Changing struts/springs

[exdeath]

Any time messing with struts/springs pops up on this forum, there is always talk of the danger.

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYFOI_UsVxI&NR=1

 

[jlee]

I had to pause it halfway through just to post that all I keep thinking is that's a baaaaaad idea....

 

[exdeath]

The correct way to do it if you aren't going to use a spring compressor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEQq0_xeg6g&feature=fvw

 

[JulesMaximus]

Morons.

 

[MJinZ]

The correct way to do it if you aren't going to use a spring compressor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEQq0_xeg6g&feature=fvw

You need a compressor for a one person job (you do intend to put the thing back on the car with a new spring or strut right). Or a brave second soul. Or Coilovers.

 

[Vette73]

The correct way to do it if you aren't going to use a spring compressor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEQq0_xeg6g&feature=fvw

Ahh no, thats still dumb.

 

[Lotheron]

You need a compressor for a one person job (you do intend to put the thing back on the car with a new spring or strut right). Or a brave second soul. Or Coilovers.

I would use spring compressors for any job. It's just easier and the tool is an easy rent if you dont have one.

EDIT: Looks as though the spring was too bent to use a compressor. At that point, I'm getting all new parts and not even messing with it.

 

[BW86]

rofl - what did they think was going to happen?

 

[StageLeft]

wow that was just fvcking unreal stupid on a whole new level. I could see doing it behind a shield to see what would happen but this was just extremely, extremely stupid.

 

[StageLeft]

The correct way to do it if you aren't going to use a spring compressor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEQq0_xeg6g&feature=fvw

Something must be wrong with the spring? I imagine if the guy in the first vid had done that he'd have lost his arm

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

The guy in the second video held the lighter object (the spring itself) in place and allowed the heavier object to move (the rest of the assembly) so as to get less velocity. Either way, looks like a weak spring in the second vid.

 

[jlee]

You need a compressor for a one person job (you do intend to put the thing back on the car with a new spring or strut right). Or a brave second soul. Or Coilovers.

In most cases, yeah. I don't see how we would've been able to work with my Tacoma's springs without compressors, but my MR2 can be easily done with one person and no compressors.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I just changed the rear springs and shocks on my TA and didn't use any compressors or specialty tools. I just dropped the whole rear end.

 

[bruceb]

I have done struts in the past and we own a set of spring compressors. The trick is to only tighten them enough to remove the bearing plate. Over compressing the spring will cause trouble. It is also a good idea to run a safety chain thru the spring and bolt the links. That way the spring can't go flying far (if at all)

 

[BassBomb]

rofl yea i saw that hahaa

the stuff i bought used luckily came assembled with top hats, to be installed

 

[obamanation]

if the springs were trashed, maybe he could have taken a butane torch and just torched them in order to reduce the spring rate, then tried to use the spring compressor or something... I dunno I don't see why he couldn't have used the spring compressor even if the spring was bent.

 

[exdeath]

Something must be wrong with the spring? I imagine if the guy in the first vid had done that he'd have lost his arm

Nope. By stepping on the middle of the spring it can't move anywhere, it just expands on both ends and expends all it's energy accelerating the heavy strut assembly instead. Notice how the dumb ass in the first video was standing on the strut body and not the spring, and almost fell on his ass. Look how hard those struts are tossed in the second video. That guy knows what hes doing.

 

[exdeath]

The guy in the second video held the lighter object (the spring itself) in place and allowed the heavier object to move (the rest of the assembly) so as to get less velocity. Either way, looks like a weak spring in the second vid.

Nope, they were less than two years old. Your first sentence says it all.