8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor Kit Interchangeable Fork Coil Extractor Tool Set

I was very impressed with the 8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor Kit. I've been working on cars and motorcycles as a hobby for over 40-years.I'm also a tool critic and the first thing I read on Amazon are the 1-star ratings. Sure, there a few cases where the compressor failed. This can happen to any tool under load, so the best thing to do IMHO, is to place the strut and compressor on the floor or a workbench surface. This way, if there is a problem the spring is not going to launch at your face and/or head. Always proceed with caution and always wear safety glasses.That said, I was impressed with the sturdiness of the compressor. I used it for the front struts on my 2014 Dodge Charger R/T, which is a heavy vehicle with a V8 engine being carried by the front end. To my delight, the springs compressed rather easily and without any issues.A tip for using would be to capture the first full coil at either end of the spring. In making this approach, as the spring compresses, the load on the spring dampers is released rather quickly. In contrast, if you only get 1-2 full coils between the compressor jaws, then the spring sections outboard of the compressor jaws are going to keep expanding as the middle section is compressed. You'll wind up having to apply a higher overall load. So remember, get as many coils between the jaws as possible.A stern warning is to be sure to use the hex-head screws (one for each jaw) to affix the jaw to the compressor. You don't want to take a short-cut here and worry about a jaw slipping off of the compressor.You could use an impact on the compressor nut, but it really isn't necessary. I used a 22mm ratcheting box wrench and it was quite easy to tighten and loosen the compressor jaws.Lastly, make sure that the ends of the spring coils sit in their proper position of the spring dampers. Take pictures before you start, and you'll figure this out.Can't go wrong for $120, as it would probably cost you $40 to ship this kit to someone yourself.

Having used a couple of different styles of spring compressor to do Macpherson struts, I'm usually not very happy to do this job. That being said, getting struts done at a shop can be quite expensive and they usually don't install the best struts (ask me how I know). I purchased an HF clamshell style compressor so that I didn't have to worry about placing equal pressure on the typical compressor pair style. Even so, that compressor ended up putting far more force on one side (despite my best efforts) resulting in the struts being a bit off center. That ended up taking far more time futzing around to get the spring properly mounted to the strut. I decided to try these out and can't be more happy. I replaced the rear struts on my 2001 IS300 with OE struts and was amazed at how easy the process was. I ended up using two different sizes of "horseshoe" plates to accommodate the odd shape of the OE springs, but they fit perfectly. There was no bending of the spring and the process took very little time. Unlike the typical sketchiness associated with compressing springs that hold up several thousand pound vehicles, this compressor was a breeze to work with and gave much confidence. The only downside I can think of is that the instructions came only in German, but not like you really need them because it's pretty self-explanatory. I will say that the instructions state that you are not to use an impact gun with this compressor, and I followed that instruction. Even so, the process of tightening the spring took only a few turns with a 1/2 manual ratchet and with very little trouble. Also, the blow molded case is nice, especially since this compressor is quite hefty. I cannot adequately describe how pleased I am with this kit and will not have a second thought when it comes to changing struts. If you've toiled with the standard cheap spring compressors and are thinking about going with a wall-mounted compressor, you might just give this kit a try. I'm very happy I did.

This spring compressor set is what you need if you plan on replacing shocks/struts on your car. Don’t even consider using those 2-piece compressor rod kits that are scary to even look at. Spend the extra money and get this setup for much better peace of mind and potentially avoid a visit to the ER!This kit is super heavy duty… the case with everything in it has substantial weight. The kit includes 3 different sets of forks to match the diameter of your spring. The forks each have a plastic cover on them to help prevent scratches to your springs while in use. The forks attach to the main tool with a sit in groove design and are secured by included hex bolts. You’ll need a 5mm hex wrench in order to tighten them down. If you have conical springs you can mix and match the forks and use the included extension bar to line up a smaller fork with a larger form so the conical spring is correctly aligned in the tool.To use the tool first install the proper size forks and lock them down with the bolts, then simply turn the large bolt at the end of the tool to move the forks closer together until the are in a position where you can fit the spring between them and have the forks resting on two coils of the spring with enough room in between for it to be compressed. Then continue tightening the bolt to drive the spring coils together. You’ll need a 22mm socket (the instructions say 21mm, but it’s actually 22mm), preferably 1/2” drive, to perform the compression turns on the bolt.There is enough room on the open end of the forks to add a single rod from one of the standard, scary, compression tools if you’d like to attach one for just a little extra margin of safety.I used this tool to change out the shocks on a Mazda Miata and it worked great. The tool was very stable and was easy to use.