Hi All

I might need to change the front shock absorbers on mazda 3. So I need spring compressor for the one off job.

I can get the spring compressor from eBay for 12 pounds. they come as a pair.

But locally I can get a 3 piece set for 31 pounds. Why is it 3 piece? Have you used these tools ? Can I get away with cheap eBay ones or should I get the ones from machine mart:

https://www.machinem...ring-compressor

ebay:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/...4930?nav=SEARCH

Hi Jack,

Your links don't work for me. For the Machinemart one I assume you are referring to the Clarke CHT224 set here:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/search?w=coil%20spring%20compressor

The Ebay one just goes to a search page.

FWIW I once changed the front shocks on a Rover 600 using just a pair of clamps and that worked ok.

if its a one off, will you not be able to pop into a garage and ask them to use theirs?

if its a one off, will you not be able to pop into a garage and ask them to use theirs?

I would agree, I reckon if you slip them a tenner they will do it for you. They will most likely have a floor mounted hydraulic type unit.

I very quickly gave up my wind up spring compressors after an incident where I almost lost a finger

I hate the cheap spring comressors. I've used them a few times but they take ages and are dangerous no matter how careful you are. I dont use them at all since a mate of mine had his hand crushed by a set!

Take the strut to your local garage, offer them a tenner/fiver (depending how tight you are :P ) and let them swap the spring on, it's what I do every time now. :)

Thanks all. The taking it to garage is a very good idea. Unfortunately I have never been to garage and don't know anyone. And from my few visits, they are always very arogant and deny helping even though I wish to pay. They just don't want to do small task for some reason (probably cause it pays less) unless one is their friend. Regardless I will call local shops tomorrow.

stef123, tomsfocus Is there any mistake that was done during the process ? I will want to give it a go if local garages are unpleasant to deal with (I know I have to beg them and sweet talk)

mjt Yes those are the ones. Clarke CHT224 . EBay ones are 2 piece and I am guessing 3 piece will be more safer. Which type did you use ?

Jack i'm not really sure to be honest, probably just the fact the clamps can slide a litle on the spring and do have a tendancy to want to come together.

Jack, As I said I used 2-piece ones on the Rover shocks. Two should be perfectly adequate. The important things to remember are to make sure they are exactly opposite one another on the spring but don't try to get them to sit parallel because the angle of the helical spring coils means that they will sit naturally at an angle to one another. When fitting them just take up the slack by hand and allow them to find their best angle then take time tightening them gradually a few turns at a time on each. It's common sense really and if you take your time and don't rush it you won't have any problems.

Jack, As I said I used 2-piece ones on the Rover shocks. Two should be perfectly adequate. The important things to remember are to make sure they are exactly opposite one another on the spring but don't try to get them to sit parallel because the angle of the helical spring coils means that they will sit naturally at an angle to one another. When fitting them just take up the slack by hand and allow them to find their best angle then take time tightening them gradually a few turns at a time on each. It's common sense really and if you take your time and don't rush it you won't have any problems.

but dont worry, you will be taking your time with the wind up ones it takes aaaaaaaages to compress a spring with them lol.

Take no notice - you only need to compress enough to take the load off the top mounting.

I have used two home-made spring compressors my step dad made (used to be a CAD Engineer at Rolls Royce) to swap springs in the past. I have no issue with using spring compressors, as has been said you have to take your time and ensure safety at all times as the spring will be under high tension, but using a vice mounted on a bench to hold the shock then use the compressors is completely fine in my opinion.

It is common sense to take the slack up carefully and bit by bit, then to wind each one down a bit at a time until the spring is compressed just enough to take the strain off to loosen the top mount.

But as always it is down to personal preference and whether you feel comfortable using them.

Just don't try this!

Just don't try this!

Holy moley them crazy rednecks lol

For goodness sakes no one try this at home.

Never tried it with cable ties but I have successfully held a spring compressed twice now with paracord.

Not quite the same subject, but it just shows what someone with a bit of knowledge and hard work can do using the minimalist of tools when fixing something.

Video links to second video of the rest of the repair amazing to see such good work done all by hand.

Tools do make a job much easier when they are designed specifically to do a particular purpose but graft and hard work can indeed pay off.

That's one very skilled craftsman who obviously takes great pride in his work.