Changing struts

#21

On Thu, 03 May 2007 14:29:19 GMT, Brian Running
<brunning (AT) XXameritechXX (DOT) net> wrote:

Quote:

What is all this talk about unsafe spring compressors? I have done a
small number of struts on Rabbits with no drama.I can think of six
sets I have done.

And then, one day, you may have a set of them let go on you, as I did.
I had done it several times before, too, without problems. The last
time I did it, I was doing it the same way I have always done it, had
the top nut off the strut, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed the
compressor shifting, just a split second before the whole thing let go,
there was nothing I could do to stop it or get out of the way. It had
been sitting on a workbench in front of me, with everything right at
crotch level, but miraculously, parts flew in every direction except
towards me. It made a really loud WHAP! KA-BOING! noise, and then the
sounds of the various parts landing on the driveway, some of them thirty
feet away. My neighbor came running, my wife came running, the kids all
came running, the noise was that loud. I was white as a ghost, but no
harm done. I packed up all the parts, took it all down to a local shop
where they have a proper, mounted on the wall, semi-enclosed,
no-way-in-hell-this-thing-can-get-away strut compressor, and the
mechanic finished the job for me in no time at all.

There's a reason that professional shops don't use the rinky-dink strut
compressors that you can buy over at NAPA or rent from Auto Zone, and a
lesson to learn from that.

From now on, considering the small additional cost, the time savings
and the safety, I will buy the complete strut packages. They also
include the new bearing and bushings, so it's a smart way to go.

I'm glad you've never had a similar experience, but don't get smug.
You're no better at it than I am. There's a lot of force in one of
those springs when it's compressed.
I am not smug. I have not suffered a exploding spring assembly yet. My

kit has two sets of bolts and clamps 180 degrees opposed. I do use the
little safety clips that come with my compressor kit and I do a little
on this side, a little on that side. That hopefully will minimize the
chance of grossly unequal tension that would cause the assembly to
blow up. The vise grips idea sounds good but I do not own 8 pair to
properly secure the compressor kit.

There are two reasons that pro shops don't use the rinky dink tools.
One is the rinky dink tools are not designed to do 20 sets a day. Two
is the rinky dink tools take 1/2 hour to do the task while a pro tool
takes 5 minutes. I guess a third benefit of the pro tool is some might
have a cage around things but maybe not.

#22

To keep those bolt/tools from sliding down the springs, 2 vise grips can
work, but 4 are better. <g>
The 2 tools will usually only try to slide in one direction.

Just be safe with whatever tool that you use! ;-)

And yes letting someone else do it is the safest way! Buy the reconditioned
and complete ones. lol
--
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

#23

Quote:

That hopefully will minimize the
chance of grossly unequal tension that would cause the assembly to
blow up.

It's not unequal tension that's the problem, it's the fact that the
spring coils are angled, and the hook will slide. Equal tension or not,
they want to slide "down" the coil.

Quote:

I guess a third benefit of the pro tool is some might
have a cage around things but maybe not.

Maybe you've never seen the nice ones that shops use -- they're
wall-mounted, the entire strut goes into it, the pressure is applied by
turning a large wheel or crank, force is applied to all sides equally
and at the same time. There's no possibility of slipping, because the
parts can't move in relation to one another. Here are a couple:

http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--BRA7400.html

http://www.allstates.com/Strut%20compressor.html

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Changing struts

Volkswagen Golf, Jetta, Corrado, Vanagon, new models, etc. (rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled)

Re: Changing struts - 05-04-2007 , 05:11 PM

Re: Changing struts - 05-04-2007 , 09:22 PM

Re: Changing struts - 05-05-2007 , 12:09 PM