I am changing read shocks on my 91 civic. I went out and bought a set of spring compressors and I'm a little lost on how exactly to use them. I get the general idea but they didn't come with any instructions. Anyone have instructions? I have the struts completely out of the car at this point.

Edit: Also, how do I remove the top nut on the strut?


Modified by burntheblobs at 4:25 PM 1/24/2008

 

JUST ZIP ZIP ZIPPITY ZOO THE NUT ON TOP OFF AND JUST STAND BACK

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fin781 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">JUST ZIP ZIP ZIPPITY ZOO THE NUT ON TOP OFF AND JUST STAND BACK </TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't be an idiot, he could get hurt.

You need an alan wrench put into the very top of the damper piston to hold it still while you undo the nut with a 14mm open end wrench. When you get close to having the nut coming off, just put a towel over the end while you are finishing and it should keep everything from ending up in your eye......

Just use the spring compressor for the reinstall, just tighten each side a little as you go,
and go from there....its slow but not painfull....

 

I have never used a spring compressor. use a air gun and blast the nut off, it barely pops up. when putting it back together it does help to have a friend push the spring/tophat down so you can get the nut started, then zip it on with the gun

 

put shock tower on ground

point strut at enemy

foot on coil, impact gun on 14mm

undo

shoot strut at enemy

enjoy

 

HAHA, strut gun. yeas, i have a friend who doesnt use a spring compressor, just point it away and itll pop off a little. just be careful buddy