Front Shock Install...Spring Compressor

[MississippiMaro]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone here that has done the front shock replacement knows if the "Strut spring compressors" they loan out from AutoZone will work. In my chilton's manual it shows a completely different kind of spring compression tool. I just got my Z-28 T/O Shocks from SLP and I'm itching to put them on.

[viper98885]

Yes, they will work. I used to use those before I got a nice spring compressor setup

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

They have two different types of spring compressors. Get the right one. It's the one that goes on the outside. 2 of them on one spring. It has blocks. Do yourself a favor and check the threads, some of those are cross threaded.

[Backfire]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Do yourself a favor and check the threads, some of those are cross threaded.<hr></blockquote>

Or bent! Don't know how it was accomplished, but when I got a set home one of the shafts was bent enough to bind the block and prevent usage. Wish they would check this crap when they get it in, but also mine fault for not checking it before rental.

One suggestion, it took some help from people on the board for me to figure out the proper procedure. I had to remove the blocks from the shaft in order to fit them around the spring. You need to rotate them a bit to fit between the spring coils and this cannot be done while assembled. Once you do that it is still a little tight. I had to insert the block at the first coil and then slide it around to get into position as it would only fit between the last two coils.

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

V6 springs are easy and so are 1LE springs. But man V8 springs are such a pain. I only cliped 2 coils when I was compressing it cause the springs were so dense. When you reinstall them, DO NOT, remove the spring compressor. Align the top holes and put 2 bolts through the shock mount. Then unscrew the spring compressor. This will save you some time with guessing the correct alignment of top to bottom.