatsoever

 

[Kenstaroni]

I thought if you adjusted them on truck there was a risk that you could loosen the shock cylinders top cap causing them to leak?

I really gotta get a picture of my old hydraulic compressor monstrosity... my buddy 20 years later still *****es about me almost killing him with it.. spring popped like a bullet, went 6 feet, through gypsum, then drywall then stuck in part of a wall stud. Ooops! Hell its not like I didnt give him a beer afterwards!!

King does say that it can happen. Some people have had the shock body rotate with the collar when trying to adjust them...if that happens I'd take them off to adjust I guess. May just have to try first and see what happens. The shock body spinning shouldn't cause a leak though. The seals are down inside the covers.

 

[Grug556]

King does say that it can happen. Some people have had the shock body rotate with the collar when trying to adjust them...if that happens I'd take them off to adjust I guess. May just have to try first and see what happens. The shock body spinning shouldn't cause a leak though. The seals are down inside the covers.

Im gonna put them in as is and see how it goes. Ive got 1/8 inch more drop on the drivers front. Rears are both 37 off the ground, passenger front is 34.5, drivers 34.25.

Should be fun..i hopeopcorn:

 

[Mutant138]

I swapped my spring out on the truck using the weight of the truck without a spring compressor. Much safer in my opinion and took 15 minutes per side. Off the truck the wall mounted one is the best.

Here's the instructions I followed to do mine and it worked perfectly.

YouTube

Honestly that's bloody brilliant and I'm pretty mad about all the time I have wasted in the past with spring compressors.

 

[Bayou_Pro]

King does say that it can happen. Some people have had the shock body rotate with the collar when trying to adjust them...if that happens I'd take them off to adjust I guess. May just have to try first and see what happens. The shock body spinning shouldn't cause a leak though. The seals are down inside the covers.

It's not like the coilovers need to be completely removed and dissembled to adjust them. It's about getting most of the load off to make things easier and less stress on the threads of the shock body. Not sure if you saw the video I linked above but it's pretty simple.

Truck on Jack stands.
Floor jack under LCA and compress springs.
Remove the (2) lower Ball joint to LCA bolts, then remove upper shock nut.
Lower the LCA to relieve pressure on spring until almost loose.
Make adjustment
Reassemble. DONE!!