Anybody have any advice on a low cost strut spring compressor to look at? I have two and neither will work on the 3/4" wire size on the front springs of my F150HD (8200 GVW), either because they won't fit the large wire size of the spring or don't have the cojones to compress that HD spring.

 

Did you try Auto Zone tool rental ? http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ino...gAndSuspension

 

Tried all the rental places. All their compressors are only good for 5/8" wire. My springs are 3/4" and they twisted one my hydraulic stand type unit up like a pretzel. Got one apart but that was all she wrote (and that mfr. said it was "heavy duty"... my wrinkled ***). I've looked at all the catalogs. Nothing between cheap-***-china stuff and high dollar stuff I really don't want. Hoped somebody here might have used something that for sure had the muscle. Like to pretty much do everything myself, but I might have to farm that part of the job out.

 

Take them to a dealer and just ask if they will remove them for you. The one at my friends dealer took mine apart no problem. Its a wall mounted unit, but you compress them by hand by turning a crank.

 

p forCheck out Eastwood. They have a setup for standard springs.

 

You guessed one of my two options. I'm "in" with a dealer, but I also have contacts at a local trade school. I'm just a hardheaded guy... "retired" professional wrencher... that likes to do it myself and takes pride in still being able to turn wrenches like I once did.

PS- Glen: Thanks for the tip on Eastwood. One of the few places I haven't checked yet... though likely the price will scare me off.