• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Harbor Freight Spring Compressor

jmoore4294

jmoore4294

New member
So I've got some lowering springs to install on my car. And a buddy of mine is in the process of saving up to get some for his car as well. And we were thinking of going in halves on this spring compressor from Harbor Freight. Anyone used one like this? Seems sturdier than the ones you can rent from AutoZone. I'd rather buy one than rent one in case the day comes when I need to use it again to demod or throw different springs on my car/someone else's car.
 


HAHA....sorry, I don't have $600. Hence the HF one. I have used one similar to that one, but it was at the Auto shop in HS.
 
It seems like a great investment.... if your swapping out springs every 3 months. I just rented one from Autobone.
 


I bought that one from Harbor Freight and didn't like it at all. I ended up calling around and having a place assemble the struts for me. If you are only going to do it once it's not worth it to buy one. I didn't use mine and have not used it since.
 
Pure2sin said:
I bought that one from Harbor Freight and didn't like it at all. I ended up calling around and having a place assemble the struts for me. If you are only going to do it once it's not worth it to buy one. I didn't use mine and have not used it since.
Click to expand...

Any particular reason you didn't like it? Cheaply made? Didn't compress the spring enough?
 


jmoore4294 said:
So I've got some lowering springs to install on my car. And a buddy of mine is in the process of saving up to get some for his car as well. And we were thinking of going in halves on this spring compressor from Harbor Freight. Anyone used one like this? Seems sturdier than the ones you can rent from AutoZone. I'd rather buy one than rent one in case the day comes when I need to use it again to demod or throw different springs on my car/someone else's car.
Click to expand...

I have this one. It's awesome sauce with an impact though it says not for use with one. Just don't go full blast with it and make sure to oil the threads. I used red Lucas synthetic grease from my grease gun. It works good with our stock springs, but with springs that have more coils in them like Honda's, I think it has clearance issues fitting between the coils. I got this for a lot less about a year ago. But still, right now it's $69.99 so use a 20% off coupon to get it for $56. And it works fast, takes me less than 5 minutes to change each strut. It definitely beats the MacPherson style spring compressors u rent at autozone. I own about every tool harbor freight sells, which my girl kinda hates, lol.
 
If you rent tools from o'reileys, you pay the deposit then get ALL the money back you put down when you return it...cash.
 
JoRoW99 said:
If you rent tools from o'reileys, you pay the deposit then get ALL the money back you put down when you return it...cash.
Click to expand...


Yep, O'reillys just charges you the retail cost of the tool as a deposit. That way when someone doesn't return it, they didn't lose any money. Also, make sure you ask how long you can actually keep it. I believe it is usually only a 24 or 48 hour return window before they consider the tool 'bought'.

I liked how easy it was to use the spring compressor (and I had a few more vehicles I was going to help with) that I went online and bought it from Amazon.
 


Abrasive said:
I've got these as well. I've done numerous spring swaps for people with them with no problems. I caught them on sale for $10.
Click to expand...


X2, with an impact wrench these are the bomb!! Just be careful to compress them equally at intervals!! I.E.- don't max one out then work on the other on the same spring!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top