He said the parts store loaner is taking your life in your hands, and the $160 labor charge is a safe bet, ie I interpret that to mean preferable over buying a tool he’ll likely never use again .
If you re-read his post, he decided paying the shop is the preferred alternative.
You must not have seen his latest post.
No doubt much better than the widow maker clamps. It's a nice set dont get me wrong I just had some issues with plates getting stuck in the springs. No biggie just took some persuasion to get it off. Overall it does everything I need it for.
Bought and used that set on my Cadillac XTS a few weeks ago. Clamped it in, ran the screw down. Removed spring. Installed in new strut. Released screw to relax spring. Done. Zero drama. Zero issues. Only took a few minutes.I suspect he means this one: https://www.harborfreight.com/clamshell-style-strut-spring-compressor-59467.html which is a different style to the usual small sort.
That looks same as the Schwaben except color.
As with everything in tools these days, there are a lot of copycats. The Schwaben is a knock-off of Baum. I suspect the ones on Amazon from two or three brand names are the same kit as Schwaben, but I suppose it is possible there are multiple manufacturers or quality levels. I bought a Schwaben this week because it was on sale and the vendor offers lifetime support, but I debated the Amazon one for approx 60% of the price.
Yeah probably. I was looking at picture of that Amazon set again last night and believe its actually a bit different. The plates look like they might be stamped steel on the Amazon set but I believe the Schwaben are solid cast. There is a pretty big difference in price. Still looks very similar.
Loaner spring compressor works fine for this peasant.
I have the same set but in blue case. I have now removed tens of springs with it. I'd say go with this one and definitely avoid the classic design listed in this thread - the one for 23$. It always moves on the spring - a few times it almost fell off for me, as the spring twists. I think the devil designed this tool. Definitely avoid.FWIW, I've used this one for years:
It was from eBay, as Amazon didn't really have things like that (I think), and there are better ones in nicer cases for less money now on Amazon (these things are heavy, and the plastic hinges on the case have failed). The one posted above looks pretty much like the others I'm thinking about, and under $100, which is pretty great.
These ones wont fit over the fat ford expedition springs. Ask me how I know.@Hohn great point on owning the tool Vs renting the tool. While the Maddox tool is to small for the OP application, anyone needing a Maddox size tool and debating buying Vs renting. Just buy the tool, its on sale for $23 so zero excusses.
I wouldn't purchase them again now that I'm in a better position in life, but I purchased a set of these when I as younger when my wife and I couldn't afford a pot to piss in. I've done A LOT of full size trucks and SUV's with these and they have held up. I don't recommend them, purely from a safety standpoint, but they do work. Being a cheap a$$, I continue to use them.@Hohn great point on owning the tool Vs renting the tool. While the Maddox tool is to small for the OP application, anyone needing a Maddox size tool and debating buying Vs renting. Just buy the tool, its on sale for $23 so zero excusses.
I was watching YT videos way back the first time I was going to do springs, and more than one had a claw-style slip. One shot out of the wheel well while two professional mechanics were demonstrating the process - they were clearly spooked, and made glib statements like "That's why you have to be really careful with these!" but finished the video. I noped out on that style compressor immediately - I'd wind up with one in my teeth...
Exactly. After I have heard stories of broken teeth and noses I noped out of those claw ones very fast.I was watching YT videos way back the first time I was going to do springs, and more than one had a claw-style slip. One shot out of the wheel well while two professional mechanics were demonstrating the process - they were clearly spooked, and made glib statements like "That's why you have to be really careful with these!" but finished the video. I noped out on that style compressor immediately - I'd wind up with one in my teeth...
I've done over a dozen springs with mine, and loaned it out a couple times. Everybody seems to like it.
Several decades ago when I was in the same financial position I made a set of similar design, they tended to slip around the coil to the point that I had to back them off and reset. Scary in most cases, dangerous with all but the most weakest/smallest springs. They have their place which would be in videos about how they compress springs in Pakistan or India.I wouldn't purchase them again now that I'm in a better position in life, but I purchased a set of these when I as younger when my wife and I couldn't afford a pot to piss in. I've done A LOT of full size trucks and SUV's with these and they have held up. I don't recommend them, purely from a safety standpoint, but they do work. Being a cheap a$$, I continue to use them.
WORD OF CAUTION
I put white lithium grease on the threads every time I use them to reduce the friction and keep the threads cool when cranking down on them. If you don't, the threads will get HOT, and that will lead to failure/injury over time. Surprisingly, I haven't noticed any stretch in the thread pitch.
FWIW, I've used this one for years:
I have used this type on smaller car springs and it worked very well without feeling like my life was in jeopardy at any point. I would have felt better the some higher grade steel in the u-bolts in the version I had though. Just take your time with one of these to keep it balanced and it is ok.This is it. On sale for $59.99.
Have the same looking one from Eastwood. Works fine, maintain a healthy amount of respect around compressed springs. I also used a couple of the cheaper blue point(look like the OEM) single screw MacPherson strut compressor to augment the Schwaben, my coils were fatter in the middle and I wanted insurance. Snap-on used to sell the MacPherson Spring compressor with 3 pieces vs the typical 2 piece sets, I would buy 2 sets to have 4.