dogpile5

i have done over 100 suspension installs on all types of vehicles over the years but tonight i scared the **** out of myself. i was installing a set of springs on a 99 acura 3.0CL when the spring compressors popped off the spring. i had just begun to decompressed spring the spring off the shock body when the compressors simply popped off the spring. the spring never left my grip but one of the compressors hit me squarely in the chest and landed a few feet away on the floor. the other one shot up in the air and got stuck on one of the bikes hanging in the garage on the wall. there were two people watching 2 feet away from me when it happened. i got lucky as **** tonight doing something i have done a zillion times before. all weekend warriors and do-it-yourself builders out there be please careful, no matter what it is you are working on or how many times you have done it before!!

kidkombo

man, what you do is not use a spring compressor...
what i do it get two tires (probably off the car your gonna slam) and put the shock in between them. no before you put the shock in between, get a carpet or thick blanket type of thing and wrapp the whole shock assembly in it, then shoot it off and boom everything is there and your face is still together.

just a thought

toto

good you didnt kill yourself doing it for the zillionth time!!

Mista Bone

reason why I use a spring comprssor with u bolts, they DO NOT slip off. May take a extra 5 minutes per corner, but I like my organs intact.

JSTOCK

Even with a compressor I tense up like a little girl right before I get that nut off the top of the strut. That was a close call, dude!!!

DragII

Exactly!

dogpile5

had a dream last night i woke up looking like sloth from "the goonies" as a result of the compressors jumping off. i am lucky man!

i have come to the conclusion that the compressors i was using were not designed to be used on springs with such a high spring rate. i have done a lot of suspensions on civic/integras, but never on anything as big as the 30.cl before. btw, i did have u-bolts, they broke off...




[Modified by dogpile5, 12:07 PM 4/3/2002]

JSTOCK

<----------------check title

"Baby.....Ruth!!"

Kamin

BoostedSi

I do the same thing except i dont use the tires. I just wrap the spring around with a piece of carpet and hold them down with my feet. Other than getting a little nervous towards the end, it works just fine

b19coupe

Every time I do struts or springs I cringe. You were lucky that you did'nt get seriously injured. I'm glad you lived to tell the tale.

stkd16z6

forget the spring compressor.... i just disconnect the lower fork and let the shock and spring pop on the car. just disconnect the lower fork, and loosen the top nut while standing in front of the car...... works like a charm. the rears never pop like the fronts so i just pop them off the car. ever since my brother got hit by a popped spring i just pop them on the car.

Mista Bone

even safer way, disconnect the lower fork bolt LAST!

Set a floor jack under the LCA till it just barely compresses. Remove the upper bolt, lower the floor jack.

Now try this on a 70's GM car if you want excitement!!!!!!!!