Spring compressor recommendation?

[Hockeydad55]

For those of you that adjust the coilovers while on the vehicle with the help of spring compressors can I ask what brand you are using.

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[gbub]

I have the Eibach Pro Coilover 2.0 suspension. You don't need a spring compressor. Just lift tires off the ground to reduce the tension on the threads and rotate the nut with the supplied wrench. I have not installed them yet to know how easy or difficult it is, but that adjustability is why I bought them.

 

[Hockeydad55]

I have the Eibach Pro Coilover 2.0 suspension. You don't need a spring compressor. Just lift tires off the ground to reduce the tension on the threads and rotate the nut with the supplied wrench. I have not installed them yet to know how easy or difficult it is, but that adjustability is why I bought them.

From what have read you can do that with steal body coilovers but with aluminum you can strip them. I would love to hear from people that have adjusted there aluminum body ones Thx.

 

[gbub]

I have never heard of that. I can imagine bad things happening if the load was not reduced by lifting the vehicle. I said previously to just lift the tires but I forgot to mention you need to lift by the frame. Lifting by the axle does not reduce the load on the threads. Even with load on the threads, I don't think they would strip, but they could gall. Aluminum is susceptible to galling and that could be interpreted and stripping.

I have adjustable aluminum coilovers on my racecar and have never stripped or galled the threads on the coilovers in the more than 30 years of many adjustments.

 

[Hockeydad55]

I have never heard of that. I can imagine bad things happening if the load was not reduced by lifting the vehicle. I said previously to just lift the tires but I forgot to mention you need to lift by the frame. Lifting by the axle does not reduce the load on the threads. Even with load on the threads, I don't think they would strip, but they could gall. Aluminum is susceptible to galling and that could be interpreted and stripping.

I have adjustable aluminum coilovers on my racecar and have never stripped or galled the threads on the coilovers in the more than 30 years of many adjustments.

Yes I’m aware of the procedure you’re talking about just was not sure that was enough to stop the stripping or galling. I was hoping to get more hands on opinions too. Thank you for your help as I do not want to use the spring compressors If I don’t have too. I’m hoping the coilovers come at the right hight but I’m sure I will have to adjust them in the future if not at installation.

 

[Brian_B]

From what have read you can do that with steal body coilovers but with aluminum you can strip them. I would love to hear from people that have adjusted there aluminum body ones Thx.

Hmm. I would say if you stripped them while adjusting them, you are going to a much too high of a preload anyway and would risk them stripping out when you really exercise the spring anyway.

I’ve always done what gbud says as well - clean the threads, a bit of wd40 or pb blaster, jack the frame up so the tire is drooping, and I can almost turn my ProComp adjustment collar by hand.

But not all coil overs have a screw collar - I don’t have any useful input on a spring compressor.

 

[Hockeydad55]

Hmm. I would say if you stripped them while adjusting them, you are going to a much too high of a preload anyway and would risk them stripping out when you really exercise the spring anyway.

I’ve always done what gbud says as well - clean the threads, a bit of wd40 or pb blaster, jack the frame up so the tire is drooping, and I can almost turn my ProComp adjustment collar by hand.

But not all coil overs have a screw collar - I don’t have any useful input on a spring compressor.

Thanks to both of you for your input

 

[Bronc6g22]

This guy works great (Amazon). Don't use an impact (use a large manual socket wrench or torque wrench).

https://a.co/d/1pUkzZx

 

[Hockeydad55]

This guy works great (Amazon). Don't use an impact (use a large manual socket wrench or torque wrench).

https://a.co/d/1pUkzZx

 

[Tricky Mike]

I also adjust the Eibachs without a spring compressor. I jack at the frame to take all the weight off and soak the threads and spring seats with spray lube. Works great, very little effort to turn the collars.

I do also have a SPC compressor for doing full teardowns, works amazing but not cheap.

 

[Hockeydad55]

I also adjust the Eibachs without a spring compressor. I jack at the frame to take all the weight off and soak the threads and spring seats with spray lube. Works great, very little effort to turn the collars.

I do also have a SPC compressor for doing full teardowns, works amazing but not cheap.

That’s the model I planed on getting if I change the rear springs to HD ones.

 

[dgorsett]

Hmm. I would say if you stripped them while adjusting them, you are going to a much too high of a preload anyway and would risk them stripping out when you really exercise the spring anyway.

I’ve always done what gbud says as well - clean the threads, a bit of wd40 or pb blaster, jack the frame up so the tire is drooping, and I can almost turn my ProComp adjustment collar by hand.

But not all coil overs have a screw collar - I don’t have any useful input on a spring compressor.

The only experience I had with on vehicle adjustables was on my son's Tacoma. We had to use a 3' cheater to turn them with the load completely off. So IDK interesting to see how easy everyone says it is.

I used a $20 Amazon compressor to build my 5100's, I definitely WOULD NOT recommend. It did the rears OK, but on the second front I noticed the threaded shafts bending, too far along to quit, but we survived. Might be OK for on vehicle adjustment.

 

[Tricky Mike]

We had to use a 3' cheater to turn them with the load completely off. So IDK interesting to see how easy everyone says it is.

The included Eibach spanner has maybe an 8" handle and it's sufficient.

 

[SierraBronco]

Rock Krawler doesn’t require a compressor for adjusting their coilovers, just that the weight of the vehicle is off of them as others have suggested. (Aluminum body)

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