I've never used a spring compressor before, and I was thinking about doing some suspension work. I know Autozone lets you borrow them for free, but I saw this set at Harbor Freight and I figured for $10 I may as well just buy them. I haven't bought them yet because I wanted to ask you guys if you thought these were any good. So, what's your opinion?

Here's the link:

http://www.harborfreight.com/macpher...-set-3980.html

And here's a pic:

 

They work but as they are separate they can slide together and not compess the spring equally on each side. I remember working at a shop in the '80s and we had a spring compressed with a set of those type compressors. My buddy set the compressed spring carefully on the floor after removing it from a strut. The tools slid together on one side and the spring 'BULGED' to one side and popped out of the tools. The spring then went on a wild bouncing trip through the shop and out the front door. There was a Ferrari parked on one side of the door and a Rolls Silver Shadow on the other. It was like a slow motion panic as we watched the spring bounce from one side to the other and we wondered which car was going to be damaged (or both). The spring finally slowed down and rolled between them into the street where a truck swerved around it before it stopped at the opposite curb.

Do not get your hand between them if you load a spring as they might slide together and that would hurt.

bob gauff

 

that sounds like an indirect, non-recommendation

 

I'm with Bob. I have had this type of compressor come off on me in the past. They do work, but when you have removed the spring carfully lock it away in a bunker somewhere, you don't want to be anywhere near it, if it flies off.

 

I have those and they work just fine. When rebuilding a non Jaguar front end this Spring I 'rented' the Advance AP bushing tool kit and their spring compressors. Their compressors were better than mine. Used all four. I have a lot of respect for springs.

 

I actually have a set of those cheap spring compressors and have used them a few times but I ALWAYS remember the time I saw them fail. I have the Jaguar factory tool (Churchhill) for the larger circumference springs so I use it almost all the time. A small diameter spring will require a tool similar to one described but I always use caution and procede slowly and watch the tools/springs for movement. I use them BUT I am careful.

bob gauff