Spring compressor

[Robert McMillan]

Going to be running bilstein 5100s on my 2016 limited SWB. Has anyone had good success with spring compressors to get them off the shock or is everyone taking their trucks into a shop to have everything done?
PFA

 

[Vancouver Bob]

I had a good experience with this pair I borrowed from O'Reilly's. They were pretty much brand new. Just make sure the threads are in good shape. I had a not so good experience with a pair I borrowed from NAPA. The threads/bolts were worn and it jumped several threads on me while tightening them down.

 

[Robert McMillan]

I had a good experience with this pair I borrowed from O'Reilly's. They were pretty much brand new. Just make sure the threads are in good shape. I had a not so good experience with a pair I borrowed from NAPA. The threads/bolts were worn and it jumped several threads on me while tightening them down.

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Awesome thanks!

 

[07navi]

I had a good experience with this pair I borrowed from O'Reilly's. They were pretty much brand new. Just make sure the threads are in good shape. I had a not so good experience with a pair I borrowed from NAPA. The threads/bolts were worn and it jumped several threads on me while tightening them down.

View attachment 37324

Thanks, that's what I plan to do. I can't see paying extra for new springs just to save a little time especially when they could change the integrity of the suspension.

 

[Robert McMillan]

Thanks, that's what I plan to do. I can't see paying extra for new springs just to save a little time especially when they could change the integrity of the suspension.

Yeah, no need for springs unless you tow non stop on them. Great way to save some $$

 

[outdare]

I paid the shop down the street from me $20 per strut to swap the springs for me.

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[Trainmaster]

it jumped several threads on me while tightening them down.

I would have thanked God for each tooth still in my head after that one...

 

[Vancouver Bob]

I would have thanked God for each tooth still in my head after that one...

Yea, I had to change my shorts after that . It actually happened twice before I gave up on that set of spring compressors.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Thanks, that's what I plan to do. I can't see paying extra for new springs just to save a little time especially when they could change the integrity of the suspension.

I did end up replacing my springs while I was at it. Added spacers for the 3.5/2.5 lift. Looking back I may not have need to... just wanted to make sure I wasn't giving anything up on ride height plus wanted good springs to help with the larger/heavier tires. At least that's the logic I used to justify it .

 

[07navi]

I did end up replacing my springs while I was at it. Added spacers for the 3.5/2.5 lift. Looking back I may not have need to... just wanted to make sure I wasn't giving anything up on ride height plus wanted good springs to help with the larger/heavier tires. At least that's the logic I used to justify it .

What does better springs have to do with larger tires?

 

[Gary Waugh]

I also borrowed a spring compressor from O'riley, it looked brand new and worked a treat, I was surprised that they don't charge a rental fee!! the springs need quite some force to compress (I guess the expedition is a heavy old girl so needs stiff springs!). Took me about 3 hours to change all 4 shocks, i was surprised that I got the tracking checked afterwards and it needed adjustment, as I hadn't undone any of the steering joints, I had assumed nothing would need adjustment!! Maybe it was out before I changed the shocks, but I would suggest getting the tracking checked after you change the shocks.

Gary

 

[07navi]

I also borrowed a spring compressor from O'riley, it looked brand new and worked a treat, I was surprised that they don't charge a rental fee!! the springs need quite some force to compress (I guess the expedition is a heavy old girl so needs stiff springs!). Took me about 3 hours to change all 4 shocks, i was surprised that I got the tracking checked afterwards and it needed adjustment, as I hadn't undone any of the steering joints, I had assumed nothing would need adjustment!! Maybe it was out before I changed the shocks, but I would suggest getting the tracking checked after you change the shocks.

Gary

We have an O'reillys in this little town also thankfully. I think your front end was out before you worked on it but it's all good now.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

What does better springs have to do with larger tires?

Probably nothing... but my logic was heavier tires, more force against the springs when hitting bumps. Same reason I want a firmer shock.

 

[07navi]

Probably nothing... but my logic was heavier tires, more force against the springs when hitting bumps. Same reason I want a firmer shock.

No more force from bigger tires, the force comes from the bump, plus firmer shocks will just jar you more. You have that all backwards.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

No more force from bigger tires, the force comes from the bump, plus firmer shocks will just jar you more. You have that all backwards.

F=Ma... bigger the mass, bigger the bump, bigger the force

 

[Vancouver Bob]

F=Ma... bigger the mass, bigger the bump, bigger the force

Plus I added a new bumper up front so I increased load on the springs... front ones anyways.

 

[07navi]

F=Ma... bigger the mass, bigger the bump, bigger the force

The force comes from the weight of the vehicle pushing down and then rebounding with a given spring pressure, and the tire size and weight doesn't enter into that. Your analogy sounds good but not true.

 

[Robert McMillan]

F=Ma... bigger the mass, bigger the bump, bigger the force

Force on spring is acting in a downward vector, from the weight directly on top of the spring perch

 

[mjp2]

Plus I added a new bumper up front so I increased load on the springs... front ones anyways.

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Seriously nice job on that bumper paint job. Really flows with the truck and minimizes the underbite look that a lot of the offroad bumpers have on our rigs.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Force on spring is acting in a downward vector, from the weight directly on top of the spring perch

Very true. There's also an upward force from the road to the tire thru the lower control arm and eventually thru the strut perch. Spring isn't moving so sum of the forces must equal zero. When you're driving along and hit a bump in the road the tire bounces up, strut pushes up against the bottom of the spring, spring compresses, top hat holds the top of the spring in place, opposing forces must eventually equalize zero again. I'm just saying with a heavier tire that upward force is going to increase.