What spring compressor
- Thread starter Redmex
- Start date
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.
I paid someone else to do mine.
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.
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.
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.
I used one of the following when doing my springs/dampers at the front:
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!
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!
Shropshire, UK
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.
Looking at refreshing the Z4's struts soon and I'm budgeting in getting a floor standing hydraulic compressor as part of the job.
pilch said: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).
pvr said:pilch said: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
Rldee007 said:
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.
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.
caius said:
caius said:
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.
Is the broken end of the spring rubbing against metalwork or sticking into the tyre? If neither of these and the car's not going to grind itself stupid on speed humps, nasty bits of road etc, then it'll be ok.
Rldee007 said:
Lurking on eBay resulted in success, picked a Sealey RE231 for £82 secondhand and an 80 mile roundtrip to collect it. Resulted in a nice afternoon working from coffee shop in Coventry to avoid traffic before collection.
Now waiting on new springs to be delivered, thought mine were okay but the passenger one is either broken or the wrong type so I'm just going to replace them. Everything else is sat in a box waiting!
I managed to do mine (m sport springs) after first doing it on my e36 which was easier but don’t recommend it.Rldee007 said:
I’ve seen evolve Motorsport videos on YouTube where they undo the top nut on the car and it all comes apart nice and safety when they remove the shock and the same for reassembly.
