I know there are many posts of people taking apart their front springs without a spring compressor. Just wondering what everyones experiance has been with this?

Did the assembly spring apart?
Did you have someone hold the strut assembly when taking off the nut (any volenteers? :P )

Found a local shop that charges $25 for a pair to swap out the springs. Wondering if this is worth doing?

Thx

booooooooiiiiiinnnnnnng!

used a compressor to do mine

I didn't use any special equipment. When I originally took my assembly apart, I had the assembly laying flat on the ground with my foot on the spring, I loosened the bolt a little bit at a time (a few turns), then tapped the spring with a rubber mallet to get it to decompress in small increments. By doing this a few times, when the I took the bolt off, the spring did not shoot off or anything. When putting the spring back on, I had someone hold the spring and strut plate down while I tightened the bolt.

I've heard horror stories of people losing their heads because they didn't use a spring compressor, but that isn't the case here if done right.

I simply loosened the "big" nut a couple turns before removing the strut. Once it was out I could compress the spring by hand and remove it the rest of the way. I bought a spring compressor to "be on the safe side," but it turned out to be a waste of money.

TECH SECTION TECH SECTION TECH SECTION

Have I mentioned the Tech Section lately? :wink:

Spring install xA/xB:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20769

Treasure trove of good info:
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/

I just held mine horizontally on the ground and removed the nut. The metal cap on the end popped off and flew about a foot on the first one and didn't even go that far on the second one. Nothing dangerous there, but makes sure it's not pointing at a person or something fragile. I had a friend hold the new spring down while I put the nut back on but could have done it by myself if I was alone. The aftermarket srings were very easy to compress.

What springs are you puting in? if its not tanabe df210's or tein h-techs , or stock you will not need one and even with the above mentioned springs it can easily be done , dont remove the whole upper strut mount just remove the big nut in the center , much easier , I have done this more than 20 times so.....

What springs are you puting in? if its not tanabe df210's or tein h-techs , or stock you will not need one and even with the above mentioned springs it can easily be done , dont remove the whole upper strut mount just remove the big nut in the center , much easier , I have done this more than 20 times so.....

They are H techs. So you don't take off the 3 nuts on the top of the strut? They are stock springs on there now. Is there enought room to get the strut/spring out with the spring uncompressed?

Thanks everyone for the replys! :bow:

Can't wait to put them on. Just been too cold here in Michigan. Just need it to get at least in the mid 40's and a nice day.

TECH SECTION TECH SECTION TECH SECTION

Have I mentioned the Tech Section lately? :wink:

Spring install xA/xB:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20769

Treasure trove of good info:
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/

I have been there. I seen the instructions for spring installs and that is why I was asking how everyone is doing theirs? Instructions say something like watch where things fly to. Don't get me wrong here. The instructions are really great and I really appricate them being out there for us to use. I was just curious how much energy is stored with the stock setup.

I could not find any thing else in these sections other than the install guide. Is there something else I am missing???

Thx for the links to the info though

What springs are you puting in? if its not tanabe df210's or tein h-techs , or stock you will not need one and even with the above mentioned springs it can easily be done , dont remove the whole upper strut mount just remove the big nut in the center , much easier , I have done this more than 20 times so.....

They are H techs. So you don't take off the 3 nuts on the top of the strut? They are stock springs on there now. Is there enought room to get the strut/spring out with the spring uncompressed?

Thanks everyone for the replys! :bow:

Can't wait to put them on. Just been too cold here in Michigan. Just need it to get at least in the mid 40's and a nice day.yep , rermove the bifg nut only problem is h techs are long so..... you have to get a jack to push the strut up from the bottom , then put the big nut back on hand tight then connect the lower bolts and you're set.

stop being ghetto. Use a spring compressor. There are notches that also must be lined up on the upper perch to reassemble the suspension.

Yeah and once you've done this multiple time it's cake , do what you do for installing non stock springs they are not needed , and these cars barely have any room to stick a spring compressor in , and to dissassemble the upper strut mount it takes over twice as long to do so , i've switched springs in both my own scion and many other members scions over 20 to be exact. None have had problems.

So you take the bottom bolts out, jack up the car and then the large nut off?

Thx

should probably unbolt the brake line first
then bite the bullet and

A. Use the right equipment and technique

B. Cough up and pay a mechanic to do it
shouldn't be more than $100 w/o alignment

yes, there are simpler ways around to do things
but this is potentially hazardous to hands and such
this needs to be done with the entire strut assembly off the car, and should be done with air tools to ensure proper tightening, vice grips on the shock shaft, no matter how many rags are in between, will damage the shock shaft to some degree and possibly compromise the shaft seal

nobody wants a leaky shaft seal.

if your compressors dont fit then you are using an older hook style, inferior compressor. My compressors will fit in almost anything. Ive never had them not fit in over 50 cars. Try putting a set of TRD springs and TRD struts on the front of a TC without a compressor or even a cheap set and tell me how it comes out...

you can do it yourself. the only thing you should pay for is the alignment after you put your springs on yourself. it just takes two people and its not rocket science. there isnt much force on the springs. pay attention to the shock shaft with the groove in the top plate on the front before tightening during reassembly. use the rubber tubing that is glued to the stock front springs on the aftermarket ones if you have coil binding/clash. oh and you do not need to use air tools.

Used a impact wrench with the spring strut assembly in a cardboardbox filled with packing peanuts. the spring and strut assembly sprung apart with a jolt and the box helped absorb the jolt .

if your compressors dont fit then you are using an older hook style, inferior compressor. My compressors will fit in almost anything. Ive never had them not fit in over 50 cars. Try putting a set of TRD springs and TRD struts on the front of a TC without a compressor or even a cheap set and tell me how it comes out...never done it before and dont plan on it , all I know is if i had all the money and time to do things "right' i would but i scrap , and have had many many successful installs and am getting quite fast at doing so.

from a pro stand point not useing the proper equip on springs
can result in property damage or serious injury if you dont know how read a book pay someone or rent the proper equip
yes the getto trick works but dont try it with other cars i have seen springs shot through fenders(and eye sockets) have respect for uncontrollable forces and lets be carefull out there guys

Thanks for all the replys.

Not sure which way I am going to do it yet. I don't have a spring compressor. A local auto parts store charges $25 to change a set of springs on struts.

One thing for sure is that I am going to do it myself. Best price locally is $200. most were about $400

from a pro stand point not useing the proper equip on springs
can result in property damage or serious injury if you dont know how read a book pay someone or rent the proper equip
yes the getto trick works but dont try it with other cars i have seen springs shot through fenders(and eye sockets) have respect for uncontrollable forces and lets be carefull out there guysOh this I know , never did I suggest doing this with other cars , sorry if it came out that way , these cars "x" cars can be done quite easily and safely this way. most other cars almost surely not.

check with other parts stores. My local stores (O'Reilly's) rents the compressors. Put down like $25, then take it back in the condition you rented it, and they give you the deposit back.

Thanks Scott

I called a local chain auto parts store and they do what you said. You buy it for $36 and get a full refund when you return it.

no problem. I don't have a problem with buying a tool I'll use regularly, but something like this is not a must have to me... although I picked up a wall mount Moog strut/spring compressor at a yard sale pretty cheap. ;)

I've swapped out a few springs and didn't use the spring compressor either. I just kept it on the floor of the garage on a piece of carpeting, and kept everything clear when I took the strut nut off.