coil spring compression tool

I am still struggling to get my front coil spring installed on my 04 Taco 5-Lug, RWD. I am using a rental tool, the one affectionately refereed to as " the widow maker". Basically 2 threaded rods with 2 clamps on each end. As you tighten, it draws the spring in. I am just sure I am putting way more pressure on it then it is made to withstand. And then, the top of the bolts is butted up against the UCA, so it can't be turned! I turn it a little with a open end wrench, but can't get a socket over it. I think its time to throw it the towel with this POS, and start over. Really sad.
Has anyone had any experience with another type of tool to compress springs? I am looking at one from harbor freight, also one from Eastman. Has anyone tried one of these on their 5 lug trucks?
Any suggestions?


https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-m...7nJO4BlnL-1XIc1gO88Wnv6uq5wU2gvoaAtVNEALw_wcB

 

Doesn't seem like you've been getting any takers...

I did a quick search though:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-remove-install-front-spring-5-lug-tacoma.722986/
which links to:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-5-lug-2wd-front-suspension-rebuild.719498/

If you read them, the OP uses a jack below the LCA to help compress the spring a bit, and then tightens the coil spring compressor.

Not sure how much help that is, but it appears doable.

 

@Sperrunner mind helping him which compressor to use? I havent installed my lift yet so idk

 

I use these but had t cut the rod down to fit right

 

doesnt the one that goes up through the middle of the coil work best? I've never even seen the one he has pictured in the OP

 

Not sure never used it.

i used the ones i sent, and did everything the label said not to do and was fine. But your results may very.

 

I've never needed to compress the spring when installing. Only to dissemble the coilover assembly. Make sure sway bar is disconnected, LCA bolts are loose. On my Tacoma I had to disconnect LBJ to install it. And use the bottle jack trick to push UCA down if needed.

 

5lug is different.

 

The 5 lug is different from the 6 lug coil-over. I wish now I had that. The threaded rod system is what I am using now. Its not working. The bolt on the thing hangs up the UCA so it can't come down all the way. The spring is so compressed that jacking the UCA no longer compresses the spring, The truck lifts up in the air, but the spring does not compress.
I did disconnect the LBJ. I could get it to the hole, but not enough to get the castle nut started, no matter how hard it tried, jacked, or pryed! I decided to disconnect the 2 bolts on the UCA from the inside. But I can't get them to line up to get a bolt started. Too muck pressure. It needs to go down, and to the right. I tryed getting a longer bolt, and hoped to pull it in, but no dice.
My next move will be to disassemble and start over with a different tool. I watch videos. Those folks don't have the problems I am having.
Thanks for your reply's

 

No offense meant Chris but why not just take it into a shop and pay them $50 bucks to do it for you? Sure you're going to spend a little but the hassle you've been through not to mention the risk with those compressors - worth it IMO I guess.

 

What exact work are you trying to do here? Are these the same springs that you removed, or are you doing a refresh and installing new springs?

If you're having issues with a process others can do, you need to pin point the difference.

 

I have 98 5-lg rwd.....
The one I got to work, I had to wrangle around, take the nuts off and slip/spin them in coil and then thread.
Other side I had to flip one side upside down. Had to use jack under lca and move up/down.
Had to take a crow bar and spread a little to get a nut or two in, slow moving royal PIA....

Nice to have drill w/19mm socket,...and a little scissor jack...

.

 

This truck was in a wreck last July. i bought another 04 truck with the 2.4 engine and cut the bell out and welded it place to replace the damaged one. Everything lines up the same as the other side. I am reinstalling the same spring that was in there before, only its been without tension for 10 months. Could that have an effect?
You can see all that I have done on my build page https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/04-coil-spring-bucket-graft.745614/#post-26553633

 

The honest answer is because there is no engine in it at the time. I don't own a trailer, nor anything to pull it with if i did. My only option would be to hire a rollback. Very expensive now with high diesel cost. At least $100 each way. This makes the cost of the tool more reasonable. The plan is to put 4 wheels under the truck again. Install the engine, and align the front, then I should be mobile again. I do have a friend who can come help me. It may come to that. He doesn't help for free. In fact I had planned to call him tonight. But I would like to do as much of it as I can myself. I know I will need help getting the engine and tranny joined up, when the time for that comes. I will defiantly get my friends help then. I don't know what it is about these small trucks, but this project is a labor of love. Most folks don't understand that.
Thanks for your comment.
Read more about my misadventures here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/04-coil-spring-bucket-graft.745614/#post-26553633

 

Put spring in place and imagine what clamp position you'd need to extract...
the limit you have is uca is way of either end of the screw.....its an iq puzzle...
scissor under the lca allows you to raise it to catch bottom lip of spring in its seat before you release the spring fully.....took some head scatching.....

hard part was getting clamp pieces out in the end, took some crowbar action.

And thats a smaller weaker spring, not as dangerous as u think....

 

I had to use this when installing my 6112s. Not sure how different a 5-lug is but this gave me quite a bit of clearance needed to work with the fatter shock tube. Powerbuilt 641429 rented from AutoZone.

 

This. It’s inexpensive to have a spring compressed and installed. Not worth the risk of injury and difficulty with a hand tool. It will take forever to do what takes minutes on a shop compressor.

 

The truck is sitting in pieces in his back yard....in pieces....
long term ambitious restore passion project....major frame surgery.

 

I still wouldn’t compress a spring with hand tools. Scares the shit outta me just thinking about it.

 

Ah- I was thinking that was the case... So there is the possibility that the "bucket" as you referred to it, is not exactly in the same location, and could be attributing to your issue? Did you remove the spring from the opposite side as well? If so, are you able to get the spring in the un-touched bucket?