Has anyone experience with this strut compressor from Amazon,good or bad? It really looks like the one from Sears only about $15.00 cheaper.

Fred

http://www.amazon.com/OEM-25550-Stru...9825901&sr=8-1

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-strut...p-00947057000P

 

Fred, every mechanic has similar items in their tool box. The difference is, they have three...not two. Also, it's imperitive that the cleats that actually grasp the coils have an angle ground into them. That allows the unit to remain parallel with the spring as the unit draws down and compresses the spring. Cheap models have cleats that are 90 degrees w/ the spring. As they draw down, they lean over as the cleats will want to be 90 with the coil, which is going downhill. This allows the unit to kick out and the results are less than ideal (major understatement). Look at the cleats on the Amazon model...they are 90's...

A professional unit has the angled cleats...and there are 3 to a set, rather than only two

This is of course, the best method...

Honestly, I've had the variety you're looking at slip off and the strut mount fly off and almost pass through an aluminum garage door. Rather than spend hard earned money on unsatisfactory equipment, I'd pull the assembly and have a shop do them for you. To remove springs, customer leaves and swaps inserts, brings it back and we install the springs and strut mount is whatever the customer feels like paying...as long as they feel like paying $20! With the stand up tool we have, it takes 5 minutes to remove a spring max. Save your hands/fingers!

 

I wouldn't buy any. If/when you buy your struts from the parts store, they'll rent you a set they have. At my local O'Reilly's, I technically "buy" the compressors when I take them, then get refunded when I bring them back.

 

Thanks Jon,

What time do you open Monday? I wish!! Columbus to the Big D is not exactly a day trip.

To say that I was a bit apprehensive using these is, as you say "a major understatement". An Oops, using the spring compressors would lend rise to a bad day. I have seen more than I wanted to of industrial type accidents come through the ER, and the only way I want to come through the ambulance bay is vertical. I will begin a phone survey to see who will be willing to do this. Bleeding the brakes won't be that big of an additional step..

I have never done any front end work before but that will be changing. I am replacing, ball joints, sway bar links and bushings, outer tie rod ends, and front rear control arm bushings. While I have you on the phone, would removing the control arm be worth the effort to help get the struts in and out? Also, do you routinely replace the parts 18, 20 and 21 on this page?

http://www.tascaparts.com/partlocato...layCatalogid=0

Thanks for the wisdom

Fred

 

If you borrow/buy a pair of compressors like these (with the pins) and put them on properly, you are NOT going to have the spring go flying through the garage door.

 

Probably not. I like 10 fingers. The issue I have with these are: 1. They are sold in pairs rather than a set of 3 2. They have one pin of questionable quality (check the one I took a pic of and you'll see 2 pins, which are actually shaped like a huge staple on the other side and are driven in w/ a hammer 3. The angle of the cleats as I mentioned 4. The overall quality of no doubt Chinese sourced product.

I've removed springs more than once from 240's w/ no compressor...it's interesting to see how far a strut mount can travel...and we have a huge parking lot out back.

The point is, we could argue the point ad infinitum. It's similar to me saying anyone w/ children and a Pit bull in the same household is a fool and someone piping up that their 4 year old son and Fido are inseparable buddies. It's never an issue...until it is.

 

Right. If I had "swiftjustice44" right around the corner, I'd never compress another coil spring!

As it is, I've replaced a LOT of struts over the years - always using two spring compressors. I've never had a problem, but that's partly due to being experienced, and being very careful.

That said, the most recent front-end work I did was on my brother-in-law's Dodge Caravan. He had a broken coil spring. I got him completely strut assemblies - with lifetime warranty - for $200 per side. Considering that everything was new & warranted, and that I was able to do the entire job in just over 2 hours, getting the entire assemblies was well worth it.