I just though I would share with everyone that I finally found an decent spring compressor that works on old-school Honda double wishbone springs! The best part is it only cost $35 at Oreilly Auto Parts (Kragen/Checker/etc).

W80555:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...-1_-1&pt=N0724





I just used this tool to replace the top hat bushings on both my front & rear shocks (Stock springs & shocks on 89 CRX Si). It's pretty simple to use, but I do have a few tips. When you install the shackles over the coils, tighten the 14mm nuts down pretty snug. This prevents the tool from walking around the sides of the spring once compressed. The first time I used this, I ended up with both halves of the tool on one side of the spring. If that happens, you end up with your spring in a )) shape and it was not the easiest situation to get out of. As long as you snug the shackle nuts down, the spring will compress nice & straight. This allows you to easily slip the damper in & out without issue. And since each coil is shackled to the tool, there is no chance of them slipping out and maiming/killing you.

The compression bolts & nuts are large 26mm (1-inch), so you definitely want to have a big socket & wrench handy to do the work.

This tool was very easy on the front Si springs (evenly spaced coils). The rear, however, seemed like it might have give me problems. The rear springs have progressive tightly wound coils at the tops and the shackles can't fit between them. I assembled to the tool to exclude those tight coils and it still compressed the spring without issue. Those tight coils don't expand hardly at all as you compress the rest of the spring. The rears came apart with very little effort.

So there you have it. An inexpensive tool that works on the old EF's. A must have if you plan on keeping your stock springs.

 

We call any spring compressor not mounted to a wall "widow-makers" where I come from! Be careful as hell using this ish!

 

spring waaahh???? no need when you got 36 way coilovers

 

I feel like i could make this at home depot for $5.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/macpher...-set-3980.html this one works.

 

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I don't see how that one is very safe at all. Do those accessory hooks actually clamp onto the coils or something? With a regular "claw" type spring compressor, it's very easy for the prongs to slip off the coils if the spring doesn't compress straight. That's the major reason I like the one I posted. It cannot slip off.

 

you can use two compressor on one spring

 

it works quite fine. the single claw i grip under the lower perch, not the coil. it doesnt go anywhere.

the rears never need a spring compressor.

go ahead and be content with your compressor. thanks for sharing. you dont have to use anything else... im just sharing what works for me too....