In NY they usually charge around 375 for spring installs.
In NY they usually charge around 375 for spring installs.
Im in PA around the Philly area, and Ive been quoted over 300 by 3 shops, and told 'no, thats illegal and we wont do it' by a 4th shop. Id love to do it myself but I heard it was pretty hard to do.
Thanks a million Nate, you may have just saved me a few hundred dollars.
and the model spring compressor you should use is your floor jack, alot easy and cheaper than a spring compressor.
i just did my h&r SS spring/d spec install this week, i rented a spring compressor and well it didn't fit, so i ended up just using a jack under LCA and slowly letting it down till spring was not under tension and gave the LCA a swift push down with my foot (after disconnecting sway bar, strut and tie rod end from spindle) and spring fell out. the rear was a pita for me since the LCA bolt was seized in it, took a air hammer to get it out. front took me about 1.5 hours since everything came loose with ease, the rear took a bit longer because of the dicking with the 2 LCA bolts.
Will be doing MM c/c plates this weekend since i failed to remember to order them til i was already installing front struts.
if you have basic wrenching skills, basic tools and some PB plaster - i would do it yourself.
There is no reason to use a spring compressor on the rear springs anyways since the LCA has a perch to hold the spring in place. You can just slowly lower the jack until all tension is relieved from the spring and remove. The fronts, however, are a different story. The only way to remove them w/o a spring compressor is to either remove the tie rod ends or use a prybar. Skipping on the spring compressor for the fronts is not worth the risk IMO.
it was the fronts that the spring compressor didn't fit, the rear i just used a jack under LCA again like i did in front.
ive never used a spring compressor for the fronts..mainly cause every auto parts store that rents them out always gives out the wrong one..just lower the control arm down with a jack and stand to to the side if your scared...
ive done plenty of spring installs and never used a compressor and never ever had a springs shoot out or show any kind of force while coming out.. they've all just simply slid out with no problems... i wouldnt recommend you stand in front of the spring and tug on it with your hands but just slowly ease the jack down and you'll have 0 problems