Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

69SSConv · Active Member

Best Spring compressor for Front Springs?

Chris R · 2K+ Club

The style that clamps inside the spring are the ones that work best for me.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

this worked for me.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

L,

I have a spring compressor that looks very similar to the one Jim posted, I haven't used it in years. Dug it out last night to look at it after reading your post, and like wow it was made in the USA.

Your more than welcome to use it, I can bring it to our Sat meeting.

K

69SSConv · Active Member

Thanks for the posts, I looked at renting one from O'Reilly's but theirs has the hooks on the top and a rectangular type plate on the bottom that limited where you could install the plate if the control arms were in the way. I was able to find one yesterday, for less than $40 so I picked it up.

Thanks again.

Lost in the 60s · President

69SSConv wrote:

Thanks for the posts, I looked at renting one from O'Reilly's but theirs has the hooks on the top and a rectangular type plate on the bottom that limited where you could install the plate if the control arms were in the way. I was able to find one yesterday, for less than $40 so I picked it up.

Thanks again.

I rented the one from O'Reilly's to install the front springs in my GTO last year and it SUCKED with that plate. I had a he!! of a time getting the tool out afterward. I normally just use my floor jack and the weight of the vehicle but the GTO was a bare, rolling chassis. I just installed the front springs in my '66 Chevelle with the jack last week.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I couldn't get the spring in place before jacking it up with the floor jack. So I compressed the spring a little to get it in place, there are those little groves that it has to fit into. Then I jack it up with the floor jack and connected the upper ball joint

69SSConv · Active Member

I agree on the O'Reilly's version with the plate, I remember when I did the Chevelle springs without the engine in, I had to attempt several times because the plate would get stuck or not allow the lower control arm to come up far enough. I pays to have the right tools!

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Your right around the corner from Jamie. He has a slick way of doing this. Using a plate and a section of threaded rod to get the job done and you dont need the engine in the car to do so. But the tool I have is the same as the photo posted above.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I tied the threaded rod up though the shock hole with the plate on the bottom. Again it won't work unless you get the spring in. If the spring is to long (tall), you will have to compress it a little to get it to slide in place, then the threaded rod or the floor jack.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Where is Dave? They did this on Mikes car a few years back. I missed seeing it done that day, got there after that stuff was out of the car. Thats correct though, your going to need the spring compressed a lot of the time. Or just put lowered springs and not have the problem in the first place. biggrin

Dave Seitz · Mega Poster

I have the threaded rod and plates from doing Mikes car twice and even did Ricks car once. Worked fine and the only thing I would change is going to an ACME square thread but what I have anyone in the club can use and I still feel safe with it.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Jim,

Could you post a pix of your tool less the spring? Just the tool on a piece of paper.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

dashboard wrote:

Jim,

Could you post a pix of your tool less the spring? Just the tool on a piece of paper.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=coil+spring+compressor+tool&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11232750621882231937&ei=3AxaTeXdBYL_8AbbndmeDg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDoQ8wIwAQ#