Decompressing stock springs by jacking?
 

Hi all,

I've seen a few methods on youtube where people get around using a spring compressor by undoing the strut locknut up top and then slowly jacking the front of the car to decrompress the spring.

Obviously, this isn't the most conventional method but is it safe enough? Only issue I see is that there is unecessary downward load on the swaybar end-link as you jack the car up and the wheel starts to droop.

Has anyone attempted this before? This is where I got the inspiration:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C-ZUGi4R-Q"]Car Noob Ep. 7 - FR-S / BRZ Lowering Springs - YouTube[/ame]

Purpose is to reuse some of the items on the camber plate that I have installed on my stock struts in preparation for coilovers.

Thanks!

There's a post in the DIY section where some folks have done it that way.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...hlight=springs

You can get spring compressors at Pep Boys or Advanced Auto for like $30-50 or you can rent them. I would personally go that route instead, but the choice is yours.

While not recommended for all McPherson setups, I and others (mostly thanks to Jeebo, mentioned by cnk above) have found you can undo the nut of the front struts while the car is on the ground, and then simply jack the car up and take off as normal. It will pop down, but the force is so neglible that it has been determined a safe procedure to do. I personally have done this twice on the twins, once on my friend's, and once on mine. Each time was as predicted.

YMMV but I doubt it! Have fun

You can stand it up on the floor and have someone lean on the mount while you take off the top nut.

Perfect, thank you!

A little bit more tricky to do when operating pass through wrenches, hands and bodies tend to get in the way. But yes you can!

The on-car method can be done solo, however

I did my springs that way by myself no issues. Just followed the DIY here on the forum

Me too, actually. I bought Sportlines that were attached to stock struts from a member on here a few weeks ago (he said he didn't have the tool to remove them ;) ), so I just leaned on them while tackling the bolt with a T-bar allen and passthrough driver. Not that bad innit.

I have found the on-car method to be waaaay easier, though, so that's what I'm underlining

@Koa with on car method, do you find there's unnecessary load on the swaybar end link? I can't fully visualize it now but I feel that typically a lot of the load would be on the strut lock nut/bolt and not on endlink. Any thoughts/watchouts?

If your that worried about the swaybar end link, why not just disconnect it first. Im the one in that video doing the work, ive done this for years when i didnt have a spring comp available. i have them now, but even then this is so much faster, the only part that suck is i haven't found a pass through socket for the rears, but ive only done one other set of springs since this video last year. most get coilovers..

-Thomas

Yes, it works; and works good. I've been using this technique since the early '90s on several different cars.

:party0030:

For the rears, it truly will have to be a "lean on it and unbolt" scenario innit, GL OP have fun!

Won't have to worry about rears, that can stay I'm one piece - just have to get my camber plates off the fronts!

This. ANd the kicker is that the rent ends up being FREE! There's no need to use awkward or dangerous methods to compress or decompress your springs. Unlike some cars, the strut assemblies can be removed in one piece on these cars. You can then safely disassemble them on a workbench in a safe matter. Even though Subaru uses very little pre-load, it's good practice to work with springs in this manner.