I agree.I would definitely install that strut in the mechanics head for laying it on the finish of my car. There is also torque specs for all the mounting nuts and bolts.
The Matco Clamshell strut tool appears to cost about $416 based on some quick Internet searching. You can probably beat that price with a little more Internet searching. Great video as always! Thanks again to Duane and Mike!!
Good video, I like the spring compressor you used. For work that I have done I have taken my struts to a local shop so they can compress and exchange the springs for me because I did not feel comfortable with some of these spring compressors out there. The ones used at a shop are heavy duty wall mounted units; a spring was not going to escape from one of them.
Great tool for doing this job. Considering the alternatives. This is good low cost option. There are cheaper spring compressors. - but I wouldnt touch them, Thx for doing the video
I'm also a computer technician A+, and Net+ Certified. But I really hate those spammers on the youtube comments i wish youtube would do something about it
Nice video, clear explanation. Should have mentioned they get replaced in pairs. I have a car eight years older and I would not lay any metal on the paint.
The alignment will not be affected as bad as you think it is because the bolts will line everything up. There is very little room for being out of adjustment.. The only time to really care for the alignment is when you mess with the lateral link bars or trailing arms. On the front end usually when replacing control arms or tie rod ends or rack and pinion is when you really need to worry about getting alignment.
Just to mention, when you tighten any suspension bolt, especially these which are go throug a rubber part, the car should be on the ground, under the vehicle's own weight, to avoid twisting of the rubber parts. Good vid anyway! :)
great video,used it as my guide,, will add this however, being as how i did this on jack stands in the garage, and not on a lift system, at 8:44 i instead found it easier to install the shock mount bolt thru the shock and then into the bracket that was removed, then installed the bracket back onto the frame.
Very true, very true, and it's one of the main reasons why I can't wear them, or bear to wear them, the other reason being that I can't feel anything with them on! So, I don't mind and I'm not afraid of getting dirty and greasy (as EricTheCarGuy would say: "Stay dirty!") all over if necessary, I just use a lot of Fast Orange hand cleaner once I'm done getting, being and staying dirty while working on cars! After I'm done, I like being clean! LOL!
Having owned this device, let me warn you. This device will lock up on itself. The threads cut a groove into the slide nuts and it jams. I see someone else made similar comments. They only way to release it is to hit it with a hammer and squinted eyes. I threw mine away and bought an Omni 9000 strut press. What a difference.
You do not need a spring coil compressor for this. You already have one... your car. Just get 2 walmart jacks for 15$ and use to hold the car up and one to push the control arm all the way up and undo all the restraining bolts then SLOWLY let the pressure off. The spring will slowly "untension" against the jack and you can service the strut. Not mention its A LOT faster and you cant put anything in wrong since it wont compress perfectly if its back in improperly.
yeah it's tough when after market car parts are hard to find in 93 the civic was the best selling compact and I have three no problems with parts and pretty much dirt cheap
Thank you for the video its very helpful. My rear shocks are bad. The springs are not around them they are separate kind of inside the lower control arms. I felt around them and each one has a small dent in the same coil I think its the 3rd from the bottom. Do you think I should change them or its fine to leave them?
@scienceisgod1 Torque wrench not necessary, just get it good and tight. But wheel nut 108N-m, 79.6ft-lb; Upper strut bolt 50N-m 37ft-lb; Lower Strut Bolt 59N-m, 43 ft-lb
Some of us do. Some of us also use the proper tools when working with delicate suspension components. (Protip: NEVER impact a strut/shock nut onto the spike. 13-20 ft*lbs is all it needs.)
i am struggling with my GMC savana 2001 2500 5.7L V8 front coil springs .this are one giant springs . Took me over 8 hours to replace just one of them .Did not do a very good job .can not find a video for this specific vehicle or the proper tool to compress the spring . any thoughts ??? please help
I always wear gloves - normally two pairs, sometimes even three... I wear a clean pair of blue nitrile to keep my hands clean, and another pair of blue nitrile to get dirty. When the outter gloves are ripped - or I need to work on something without getting grease everywhere (like getting into the car, or re-installing a tire), I take the top pair off and put on a new pair. When I'm done being a mechanic, I take off all the gloves and my hands are still clean - so cleaning up is nice and quick!
One question about strut removal. In general, if you unbolt the complete strut unit (coil sping with "shock absorber" inside) from either the top end or bottom end, is there tension (spring pressure) on the mounting bolts? To clarify, if you start unbolting the strut from the lower control arm (assuming that's where it's attached) is there danger from spring tension, or is there pressure on the strut-to- control arm bushing and bolt? Do you need to compress the spring b4 unbolting the strut?
what this video didn't show is you should mark the old struts and springs as soon you got it out of the car. because i didn't mark on mine and ended up take in and out then compresses over 8 times on one strut because it didn't alined up when put back in the car. this type of compressor is safest AFAIK for first timer like me
Thank you for your video, teach techniques how to do the job. for those people commenting about cleaning you are probably OK, but you know what in real life on shops they do not do that for them it means waste of time they think why to clean it when in less than a month is going to be dirty, in my personal opinion i have work for my self over 10 years I decided to get smog license and know I am working in a shop and I can see there they do not take time to diagnostics just trow parts too bad
Hi, I am doing the rear struts on a 2002 300m. How do you handle a rusty pinch bolt on the lower strut? I'm in CT, lots salt on road in winter, rusty struts, and the head of the pinch bolt snapped off on passenger side...major pain now. Don't want to break the head on the drivers side...any tips? great vid series, keep up the good work!!
well when you work for a living you tend to take care of things a little better and when you know from real world experience what can cause problems then you will not put things off for later
How much would one of those spring compressors normally cost you? i know they make the other style compressors(almost like 2 nuts and bolts) but these seems a bit safer.
Lots of luck trying to find the black rubber coil spring isolators for the top & bottom of the strut if they are ever needed.Thank-fully there are junkyards
I thought the exact same thing! I kept thinking to myself I'm sure he is going to mention not to forget to clean the rubber insulators... but instead, nothing! It absolutely drives me nuts! Also, did you notice how the guy loosened one of the top nuts while it wasn't completely inside the socket!!! Argh!
do they have all kinds of spring compressors . If you want you can have one made that cost as much as the space station and do the hole job with mind communication never touching nothing. don't forget to wash your hands when your done.
Based on my limited experience with that style of compressor, I felt much safer using it over the typical DIY compressors for rent at auto parts stores.
ive seen someone use coil crompressors to lower their car a couple of inches and drive it that way,does anyone know if thats a bad unsafe idea or would it work fine for as long as you wanted it to? would it affect the ride in a bad way?
I see a loose washer stuck under the bottom side of the strut mount in the video at 6:26 (six minutes and 26 seconds). The washer is wedged in a small opening on the bottom side of the strut mount. I wonder how that got missed and where it came from! :O)
I'm an IT Admin and you made my day!
I agree.I would definitely install that strut in the mechanics head for laying it on the finish of my car. There is also torque specs for all the mounting nuts and bolts.
The Matco Clamshell strut tool appears to cost about $416 based on some quick Internet searching. You can probably beat that price with a little more Internet searching. Great video as always! Thanks again to Duane and Mike!!
Excellent video - really helped me understand proper way to use that particular spring compressor!
Yes, excellent, video,clear, and well explain, now, I understand better how struts and shocks work for a car and trucks.
Good video, I like the spring compressor you used. For work that I have done I have taken my struts to a local shop so they can compress and exchange the springs for me because I did not feel comfortable with some of these spring compressors out there. The ones used at a shop are heavy duty wall mounted units; a spring was not going to escape from one of them.
did you take it to mechanic or part shop to replace the springs?
Great tool for doing this job.
Considering the alternatives.
This is good low cost option.
There are cheaper spring compressors. - but I wouldnt touch them,
Thx for doing the video
I'm also a computer technician A+, and Net+ Certified. But I really hate those spammers on the youtube comments i wish youtube would do something about it
Nice video, clear explanation. Should have mentioned they get replaced in pairs. I have a car eight years older and I would not lay any metal on the paint.
Very good and practice.... Thank you
That spring compresor is awesome ........ make the work easy ..
I think what you used in this video to compress the spring actually works better than the wall mounted spring compressors.
nifty tool. way better then those threaded rod type
Good info thank you for taking the time to do this.
The alignment will not be affected as bad as you think it is because the bolts will line everything up. There is very little room for being out of adjustment.. The only time to really care for the alignment is when you mess with the lateral link bars or trailing arms. On the front end usually when replacing control arms or tie rod ends or rack and pinion is when you really need to worry about getting alignment.
Just to mention, when you tighten any suspension bolt, especially these which are go throug a rubber part, the car should be on the ground, under the vehicle's own weight, to avoid twisting of the rubber parts. Good vid anyway! :)
great video,used it as my guide,, will add this however, being as how i did this on jack stands in the garage, and not on a lift system, at 8:44 i instead found it easier to install the shock mount bolt thru the shock and then into the bracket that was removed, then installed the bracket back onto the frame.
Very true, very true, and it's one of the main reasons why I can't wear them, or bear to wear them, the other reason being that I can't feel anything with them on! So, I don't mind and I'm not afraid of getting dirty and greasy (as EricTheCarGuy would say: "Stay dirty!") all over if necessary, I just use a lot of Fast Orange hand cleaner once I'm done getting, being and staying dirty while working on cars! After I'm done, I like being clean! LOL!
Having owned this device, let me warn you. This device will lock up on itself. The threads cut a groove into the slide nuts and it jams. I see someone else made similar comments. They only way to release it is to hit it with a hammer and squinted eyes. I threw mine away and bought an Omni 9000 strut press. What a difference.
Great video!!
Thanks for making this video. I really appreciate it.
bought mine as package which includes new springs and struts combined and was sold in pairs.
You do not need a spring coil compressor for this. You already have one... your car. Just get 2 walmart jacks for 15$ and use to hold the car up and one to push the control arm all the way up and undo all the restraining bolts then SLOWLY let the pressure off. The spring will slowly "untension" against the jack and you can service the strut. Not mention its A LOT faster and you cant put anything in wrong since it wont compress perfectly if its back in improperly.
yeah it's tough when after market car parts are hard to find in 93 the civic was the best selling compact and I have three no problems with parts and pretty much dirt cheap
Good video. I learned something. Thanks.
Right.It was sitting there.If you say anything the reply would be,"Oh, that ain"t gonna hurt it."
Thank you for the video its very helpful. My rear shocks are bad. The springs are not around them they are separate kind of inside the lower control arms. I felt around them and each one has a small dent in the same coil I think its the 3rd from the bottom. Do you think I should change them or its fine to leave them?
only if they are leaking oil, or if there is no more tension inside them, in other words if you have a bumpy ride
@@realfixesrealfast okay thanks alot I appreciate it :)
@scienceisgod1 Torque wrench not necessary, just get it good and tight. But wheel nut 108N-m, 79.6ft-lb; Upper strut bolt 50N-m 37ft-lb; Lower Strut Bolt 59N-m, 43 ft-lb
Some of us do. Some of us also use the proper tools when working with delicate suspension components. (Protip: NEVER impact a strut/shock nut onto the spike. 13-20 ft*lbs is all it needs.)
i am struggling with my GMC savana 2001 2500 5.7L V8 front coil springs .this are one giant springs .
Took me over 8 hours to replace just one of them .Did not do a very good job .can not find a video for this specific vehicle
or the proper tool to compress the spring . any thoughts ??? please help
I always wear gloves - normally two pairs, sometimes even three... I wear a clean pair of blue nitrile to keep my hands clean, and another pair of blue nitrile to get dirty. When the outter gloves are ripped - or I need to work on something without getting grease everywhere (like getting into the car, or re-installing a tire), I take the top pair off and put on a new pair.
When I'm done being a mechanic, I take off all the gloves and my hands are still clean - so cleaning up is nice and quick!
One question about strut removal. In general, if you unbolt the complete strut unit (coil sping with "shock absorber" inside) from either the top end or bottom end, is there tension (spring pressure) on the mounting bolts? To clarify, if you start unbolting the strut from the lower control arm (assuming that's where it's attached) is there danger from spring tension, or is there pressure on the strut-to- control arm bushing and bolt? Do you need to compress the spring b4 unbolting the strut?
That tire has seen better days!
right you have to be real careful with the cheap ones . they work good on some spring and are very dangerous on say hondas and similar set ups
correction-- I meant to say "so there is no metal against metal". Metal against metal is not good.
what this video didn't show is you should mark the old struts and springs as soon you got it out of the car. because i didn't mark on mine and ended up take in and out then compresses over 8 times on one strut because it didn't alined up when put back in the car. this type of compressor is safest AFAIK for first timer like me
very good video
Excellent video.
Awesome video sir!!
Thank you for your video, teach techniques how to do the job. for those people commenting about cleaning you are probably OK, but you know what in real life on shops they do not do that for them it means waste of time they think why to clean it when in less than a month is going to be dirty, in my personal opinion i have work for my self over 10 years I decided to get smog license and know I am working in a shop and I can see there they do not take time to diagnostics just trow parts too bad
The exact one he uses is about $170 on amazon. There are cheaper, less heavy duty versions starting around $40.
Muchas gracias por su video fue de mucha ayuda.
very informative, great job!
If I want to remove the spring do I just slowly release the spring compressor until I can pull it?
That's the spring compressor I need! The one I rented won't fit the front strut on my car because of the large flanges on top and bottom.
Hi, I am doing the rear struts on a 2002 300m. How do you handle a rusty pinch bolt on the lower strut? I'm in CT, lots salt on road in winter, rusty struts, and the head of the pinch bolt snapped off on passenger side...major pain now. Don't want to break the head on the drivers side...any tips? great vid series, keep up the good work!!
Use heat first. Douse it with water,penetrating oil when cool.
Thanks. Very helpful
Thank god for impact tools.
One other thing those locknuts should be replaced.
i love those snap on hammers
that's the best type spring strut compresser for d.i.y.
he right you have to use a spring compreser or the spring shots of at you
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Where can I get a spring compress like that
another great video!
well when you work for a living you tend to take care of things a little better and when you know from real world experience what can cause problems then you will not put things off for later
By the way mate...if you want a clean car EVERYWHERE...simply take it for a good wash and bring it later to replace the absorbers..
do you guys torque the nuts/bolts to a certain amount or do you just make them as snug as possible?
Thank you for your film
How much would one of those spring compressors normally cost you? i know they make the other style compressors(almost like 2 nuts and bolts) but these seems a bit safer.
tyvm for this video I appreciate the help
Lots of luck trying to find the black rubber coil spring isolators for the top & bottom of the strut if they are ever needed.Thank-fully there are junkyards
how do you torque the top nut instead of just tightening with impact wrench?
I thought the exact same thing! I kept thinking to myself I'm sure he is going to mention not to forget to clean the rubber insulators... but instead, nothing! It absolutely drives me nuts! Also, did you notice how the guy loosened one of the top nuts while it wasn't completely inside the socket!!! Argh!
do they have all kinds of spring compressors . If you want you can have one made that cost as much as the space station and do the hole job with mind communication never touching nothing. don't forget to wash your hands when your done.
thank god for swivel sockets!
Oh my God your spring compressor is so cumbersome.
Based on my limited experience with that style of compressor, I felt much safer using it over the typical DIY compressors for rent at auto parts stores.
Good deal, the Pittsburg tool is no match for the matco.
ive seen someone use coil crompressors to lower their car a couple of inches and drive it that way,does anyone know if thats a bad unsafe idea or would it work fine for as long as you wanted it to? would it affect the ride in a bad way?
Very nice.
That's one angry spring if it escapes the compressor....
very Good :) i understand all the video :3
i like how he is compressing the spring - pointed right at his nuts- just in case that spring compressor fails under that much load
what would happen if the spring isnt lined up with the top mount?
spring compressor is free (when returned in month or two) from autozone. so absolutely no reason not to use them.
What manufact. makes the spring compressor you used?
I see a loose washer stuck under the bottom side of the strut mount in the video at 6:26 (six minutes and 26 seconds). The washer is wedged in a small opening on the bottom side of the strut mount. I wonder how that got missed and where it came from! :O)
impossible to be out of 180, i like it!!!
yes they have to
you made me laugh man!!!
Maybe this has been posted but what brand is the spring compressor?
heeeeyyy, that trunk got scratched...jajaja
agree, should treat customer car paint better
2:16. Move that now broken trim retainer out of the way.
Another reason why I fix my own cars - to avoid collateral damage
ah impacts such a nice tool to have! lol
Where Can O buy this set of springs compressor?
what is the name of that spring tool that was used, i would like to fine online.
Don't think I've ever seen one leak that much
I noticed that. I also notice the reuse of the lower bolt. I would replace that with a new one.
who makes this spring compressor? The one I use scares the hell outta me!
I have that same 1/2 inch IR impact wrench
Who gets to remove the grease from the shoulder harness?
bolt must be lubricated. and it's a good fit.
any link for that spring compresor please ? thanks
hi, friends.
Where Can I get the spring compressor like that?, what Brand is?
harbor frieght, only one kind
I think he said, "These nuts are fourteens."
that particular compressor that he has is made by MATCO.
caveman compressor DANGEROUS! Brannick (SPCK) top shelf compressor
Did you replace one or the rear as a set? Thanks.
Use glob and put a protection over the car. If you want to keep your costomer
Replace in pairs folks!!!