toytec 3" spring compressing ?

S

soupkitchen

New member
what did you guys use to compress the toytec/ eibach 3" lift springs?

I am trying to get the top hats on 5100's (tundra) on 2nd perch. Just broke harbor freight compressors before i got them shrunk down. Is there a better/ safer way to compress these for install?

thanks in advance!

scott
 
Register to hide this ad
I just rent the one from Oreilleys. Done it that way several times. Don't use air/power tools tightening them. grease the threads. go slow. Also don't try to compress from the furthest ends of the spring either.

EDIT: I originally was going to pay a shop to assemble them out of the fear mongering that goes on using a compressor but was quoted $80 bucks so I decided to try it. its EASY.
 
AZBub said:
I just rent the one from Oreilleys. Done it that way several times. Don't use air/power tools tightening them. grease the threads. go slow. Also don't try to compress from the furthest ends of the spring either.

EDIT: I originally was going to pay a shop to assemble them out of the fear mongering that goes on using a compressor but was quoted $80 bucks so I decided to try it. its EASY.
Click to expand...

ok cool. Yeah I was taking my time, the cheapo pot metal hook broke on one side...I've done springs a lot of times but never any that are this beefy.

thanks Azbub!
 
+1 for Oreilly's Spring compressor rental (its free) and they work.
Keep an eye on the bolts as they will start to bow slightly don't be worried they will be fine but just make sure to tighten them evenly on each side so the spring does not get lop sided.
Also make sure you compress the springs enough to have the threads on the shock shafts exposed without pressing the rubber bushing down with the nut. I hope that makes sense basically MAKE SURE NOT TO CROSS THREAD THE NUT! It is easy to do the shaft is made of very soft metal, I learned the hard way. As long as you compress the springs enough it wont be a problem.
 
Good tips ^^^
Also, Inspect the tool before you rent it. Some numbskulls destroy these things by hammering on them or wrenching them down waaaaay to much. You can tell by looking at the threads. If it looks beat to hell go to another oreilleys.
 
Cordless impact and autozone tool. When it starts getting tough for the impact (120 lb rating) I use my long 3/8 ratchet the last 1/2 inch or so of compression. Throw the top, gromet, washer, nut on and impact it down until a few threads minimal are showing through the nut.

Release the compressor. As stated, don't use the top most coils, I use the 2nd from the top and 2nd from the bottom. Gives you most usable compression without having the hook squeezed between the coils once it's assembled.
 
A couple more tips that come to mind are:
-Remove retainer pins from hooks/jaws
-After you compress the spring to remove the jaws thread them down the spring and they will come out of the bottom
-To compress the spring put it laying down against a step or curb and it will hold itself in place be wedging itself into the 90 degree angle
 
awesome! Thanks a bunch guys. I really want to buy a quality set to have in the garage. If the O'reillys one is as tough as you guys say it is I will be ordering one when I'm done.

Will try to get one rented tomorrow and assemble the strut. Just got some Fn wheels in Friday and really want to get it all put together this week! Going to do lower ball joints and got those blue ebay uppers too. Will prob start a thread after I get everything done and aligned,

**just a note to anyone else using them, be careful with the finger style compressors from harbor freight....scared the hell out of me when one of the fingers popped/ snapped in half!!
 
Last edited:
soupkitchen said:
awesome! Thanks a bunch guys. I really want to buy a quality set to have in the garage. If the O'reillys one is as tough as you guys say it is I will be ordering one when I'm done.

Will try to get one rented tomorrow and assemble the strut. Just got some Fn wheels in Friday and really want to get it all put together this week! Going to do lower ball joints and got those blue ebay uppers too. Will prob start a thread after I get everything done and aligned,

**just a note to anyone else using them, be careful with the finger style compressors from harbor freight....scared the hell out of me when one of the fingers popped/ snapped in half!!
Click to expand...

Another option... On a Tacoma, but the theory is the same.

 
A.Wilson013 said:
Another option...

Click to expand...

I saw that and was really thinking about it! seems like it would take some fear out of breaking another set of compressors. I'm going to have everything apart up there and may give it a try first before compressing again. Going to rent a set of compressors as back up too.

I have a spacer kit up frt now and it was a pita installing the bottom shock bolt, this may be an easier option over using the bottle jack up top too. Thanks!!!
 
Do it the way A.Wilson013 posted. I have done it this way on both my tacoma and the 4runner. Faster and safer than anything but a wall mount compressor.
 
Once you remove the 4 bolts for the ball joint and loosen the lca bolts, the lower control arm drops down a good bit allowing you to get the longer spring on
 
A.Wilson013 said:
Another option... On a Tacoma, but the theory is the same.
Click to expand...

Honestly having used spring compressors multiple times on Tacomas and 4Runners, while intimidating at first its rather easy and straight forward.
I would not attempt the method shown in the video in my opinion the added complexity of removing the LBJ and loosening the LCA is an unnecessary burden and waste of time.
The last time I installed these 3" toytec Eibachs and some 5100's was a few weeks ago on a friends Tacoma in San Francisco. I did it on the side walk outside of his house with limited tools, the truck was up on some 6x6's, it was getting dark and cold etc... (less then ideal conditions) And the whole job took something like 1.5 hours it was breeze! Don't make it more complicated then it has to be. The spring compressors work just fine.
 
toytec 3" spring compressing ?

use the spring compressor you won't have to get an alignment afterwards.

scratch that you're going to have to get an alignment anyways but honestly it takes two seconds to take a strut out
 
Yoter said:
Honestly having used spring compressors multiple times on Tacomas and 4Runners, while intimidating at first its rather easy and straight forward.
I would not attempt the method shown in the video in my opinion the added complexity of removing the LBJ and loosening the LCA is an unnecessary burden and waste of time.
The last time I installed these 3" toytec Eibachs and some 5100's was a few weeks ago on a friends Tacoma in San Francisco. I did it on the side walk outside of his house with limited tools, the truck was up on some 6x6's, it was getting dark and cold etc... (less then ideal conditions) And the whole job took something like 1.5 hours it was breeze! Don't make it more complicated then it has to be. The spring compressors work just fine.
Click to expand...

cool man, not trying to make it complicated at all. I am doing lower ball joints as well and upper control arms so they were coming off regardless. I just was curious about a safer method or brand of compressors. I think I'm good to go now, thanks everyone!! :high5:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 383 (members: 3, guests: 380)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,306
Messages
3,554,045
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top