What do you fellers use to compress OME springs? The friendly folks at AutoZone will rent me some that work barely OK on the stock coils, but jeepers, won't compress those stout 881 springs quite enough.

My son at work offered to use their big honkin' compressor, but since I have to disable my truck to take advantage of it its not that convenient.

I use a craftsman strut spring compressor kit. It gets the job done, but it's still a hairy operation if you have any knowledge of basic physics.

I fear I do.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

I tried a spring compressor on the Tundra - nearly stripped the compressor.

Use a press. Works great.

I went one round with a loaner spring compressor, which was not fun. When I moved up to the 882 springs I bought a cheap press (<$100 at Northern tool). As already stated, it worked great. I had been wanting a shop press anyway.

my thing is to ask myself, "What's more important, convenience or doing it right and NOT getting hurt?"

haha... if ur son has access to a big compressor, i say take it to him...

I have been renting one from the local rental shop but its always a scary time getting the new springs on. It did compress the Tundra springs I put on the kids Tacoma pretty well.

You guys looking at OME springs for your Tacoma's or 4Runners might want to check out the Tundra spring swap, its a great mod, especially if you can get a deal on the springs.

And to those using a shop press to compress the spring, I am trying to visualize how to compress the strut/spring in a press so that the top cap is not trapped in there when you are pressing. What kind of jig did you use so you can get that top cap nut back on? thanks!

Greg

Ditto. I was thinking the same thing. I myself, have access to a 50-ton press and was wondering how I could fab up a jig to hold the strut assembly. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

If anybody could offer up any tips or tricks for this "jig", let us know. I will be able to figure it out myself, but if someone has already gone through the hiccups of making their own, it will help me out tremendously. Plus, I don't want to die. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

This was in the back of my mind but seeing this thread sparked the flame. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Wow - it's been a while.

IIRC, on the top of the struth there is a spring retainer. That retainer is held in place with another peice. I turned the assembly upside down in the press, used two of the press chucks on the spring retainer, compressed enough to get the other piece out, then relaxed the entire assembly... The retainer slipped over the top of teh shock, along with the spring. To assemble, reverse the steps.

er... something like that.

I messed with a spring compressor for an hour before figuring this out... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I also turned the assembly upside down and used the two press blocks on the bottom. My press has a solid bar that comes down from the top. The rod has to compress on the end of the shock eye, which could slip off with considerable force. To prevent this slipping and launching the assembly, I made an inverted cup out of a pipe nipple that slips over the rod and an expansion coupling from the hardware store. This captured the shock eye, preventing it from slipping off. Took no time at all and it was much safer than the loaner spring compressor I used the first time. I was able to access the nut on the center of the spring retainer with a socket and extension from between the two press blocks on the botton.