I going to install my spring shortly and i wanted to know if i need a spring compressor to do this.. I install spring before but i just put enough pressure down to mput the strut screw back on.. If anybody could help.. thanks

 

Its recommended and you can rent them for free so why not have one on hand at least?

 

Where and how would you rent them for free?

 

u can get them from autozone.

but i've done so many where i dont even use it anymore. just shoot it off

 

Shoot it off? Do you mean unscrew the spring retainer off the top and just let the spring fly away? lol.. no seriously..

How do you re-install a spring without a compressor?

 

yes shoot it off. it doesnt even go that far. do it on grass and it wont travel that far. keep your foot on the spring and watch the strut and locknut fly!


the front struts you can swap out various different springs and locknut without compression.

the rear struts are tricky. put the whole assembly on without the locknut and jack up the a-arm and center the strut to go thru the hole and lock the nut. torque to specifications on each nut.

 

Thanks for the advice DuMa. Much appreciated. I will be doing mine sometime next week along with a rear TRD swaybar. One other thing, is an alignment necessary after doing either a lower spring install or swaybar install?

Thanks again.

 

Thats just stupid, thats why they make spring compressors!

 

i install my spring on my xb and all i did was put enough body weight so that i could put back the screw i just want to know if the tc is the same way as changing the front springs of an xb

 

I "felt" no need for an alignment after i got rear sway installed.
I needed alignment after the coilovers tho.

 

Jallamas, Your comment was not needed and a bit rude. If you had done what DuMa has done you would understand, I have done it many tmes myself, unless a person is terribly unept at being a mechanic, you just cannot hurt yourself, very little really happens;)

Great advice on the rear spring install!

I use my drill press, with a few blocks I made it works great as a spring compressor and easy to operate

Rick

 

hmm thats a great idea raamaudio.
Hopefully my install goes as smooth as everyone here alleges it will.

 

sq, thanks, perfect color choice by the way

Rick

 

Precisely how I did mine. In highsight I wish I hadn't even used a spring compressor, because it chewed the crap out of the finish on my Hotchkis springs.

Rick is right though -- if you're using this method there's no more likelihood of getting injured by it than by using a compressor or any other tool. Changing springs carries a bit of danger with it anyway; as most installs of this caliber do. Common sense will always be the best tool to make sure you've got the job done right.

 

The first time I fired one off was for my 510 Datsun back in 1972, my second 510, first car I ever lowered;)

Rick

 

haha we shot them off when I put Ground Control sleeves on my 99 Civic. now THAT car was low.

 

TY rick I would have never ogtten this color unless I saw it at a dealer in person, Pictures just don't do this color any justice.

 

I thought you meant with like a .45 cal.

 

i install my spring on my tc and the back was a pain.. i don recomend using a spring compresser for the back but for the front its easy.. it took like 3hr to do the back and 1 hr to do the front..