I know I can rent some, but they seem cheap enough own from what I see online. There's so many choices though. Can anyone recommend a good pair of spring compressors from experience?
I know I can rent some, but they seem cheap enough own from what I see online. There's so many choices though. Can anyone recommend a good pair of spring compressors from experience?
Better than renting...orielly or autozone will let you borrow them.
I prefer real ones that aren't the type you can borrow/rent because they are kinda dangerous. However, the ones I've rented from orielly were big enough to keep me feeling safe. The downside to these tools with OEM springs is they are hard to fit so that the compressors are 180 degrees away from each other. With aftermarket it is easy.
I just borrowed from local o'reily and I was fine for swapping springs on my E46
I have a set of Craftsman spring compressors which have held up very well over the years.
trancenation's Alpine Weiss ZHP
These look like yours? $50 + Lifetime warranty sounds good to me!
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-strut...p-00947057000P
Call Me Dane l 2/2004 330i ZHP l 18x8 ET45 BBS CK's wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ @ 245-40-18 l KW V1 Coilovers in front l KW V1 springs w/ Bilstein B8 dampeners in rear l BMW Performance Rotors l UUC StrutBarbarian l Racing Dynamics Rear Strut Bar l Jim Conforti Shark Injector l Light Birch Interior Trim l Bimmian Celly Mount l M3 Trunk Mat l l e90 Performance E-Brake & Shift Knob l M3 Tri-Stitched Boots l AL Headlight Retrofit with ZKW Lenses l CobyWheel Wrap w/M3 Stitching l LCM sw 4.5 triple blink and rear fogs l Maple Interior Trim
I've got this one from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/single-...sor-43753.html
It is NOT made well enough for more than occasional use. I've probably removed 8 springs with it so far and it's not showing any signs of giving up yet.
2006 CiC 6MT
ZHP, Cold Weather, Xenon
Sapphire Black / Black Leather / Black Cube
I borrowed mine from autozone. I couldn't justify buying them. I figure I won't be changing springs all that often (and honestly, I don't WANT too. The spring compression rates are enough to make me very cautious).
Bought a set of the Schwaben ones from ECS Tuning about a month ago and had good success with them, as well as felt pretty secure in using them removing OEM springs and swapping for H&R Sports. Cost was $34.95 I believe, so worth it to own a pair of these for any future work needed. Couldn't justify some of the really costly options ($200 or so) for very light home use.
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330...ors/ES1306817/
-Brettski