Hi I have a set of Hotchkis springs that i'm trying to install right now. I have the pass. side assembly out and the problem i'm having is putting the shock/strut back on the car. I can't get the spring compressed enough to be able to put the bolts back through the mounting bracket. I tried to rent a spring compressor in town but Autozone didn't have any available so I tried to use some brackets that you tighten and that almost worked but can't get the spring compressed enough. Any advice out there for me?

Get one person to push the spring down and someone else put the bolt on.

make sure you give the person pushing some nice gloves. else, they may get cut.

or you can always use a racheting tie down. just hook it on the spring and start cranking.

You shouldn't have a problem having someone compress the spring by hand as you thread the bolt onto the strut. Just make sure the strut is fully extended.

or you could go rent/ loan a tool from auto zone or krage. it's like 43.00 and you get yer money back. a mcpherson strut compressor. or just use the two person method

Get one person to push the spring down and someone else put the bolt one.


Yeah have someone hold it down and you put the top mount with the bolt. If you were in the norcal area I would stop by, whats your location??

Ok guys i'm back... I got the pass. side strut in. I rented a mahpherson spring compressor and we got it to work ok. The drivers side strut fought us tooth and nail and we gave up as it's 2 a.m. and my friend and I are beat. Before I attempt to finish this tomorrow, I'm going to call around to see if any shops can compress the spring and band it so it will stay compressed until we cut the bands. Installing the Hotchkis springs on the front IS NOT an easy task. These struts do not just slide into the mounts like you think they would, it shouldn't take this much effort. The spring needs to be compressed much more than we could get it to have enough clearance to fit back into the mount.

We'll get it done but it'll have to wait til tomorrow. :cry:

Oh sorry, I live on the east coast. I wish someone who has done this before could help. :lol:

damn to get it in you just have to manhandle it well gently manuver it lol try moving the whole wheel /axle assembly out and to the right pull it kinda out /down/to the rear and it'll clear a lil easier.. then just jockey the strut assembly up and down until its into place install the upper first then do the lower. and wehen you do it have both front wheels off the ground so you can push it down easier. less fighting with that front sway bar . :wink: it'll all come together no prob bob.

Ok guys i'm back... I got the pass. side strut in. I rented a mahpherson spring compressor and we got it to work ok. The drivers side strut fought us tooth and nail and we gave up as it's 2 a.m. and my friend and I are beat. Before I attempt to finish this tomorrow, I'm going to call around to see if any shops can compress the spring and band it so it will stay compressed until we cut the bands. Installing the Hotchkis springs on the front IS NOT an easy task. These struts do not just slide into the mounts like you think they would, it shouldn't take this much effort. The spring needs to be compressed much more than we could get it to have enough clearance to fit back into the mount.

We'll get it done but it'll have to wait til tomorrow. :cry:

Oh sorry, I live on the east coast. I wish someone who has done this before could help. :lol:


Dam man, this job is kicking your ___!!! Hope tomorrow is a better day for you. Wish you were closer to the scion central, we would have kicked out the job in about half an hour. :(

Ok guys i'm back... I got the pass. side strut in. I rented a mahpherson spring compressor and we got it to work ok. The drivers side strut fought us tooth and nail and we gave up as it's 2 a.m. and my friend and I are beat. Before I attempt to finish this tomorrow, I'm going to call around to see if any shops can compress the spring and band it so it will stay compressed until we cut the bands. Installing the Hotchkis springs on the front IS NOT an easy task. These struts do not just slide into the mounts like you think they would, it shouldn't take this much effort. The spring needs to be compressed much more than we could get it to have enough clearance to fit back into the mount.

We'll get it done but it'll have to wait til tomorrow. :cry:

Oh sorry, I live on the east coast. I wish someone who has done this before could help. :lol:


Dam man, this job is kicking your ___!!! Hope tomorrow is a better day for you. Wish you were closer to the scion central, we would have kicked out the job in about half an hour. :(

Yah it sure is... Next time i'm paying someone to do this kind of work for me. Anyway, I'll going at it in a few, i'll let ya'll know how it turns out. :lol:

careful when pushing down on the assembly, I once had the axle fall out at the tranny. ripped the cv boot.

careful when pushing down on the assembly, I once had the axle fall out at the tranny. ripped the cv boot.
This is true, I had a couple of times where I had to reinstall the axle back on, before installing the hub back to the strut.

sweet. now I don't feel like such a clutze.

well my axle "popped" out but it didnt rip the boot so i just slid it back in

Hi here's an update... raising the other side of the car made the job easier and we have both struts on the car now. I drove around and didn't notice anything obvious so I think we did a good job at installing them. I'm always concerned that when I do these things I screw something up so every little noise gets me worried. The car rides well and definately has a marked improvement in cornering with little to no obvious body roll. When I get new shocks, i'm having someone else do this job. :roll: :lol: Thanks for all your help fellas.

where east coast wise r u located.. im always up to help someone when in need.

where east coast wise r u located.. im always up to help someone when in need.

I live in Virginia. Kinda far from NJ. :)

I did the whole job of installing my Hotchkis springs alone with no experience. And I didn't need a spring compressor. I just pushed the metal top plate down with my left hand and screwed the bolt on with the other. and I'm a little guy 5'5 150. So I can't imagine how you had such problems.

I did the whole job of installing my Hotchkis springs alone with no experience. And I didn't need a spring compressor. I just pushed the metal top plate down with my left hand and screwed the bolt on with the other. and I'm a little guy 5'5 150. So I can't imagine how you had such problems.

You can't expect everyone to get it on the first try. Maybe you should have gone over to his place and helped him. That would have been really cool, helping out a fellow scionlifer. 8)

Stylis, I wish you lived in KY, bro. I can build computers but can't change oil, so I'm afraid I'll be spending the $400 to have the dealership install my springs. If I didn't have to pay so much for just the springs install I'd put the strut/sway bars on, too, but it looks like I'll have to wait for those. Is there anyone near Louisville, KY as cool as Stylis? I'm definitely willing to supply the beer & pizza (just after the install lol!)

try posting that question in a new thread in the regional forum.