I am going to replace front shocks on a 2001 4Runner soon. I will be doing this solo or taking it to a shop. I have done tons of stuff but never used spring compressors. I assume I lock the spring into a vice and then compress it to remove the shock. What is the worst case scenario here? If the compressor fails does the shock go thru the roof or what? Can you double up and have two sets for a backup?

 

It is not that tough of a job. Just make sure you rent some nice spring compressors and go into the job with some fresh arms, unless you have an impact wrench. I attempted the job with the tundra springs by myself and I ended up taking the shocks and springs to a shop and just had them assemble the strut. Keep in mind I was attempting to assemble it by myself without a vice, after already spending the majority of the day putting on my rear lift. Once you assemble the strut its a piece of cake, just make sure you put some thread locker on the 4 bolts that hold on the lower control arms.

 

Well since your still on stock springs you may not need to remove the lower control arm bolts

 

You are talking about a vice.....DONT USE a bench vise. You can get actual quality spring compressors from any tool outlet. And dont skimp on the quality. You do not want to know what happens when that stuff breaks. Just ask my right knee

 

It's not that bad at all, I've done springs/shocks by myself with no problems. The main thing is to take it slow and make sure you compress the springs evenly. In other words, don't crank one compressor down all the way and then the other.

 

You need to be VERY careful when compressing the springs.

I have done a few and i won't do it anymore. A friend of mine was THIS close to losing a finger whne we did his civic once. The compressor slipped and rammed his finger hard, had it moved another half inch it would have come off. As it was he got some real bad cuts and it hurt for a good while.

Personally i will take mine to a shop and have them do it.

 

I use my press and homemade coil spring adapter to ensure that it can't slip out. Works like a charm and it is perfectly safe.

 

I bought a quality set and they included safety chains to prevent the spring from flying if they fail.

 

Thanks - just for clarification I was using the bench vice to hold the spring not to compress it...

 

i use one of these bad boys http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45860
granted its not one of those things you will use alot, but man is it handy when you do. ive used those spring compressors you can rent at autozone or wherever, but i just dont trust them. i too have had too many close calls with getting hurt. i was also suprised with the quality of that setup considering it was from harbor freight, but it seems to be made better than most HF tools anyways hope this helps

 

I have been surprised many times over at the quality of Harbor Fright tools and stuff. I am lucky and have a store about 5 mins from me and don't have ot pay shipping and get lots of deals that are not online. Like there drills work better than all the brand name drills i have used. They have all lasted about the same with the HF drills actually lasting longer in some cases but costing a frication of the price.