Disassembling front struts without a spring compressor!!!

[cooljess76]

Lol, I was thinking about trying this since I'm getting new shocks and struts and need to install my H&R race springs. Keep in mind that I've installed several suspension setups the correct way using the proper spring compressing tools and this was just something that I've always wanted to try

That being said, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS and after watching these videos, I guess I won't be attempting this. I wasn't going to be anywhere near the strut assembly when the nut came off, my plan was to attach an unplugged electric impact wrench to the strut hat nut with the trigger zip-tied in reverse. Then from a distance I was going to plug it in and watch the destruction unfold

These guys have balls! The guy in the first vid makes it look easy, but then... the guy in the second vid ALMOST DIED!!! At least they both did it with the strut laying flat on the ground. I couldn't even imagine someone trying this with the strut in a vise or positioned vertically. Doing so would indeed RIP YOUR HEAD OFF.

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

[Maverix]

I don't think I'll be attempting that anytime soon.

[roadrash]

Geez, I had a hard time watching the second one because I thought he was going to get hit with the spring or something. Thanks for getting me all tense for nothing. LOL

Why in the world was the 2nd guy using what looked like channel-lock pliers? That's some "natural selection" waiting to happen. heh heh

It looks like the big factor is how compressed the springs are before you try to take the strut apart, huh?

Hmmm... I can think of a few people whom I'd like to see try this. ;-)

[bimmern00b]

Yeah, that second one looked like it was going to turn into a Darwin Award winner. I have been paranoid about that kind of thing since I was a kid travelling with my dad in his semi and we were at a truck stop where a guy was putting air in a trailer tire and didn't watch what he was doing but got out of the way just before the tire blew and the flange ring from the wheel cut a surprisingly smooth hole through the roof. That would have been pretty ugly had he not jumped when he did!

[tiFreak]

that guy in the second video has no business working on a car first vid looks like the springs were shot or something because they didn't send the strut flying like in the second one

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by roadrash

Why in the world was the 2nd guy using what looked like channel-lock pliers?

I was thinking the same thing. The funny thing is that the guy using the pliers was working in a shop that you would think should have the proper tools. The guy in the first vid was working in a driveway and he had an impact, WTF?

Neither of course had the proper tools, The first guy probably didn't have a spring compressor while the second guy couldn't use a spring compressor because the strut was bent.

A shop that I used to go to has a wall-mounted one with a big ass lever that you pulled on to compress the spring, takes 30 seconds. When doing this at home, I use a set of spring compressor clamps, takes 5 minutes.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

that guy in the second video has no business working on a car first vid looks like the springs were shot or something because they didn't send the strut flying like in the second one

Seriously, that strut hat was just inches away from smacking that parked car. Had that thing hit a customer's car or even worse a customer I think the struts in the first vid didn't go flying like the one in the second vid is due to the amount of energy stored in the spring as roadrash said. I'm sure different cars have different loads of tension. I currently have Eibach springs on the front of my Ti. They're somewhat "shorter" than the stock springs, but definitely much stiffer. I doubt they would shoot the strut very far, but I'm not going to try it and find out. Man, I'm glad I decided to look it up on youtube before I actually tried it

[1996 328ti]

Considering you can borrow a spring compressor from a auto parts store for FREE, I don't understand why someone would not use it.

[L84THSKY]

I recently posted this on Ebay. Ended up selling it to a local guy who ran a VW shop.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3AIT&viewitem=

Originally Posted by cooljess76

Lol, I was thinking about trying this since I'm getting new shocks and struts and need to install my H&R race springs. Keep in mind that I've installed several suspension setups the correct way using the proper spring compressing tools and this was just something that I've always wanted to try

That being said, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS and after watching these videos, I guess I won't be attempting this. I wasn't going to be anywhere near the strut assembly when the nut came off, my plan was to attach an unplugged electric impact wrench to the strut hat nut with the trigger zip-tied in reverse. Then from a distance I was going to plug it in and watch the destruction unfold

These guys have balls! The guy in the first vid makes it look easy, but then... the guy in the second vid ALMOST DIED!!! At least they both did it with the strut laying flat on the ground. I couldn't even imagine someone trying this with the strut in a vise or positioned vertically. Doing so would indeed RIP YOUR HEAD OFF.

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

[angel318ti]

I'm terrified of springs. I never did any springs without a compressor for that reason.

[DaedHead8]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

Considering you can borrow a spring compressor from a auto parts store for FREE, I don't understand why someone would not use it.

All the auto parts stores around me do have the free spring compressor deal but they are almost always missing parts or bent or otherwise don't work they way they should. If you're gonna do a strut job, man up and buy the proper tools. Like jess said, even with a compressor it only takes 5 minutes.

[b-rad]

also notice that the first vid he held the spring stationary, allowing the strut to do whatever. The second vid he held the strut, meaning the spring, which weighed less, had to fly.

Agreed though, i got a compressor for free when i did my susp.