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I'm going to install 5100's on the front myself and looking for recommendations on a cost effective spring compressor that anyone has experience with and knows works with the F150 size/duty springs.
I installed my leveling spacer and it was no problem...just need to tackle the springs this time around.
This is my opinion of the set that I purchase from Harbor Freight. I will go to the mechanic down the street and have him compress the springs before I do that again.
Cheap and got the job done for me couple weeks ago. I had to use a wrench to tighten these down. Not enough clearance between top spring cup and tool for a socket to fit. The 5100's are awesome. Set mine at 1.26"
All the quotes from shops are 375-400 to do it and 200 to do it if I remove the struts and just bring them in. So 113 and a cheap 12 pack I'm in the green considering.
Have you talked to your local parts stores such as Oreillys or Auto Zone or Advanced etc. cause when I helped a friend with his truck we were able to "rent" for free. I cant remember what store specifically we rented from but they had multiple specialty tools that only ever got purchased and returned and that was the intended use for them. We didn't open a new package or anything, inventoried the parts to a clearly used spring compressor before we paid and then inventoried them again when they refunded us the money. Little bit dirty and you could see where people had used wrong sized sockets to turn down the compressors but did the job just fine.
This is my opinion of the set that I purchase from Harbor Freight. I will go to the mechanic down the street and have him compress the springs before I do that again.
Agreed. I have taken mine in to a suspension shop each time I have done them. Very dangerous, otherwise.
This is my opinion of the set that I purchase from Harbor Freight. I will go to the mechanic down the street and have him compress the springs before I do that again.
With that style tool, yes I'd agree. It's the wrong tool for the job.
Spring Compressor
