Using a spring Compressor

[GMBoy]

Hey guys, gotta quick question for you. A friend asked me to change all 4 shocks on her car. Actually, its 2 rear shocks (easy) and 2 front struts. No problem except swapping the springs between the old and new struts. That is what bothers me. Labor wise with me doing it for her would save her almost $350 and I don't mind that I'd have to buy the spring compressor tool for around $40 because you can never have enough tools.

What tips do you have? Its an 05 CTS.

 

[Win]

I would take the strut/spring assembly to a shop, and pay them to swap them.

I don't like springs.

 

[onion]

For your sake I hope this is a good friend. I mean, that's a lot of work and potential for subsequent hassle unless she's making it worth your time.

 

[Dave Hess]

If she can afford a CTS then should can afford taking it to a shop and have a person do it.

 

[JakeR22]

You could rent the compressor from Autozone or some place similar for free.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Win
I would take the strut/spring assembly to a shop, and pay them to swap them.

X2 or buy the quick strut things.

 

[Stu_Rock]

I'm going to take the opposite position. Get good quality (still not very expensive) spring compressors and use them.

It's more time consuming than the wall-mount compressor at a shop, but it's really not that bad.

The really scary springs are the ones from cars with soft suspension. You can store a lot of strain energy in soft springs. The CTS will have stiff springs, and it will be a breeze (at least the spring compressing part--no promises about the rest of the job).

 

[FL_Rob]

I would question why she came to you and said 'I want you to change out shocks on an '05' .Have you diagnosed this as all 4 going bad or are there 22 inch rims on this ,and the ride went away.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: onion
For your sake I hope this is a good friend. I mean, that's a lot of work and potential for subsequent hassle unless she's making it worth your time.
YEP

 

[mechanicx]

You can rent a spring compressor from the autoparts store. The thing I don't like about them over the bench mounted ones besides being time consuming and not quite as safe is I suspect they can nick the spring coating off. I think though if you use them properly the spring is not going to pop out.

You might need an impact to remove and install the strut nut. And an alignment is probably in the cards. Maybe you could agree to just do the rear shocks?

 

[GMBoy]

Thanks for all the responses, guys. Yes, she is a great friend and I do all the work on her car. It has 88k miles and the struts and shocks are due for replacement. I do all kinds of auto work but never cared to do spring changes on a strut. You cannot buy them all together, only separate unfortunately. The job itself less the spring change out should be under 2 hours.

I'm doing the job Friday evening after work so I probably couldn't find a shop to do the spring swap for me which is why I was looking into my own tool. But - if the PEP BOYS is open late maybe I can pay them to do it - I'd pay $20 or so for that service.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
I would question why she came to you and said 'I want you to change out shocks on an '05' .Have you diagnosed this as all 4 going bad or are there 22 inch rims on this ,and the ride went away.



Correct. I always verify and diagnose before all repairs. Some woman just want and not really need. But, with nearly 90k miles she is due shocks and struts.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
If she can afford a CTS then should can afford taking it to a shop and have a person do it.



That's really not a fair comment. If you must know, she bought the car used 2-3 years ago. It's an 05 and in great shape - she got a nice Cadillac for less than a new Chevy or Toyota.

 

[onion]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Thanks for all the responses, guys. Yes, she is a great friend and I do all the work on her car. It has 88k miles and the struts and shocks are due for replacement. I do all kinds of auto work but never cared to do spring changes on a strut. You cannot buy them all together, only separate unfortunately. The job itself less the spring change out should be under 2 hours.

I'm doing the job Friday evening after work so I probably couldn't find a shop to do the spring swap for me which is why I was looking into my own tool. But - if the PEP BOYS is open late maybe I can pay them to do it - I'd pay $20 or so for that service.

2 hours? Good luck with that.

Like I said, I hope she's making it worth your time. And you DO realize that any free work that you do for a female comes with a mandatory lifetime warranty- right?

Better hope the battery doesn't go out within the next 5 years. It'll be YOUR fault.

 

[The_Jeff]

Depending on the car design, the car can be the spring compressor. (Some mustangs are like this.) Probably a good idea to get a couple strut jobs under your belt before doing this.

If you buy/rent a threaded-jaw style compressor, toss a little oil on the threads to make it work easier.

 

[mechtech2]

Often auto parts stores will often loan you [or rent] tools like this, when you buy the parts there.
Or rent one from a rental place.
Good high quality spring compressors work 10 times better than cheapo crud.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: onion
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Thanks for all the responses, guys. Yes, she is a great friend and I do all the work on her car. It has 88k miles and the struts and shocks are due for replacement. I do all kinds of auto work but never cared to do spring changes on a strut. You cannot buy them all together, only separate unfortunately. The job itself less the spring change out should be under 2 hours.

I'm doing the job Friday evening after work so I probably couldn't find a shop to do the spring swap for me which is why I was looking into my own tool. But - if the PEP BOYS is open late maybe I can pay them to do it - I'd pay $20 or so for that service.

2 hours? Good luck with that.

Like I said, I hope she's making it worth your time. And you DO realize that any free work that you do for a female comes with a mandatory lifetime warranty- right?

Better hope the battery doesn't go out within the next 5 years. It'll be YOUR fault.


1. My GM labor guide says 1.5hr for both. I added a 1/2 hour for good measure. With 2 guys working it should be about right.

2. I never said the work was free. I do a little auto repair on the side and Corvette restorations as well as Buick GN work. She is paying a reduced labor rate, however.

3. You are so right about people - but so far with all the work I've done for her she's never been anything but fair. Add that she works with me at GM - she knows a little about cars.

4. The battery is 6 months old.

Thanks for your input.