What spring compressor

[Redmex]

I've a broken front spring on my 3.0i , bought new springs just need to buy a pair of compressors. What' ones work good and are not too expensive?
Car is currently sorn and lying a bit low

[niokasu]

Not too expensive, how much is it?

[Rockhopper]

Floor mounted ones are safest, the finger type will work okay, the hook type can be bodged to work all depending on the level of risk you are prepared to accept!
I paid someone else to do mine.

[Rldee007]

I have been recommended to use floor mounted one with the "C" cups as above stated it is safe. Looking at Youtube I have never seen anyone use the hooks successfully (they said they did but it was never recorded), only with the floor mounted system on Z4's and E46's. They are £150 plus each so unless you plan to do it often might be easier to get a garage to do it and give them the parts to assemble.

[smorris_12]

There is no way in Christendom you'd do a Z spring with the hook style compressors. The springs are so short that, by the time you get them on, the compressors would have almost run out of travel.

Before building a proper strut compressor I and a friend just about managed to do a 330d strut with 2 sets (yes, 4 compressors) and that was hell.

Using my home brew compressor, which works really well on 3er struts, I did struggle a bit getting it lined up for the Zed but did succeed with a little more faffing than usual. I then related this story to a mechanic friend of mine and it seems like I'm ahead on points as, when his garage did a Zed using all the proper garage kit, they struggled way more than I did.

[TheDan]

I used one of the following when doing my springs/dampers at the front:

VS7011-V3_1.jpg (36.16 KiB) Viewed 487 times

It comes with 2 different C cup sizes and I believe I used 2 different sizes and put the larger one at the bottom underneath the spring perch and the top one on the topmost spring coil that you can get it on. Compress the spring using the hydraulic pump and undo the topmount nut, then release the pressure.

To be honest, it was still a bit of a hassle and a smidge dodgy at times, but I am adamant all spring compressors are trying to kill us!

[pilch]

I have a floor mounted one with C-cups, if you're local feel free to use it.

I would personally steer clear of the little manual things, had one let go once and I got winded by a flying spring

[caius]

I just about managed a 1 series M-Sport spring with the hook style manual ones, and swore I'd never use them again on modern springs. They did slip, luckily without much tension on the compressors so they didn't move that much. From memory I ended up with two different types, and three total on the spring.

Looking at refreshing the Z4's struts soon and I'm budgeting in getting a floor standing hydraulic compressor as part of the job.

[plenty]

Not only are the hook-type compressors fairly useless and potentially dangerous, but they are guaranteed to scratch your springs. Which can be annoying when fitting shiny new ones.

[Rldee007]

I just about managed a 1 series M-Sport spring with the hook style manual ones, and swore I'd never use them again on modern springs. They did slip, luckily without much tension on the compressors so they didn't move that much. From memory I ended up with two different types, and three total on the spring.

Looking at refreshing the Z4's struts soon and I'm budgeting in getting a floor standing hydraulic compressor as part of the job.

How much you allowing to get a good compressor?

I don't suppose know if you can rate them? I tried goggling a hire service but no luck.

[pvr]

I have a floor mounted one with C-cups, if you're local feel free to use it.

I would personally steer clear of the little manual things, had one let go once and I got winded by a flying spring

Where abouts in East Sussex are you? I am in West Sussex and will need to change the shocks before the MOT in October (misting on the advisory on one).

[pilch]

I have a floor mounted one with C-cups, if you're local feel free to use it.

I would personally steer clear of the little manual things, had one let go once and I got winded by a flying spring

Where abouts in East Sussex are you? I am in West Sussex and will need to change the shocks before the MOT in October (misting on the advisory on one).

I'll PM you

[caius]

How much you allowing to get a good compressor?

I don't suppose know if you can rate them? I tried goggling a hire service but no luck.

I've been trying to find one for hire as well but no dice (at least from anyone that will respond to my enquiries.)

Budget is as cheap as possible, I may well just chuck some cash at a local garage to do it. There's either cheap ones for £110-£130 new, or secondhand Clarkes ones on ebay/gumtree for £125-£140 collected. I was hoping for more like £50 secondhand, truth be told.

[Rockhopper]

I got a mobile chap to do mine on my driveway. I supplied the parts and I think he charged £90 to do both fronts struts. Order new bottom pinch bolts and soak the old ones in plus gas for a few days beforehand.

[Rldee007]

Shropshire,

How much you allowing to get a good compressor?

I don't suppose know if you can rate them? I tried goggling a hire service but no luck.

I've been trying to find one for hire as well but no dice (at least from anyone that will respond to my enquiries.)

Budget is as cheap as possible, I may well just chuck some cash at a local garage to do it. There's either cheap ones for £110-£130 new, or secondhand Clarkes ones on ebay/gumtree for £125-£140 collected. I was hoping for more like £50 secondhand, truth be told.

At those prices unless you think you'll use it a lot it might not be worth. I have taken the front shock/assembly off and want a a local garage to reassemble it with new parts. I imagine they'll charge £30 to £50 ( a guess) based upon Rockhopper's price.