1996 Subaru Legacy L ABS 4 wheel drive - front passenger coil spring.

 

I plan on purchasing a new strut for on son's sub - and buying a used coil springs from a poster on this site. I had rented a coil spring compressor when I worked on my wife's van - Dodge Caravan sport - worked nice but when spring was compressed it slipped a couple of times - maybe user error.

 

My question on the sub - I have heard that the rental compressors don't match up well enough (on foreign cars) to safely compress the coil and hold it - I can't remember where I spotted one online but it was specifically made for Subaru's. So should I buy one? - if so any recommendations? - brand and or website? - or rent one? - any DIY tips on compressing the spring/replacing strut?

 

....Milty

got an automotive machine shop nearby? another option, take everything to them and pay them to swap stuff over.

 

I used 'borrowed' compressors from AutoZone to swap struts on my wife's 03 OBW. It worked but was tricky - prompted me to buy an electric impact too.

what he said - asking shops how much they charge to swap them out is a great idea - they're set up to do it in no time and don't have to charge much if they don't want too.  worth a call. 

 

the cheap coil compressors work great....if you've got an electric or air tool impact.  by hand - that would be awful, but surely it can be done.

get a cheap set of compressors and grease the snot out of the threads - they work fine for the occassional DIY use. 

or yeah - rent them.

Or even an easier idea, watch for a good set of KYB Struts in a self server yard and pull the complete strut.

 

$20 each is what I pay for them.  Bolt them right in.

The "rental" units from Advance Auto are very good.

Sturdy, lock pins and easy to use.

"Rented" a pair once and decided to buy them as I had a lot of struts to do on various Subys.

 

O.

Edited October 27, 20169 yr by ocei77

in all honesty - unless you plan on doing your own struts on a regular basis, and have multiple vehicles to do them on, buying is not really that cost effective.

 

renting is kind of a crap shoot - you may get a good compressor, you may not.

 

If you have all the parts in hand, struts off the car, and just need to get the spring compressed to swap things out, try taking it all to a local, independent auto repair place and ask them if they can do the spring compression for you. We did that with the fronts on my other half's 2006 LL Bean Outback.. took the struts off the car, took everything to a local shop, they used their spring compressor to remove the old strut, stuff in the new one, and for a small fee (maybe $20-25) we were in business, no muss, no fuss.

I wish I had an impact wrench and compressor I'll probably rent coil spring compress or from Advance but may also shop around for a local shop for an estimate. Last time I attempted a coil replacement on wife's van I could not get the top strut nut off - sure if I hit it with an impact wrench it would of broke free - ended up taking it to a Midas shop - charged me $60 - a rip off - same price if strut was in the van.

 

Checked local junk yard he has a complete strut/coil but rusty - wants $50.

 

Milty

Before I got a nice compressor I bought an electric impact. Best thing I bought. I used it quite a bit working on subys. I got a half inch impact from Lowe's for about $100 and have had it for years and still use it a lot.

top nut is tricky - need some kinda pass-thru for the (6mm ?) allen wrench to hold the strut from spinning.

 

I tried to do the compression on the first side with hand tools - that's when I bought the impact. Wish I'd bought one 30 years ago, even if just for removing lug nuts.

Top nut is easy after you have the strut out. Vice grips reach in, lock on and keep the chrome rod from spinning. Pay close attention to the top hat assembly make sure its in good shape before reassembly.

^^^ not bad

 

2 other little hints, pay attention to what points 'out' - mark orientation if you need to so things line up and point outwards after assembly.

 

very easy to break the strut mount studs - DO NOT over torque them.

Decent hydraulic compressors cost about $130. If your going to do 4 struts, a shop will probably charge $20 per strut to take the time and do it and many shops will look at it as at least 1hr of labor.. So that's gonna be $80-100 plus the gas to get to a shop.. If your planning on 4 struts, just buy a $130 compressor. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Coil-Spring-Compressor-6600-LBS-Auto-Strut-Hydraulic-Tool/201590947261?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39836%26meid%3Deb476f4f230641a88c0c9f9892f83ce1%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D371662465547

Thanks for the advice - I may just buy the compressor.

 

Milty