Anybody have a picture of a Spring comressor?

[blukangoo]

I´m getting ready to take my front suspension apart and need a spring compressor. I read in another topic about just lifting the lower arm with a floorjack.
I personally don´t like the idea doing it that way.
At an auction place on the net I found one but I´m not sure if it will work.
Does anybody have a picture of a compressor that will work?
Thanks!

[Longhorn Man]

You don't need a compressor at all.
Spring compressors are needed for the Mc Pherson strut, which has been up front of 95% of the cars built since the early 80's... with all the injurys from njot using the tool on those, everryone gets scared and says you need a compressor for everything from suspention to hood springs. (I heard some one comment on "all the storred energy on a hood spring. )
I do this day in and doy out at work, I had the complete front suspention apart on a 99 C/3500 today... no spring tool in sight.
IN all reality, even without the jack, the spring will have more energy from bouncing off the floor than from the A arms compressing it.

[Fred T]

Longhorn man is right. BUt if you want to be on the safe side, run a chain thru the spring before you undo it.

[whatnow123]

I agree with the above post... just hit it with a hammer and run like hell! Kidding. It's not a big deal, but to be safe run a rope through the center of the A arms to contain the spring and you will be just fine. If your truck is lowered, the spring will just fall right out when the ball joint lets go. It's the same for putting it back together.

[blukangoo]

I guess I forgot to add this: Does it make any difference if the truck is together or not?
I have the front of the truck stripped right now. The only thing that is on the frame in the front is the suspension and steering column.
I´d hate to die getting hit by a spring from my own truck.
Before I start I will write a note that sais: "My Son gets the truck and tools, all the other stuff my wife can keep."

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

I hate to be the voice of dissention here (not really, I am always the voice of dissention) I'd much rather you use a spring compressor. It is not one like longhorn is talking about though. It goes through the hole in the lower control arm below the spring, then a threaded rod is screwed into it, a base put below the lower control arm, and the spring is compressed against the lower control arm. Simple and safe. I used mine on two different trucks this weekend, works sliker'n hog snot.

THis is a rough (very rough) scetch of the one I have (I'm not close to my shop)

[Tx Firefighter]

With your truck stripped down like it is, you will need a compressor. There won't be enough weight on the front of the frame. Fully assembled though, compressor not needed.

[blukangoo]

@Bus Ted Knuckle:
Thanks for the picture! Almost what I thought of too. Your a Paint professional!

@Tx Firefighter: That´s exactly what I was thinking.

@Longhorn Man: I think if I had done it before I wouldn´t be scared. Because this is the first time I am doing this I want to do it right and not get killed doing it.

@whatnow123: I have 14 different hammers, which one should I use?

[Longhorn Man]

The lack of an engine would make it tough to put together without the tool. Tx is right on that.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

here is a pic of the real thing, I had to go to the shop to get a couple of ebay things to ship and snapped these while I was there.

[RACINJASON22]

Bus Ted Knuckle it's not gonna rust is it? Added note ya never know when a PO might have jammed in a longer than should have been used coil. It's a good idea to use some sort of safty precation.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

har... har... Jason, it's not rust...it's PATINA, besides it's only 40 years old. It is a MAC after all.

[RACINJASON22]

I was just kiddin with ya...but now that ya mention it ya might want to keep it lubed up if it's 40 years old. I'm only 29 and wake up stiff as h*** every day. I guess I should have complemented you on you paint design and then you wouldn't have thought I was putting in a dig. I am being serious. I have two year degree in autocad and I had classmates that could not get an autocad program drawing to look that good in short order.

[blukangoo]

@Bus Ted Knuckle: Great pictures, thanks for taking them for me. They don´t look too much different than your painting.

@All the others: Thanks for all of your information.

I think I will go ahead and get the one I found at ebay.

Here is what the Compressor looks like that I will get and what my truck looks like right now.

[TRUCKER-TRUCKIN']

Is it difficult t find chevy parts in Germany? I would think so, looks like your on your way though good luck to ya

[blukangoo]

@TRUCKER-TRUCKIN':
Engine and drivetrain parts I can get over here.
Parts like light lenses und body mounting kits I have to order from the states.
The wood for the bed I almost get for free, I work in a big carpenter shop. I will just have to catch the boss on a good day.

As soon as I get the compressor I will come back and let ya all know how it went. If I don´t answer in the next couple of months I guess you will all know it didn´t work right.

[special-K]

I borrowed this picture of a member`s spring compressor:

[blukangoo]

Too bad I´m taking the front ones out but I will remember the tip when I get to the back ones.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Wish I would have seen this post earlier. You can rent them from your local advance or autozone. You have to put down a $50 deposit, but you get it all back when you return it. This is what I did for my truck.

[blukangoo]

I think if I was in the USA I would probably do that but the shops over here either don´t know what the heck your talking about or they don´t lend thier tools out.
Thanks for the tip anyways.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Oops, my bad, didn't even notice that!

[blukangoo]

Well, I went to the shop today to find something to work on til my spring compressor shows up. I cleaned my exhaust manifolds and started on my flywheel. I stopped real quick with the cleaning when I noticed it was cracked. Sh*t!

I was so mad that I went and grabbed the floorjack and did what some of the people here said. I didn´t think it would work but it did.
Sorry I didn´t accept the tips right away but I just have big respect for things under pressure.

Put the jack under the truck, loosen the U-Bolts and let the jack back down. The spring falls out. Damn that was easy.
I think it´s not going to be so easy putting them back in but I guess I will see when I get there.

Thanks for all the tips everybody and thanks the most to Bus Ted Knuckle for the painting and pictures!