Heavy Duty Spring Compressor  

What is the purpose of a coil spring for vehicles?

Coil Springs are designed to enhance the vehicle’s suspension system. They are installed in vehicles to ensure that the driver does not have an uncomfortable and bumpy ride. Coil springs are used in addition to shocker absorbers/dampeners to absorb kinetic energy and dissipate it. Coil springs are most common in cars and vans. Leaf springs are more popular amongst heavier vehicles such as trucks. The latter is more suitable for trucks as coil springs are not designed to cope with heavier loads.

What are shock absorbers or dampeners?

Shock absorbers or dampeners work in conjunction with a coil spring to ensure a smooth ride. They are made out of steel to ensure they can withstand the high pressures associated with the forces. Both must be used together as the dampeners on their own would apply to much weight to the wheels and if the spring was used on its own there would be too much bounce or shock.

What is the difference between shock absorbers and struts?

Both shock absorbers and struts try to achieve the same thing, they try to dampen the movement of a vehicle’s suspension. Struts are important to the structure of the vehicle and usually appear as an extension to your wheel however the shock absorber is an individual component not associated with the structure of your vehicle. In essence, they both do the same thing but in different ways.

What is the purpose of a Coil Spring Compressor?

Changing strut assemblies, dampeners and/or coil springs can be one of the most dangerous jobs in an automotive workshop. Coil spring compressors are usually used when mechanics or technicians are carrying out repair work on a vehicle’s suspension and/or replacing shock absorbers. Coil springs require a large force in order to be compressed and human physical strength is not sufficient, this is where a spring compressor comes in. In essence a coil spring compressor takes the tension of the force of the spring to allow for the replacement of parts associated with the spring itself, strut, shock absorber and others.

How to choose the best spring compressor for you?

First of all, you’ll need to consider how universal the tool is. This means that if you’re likely to see various car manufacturers and models you’ll need to ensure your spring compressor is a universal tool. For instance, will you have to buy multiple clamps/claws for different vehicles? This is likely to be more costly and there is always the potential that they can go missing in the future costing you more in the long run. Consider the compression force of the machine, you will see below how much compression force is needed for the vehicles you are working on.

Secondly, how safe is the spring compressor? This answer can be achieved by using common sense. For instance, does it look safe? Are the safety devices robust and how many safety devices does it have? Is there any way the spring can leave the unit? If you’re paying for a heavy-duty machine you need to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller if they have any examples in the past of users getting hurt. It should be impossible for the spring to leave the machine if used correctly, the Simply 2.0 Hercules spring compressor states that it is impossible for it to leave this unit even if it is loaded incorrectly.

Finally, how quick is the machine? The largest cost in the workshop today is TIME. This unit will save the operator time and keep them safe. Springs are easily loadable into the unit and the time it takes to compress is less than 10 seconds (done safely). If you are using a machine which requires different clamps for different springs, this can be very time consuming.

Will the Simply 2.0 Hercules compress all the coil springs you’re going to see come in to your workshop?

The Simply 2.0 Hercules 9905 twin piston spring compressor boasts 2400KG of compression force, the 8011MEK spring compressor has an impressive 1800KG of compression force. This is the unit of measurement force that is most relevant for carrying out work on struts and shock absorbers.

In summary yes, both spring compressors will be more than adequate for your car coil springs and van coil springs workshop. JHM Butt have been supplying these machines for nearly 20 years and haven’t found a spring this won’t compress.

What makes a Coil Spring Compressor heavy duty?

Most spring compressors don’t have the compression force to completely future proof your operations, you might find certain springs such as Mercedes Sprinters that your machine is just not capable of compressing. These spring compressors usually do not have the stroke length to hold these springs and do not have the appropriate safety features for supporting more heavy-duty springs. In addition to this, some pneumatic operated spring compressors only contain a single piston which doesn’t give it enough force to compress certain springs.

Here are some examples of what makes a coil spring compressor heavy duty;

• To tackle some of the most heavy-duty springs such as 4x4s, light commercial, Mercedes vans you’ll need a compression force of over 1800KG of thrust force, 2400KG or above is advised.
• A robust safety cage rather than a flimsy chain
• A steel wire running through the centre of the unit to hold the spring compressor in place
• A strut holder to reduce the chance of the shock absorber falling on the user’s feet
• A larger stroke length to support springs with larger lengths

A lot of workshop owners will use the very basic spring compressors such as wishbone types that do not offer the same level of safety as our heavy-duty spring compressors.

Is this Spring Compressor suitable for Mercedes Springs?

Some of the C class springs are notoriously difficult to compress and require a significant amount of compression force. In addition to this, the upper plate of springs such as the C class make it difficult for the clamps to take hold of the spring. When the clamps are held against the spring they do not provide enough force to fully compress the spring. To ensure the job is done correctly, the Simply 2.0 Hercules spring compressor has one accessory. This is the universal top plate. The top plate allows for enough compressor force on the upper plate of the spring to fully compress the spring.

Each top plates comes as standard with 4 compression threads and 4 safety pins. The compression threads are the items that are designed to apply pressure to the top of the plate and the pins are another safety device aimed at ensuring the stability of the spring in a scenario of an incorrect load or misfire.

What vehicle manufacturers can this spring compressor compress?

There are certain springs that will take more effort than some however the Simply 2.0 Hercules Spring compressor can compress all springs on the market. For instance, it will compressor Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Peugeot, Citroen, Mini, Volkswagen Group, Tesla, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Maserati, Vauxhall, Honda, Rolls Royce, Daimler, McLaren and many more.

Do I have to Buy the Universal Top Plate?

The universal top plate is the only accessory required with this heavy duty spring compressor. The patented clamps on their own will cover you for 95% of springs however there are some springs that are not suitable for the clamps alone. Some of our competitors have multiple accessories for different manufacturers and models, purchasing these accessories can be very expensive and ensuring these don’t go missing in the workshop isn’t always the easiest of tasks. The Simply 2.0 has a major advantage as you don’t need to worry about storing all these accessories as the universal top plate sits inside the machine so there’s no chance of it going missing.

In summary, no you don’t have to purchase the universal top plate however you may find springs that you will struggle with. Purchasing the universal top plate will ensure you are fully covered.

What do I need to do after using the spring compressor?

As a general rule of thumb, after working on a vehicle’s suspension it’s always important that you check the vehicle’s wheel alignment, camber and toe can easily be affected whilst carrying out work on strut and shock absorbers. In addition to this, we always suggest a road test to check for any unusual symptoms such as an overly bouncy or hard suspension.

With regards to the equipment, it’s good practice to disconnect the airline and place the safety cage in an upwards position ready for the next user.

Are there any other options I can buy with this spring compressor?

There are a few added options we offer with the spring compressor, these include;

The A9112 height extender – This extension raises the height of the spring compressor by 30cm, some users prefer this as it makes the unit taller.

The FAH8075 Air Hose – This is a 7.5m air hose. If you don’t have an air hose in your workshop it may be worth you looking at our high quality hose with a PCL fitting included.

An air-line adaptor is required for your spring compressor, if you don’t have one in your workshop get in touch with the team today.

Installation – Our GEA accredited engineers can provide installation and basic training on site. This includes assembling the unit as well as bolting down to ensure the safety of your employees.