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

I've used many spring compressors over the years, including the older kind with a pair of separate long spindles with a small clamp on both ends that you put on each side of a spring to squeeze it, as well as a very nice looking large single clamp style one that I rented from autozone (similar to these) that worked ok, but bent when I used it. I got this one because it looked a lot like the kind sold on european car part websites for $250+, but was much more affordable and got good reviews. I used it yesterday to compress the front strut-spring assemblies on my 2011 BMW X5, for which the springs are almost conical in shape (wider at the top, narrower at the bottom), and it worked really well. I had tried using the paired spindle style compressor on these springs before, and they would bend and couldn't squeeze the spring enough to loosen it off of the strut. But this unit worked like a charm! I ended up using the mid-sized clamps for this particularly application, and it's nice to know the larger and smaller clamps are there for me to use on my sports coupe and on my truck as well. I give this a 5 star rating. However, I would highly recommend (as a few other reviewers have) that you grease up the spindle drive screw with some heavy duty synthetic grease before you use it - it ships with a light coat of oil, which is great to keep it from rusting, but just not enough to lube it for real use. I also lubed the outer portion of the shaft that the lower clamp slides along using some 3-in-1 oil, as it bound up a little bit when releasing it (when backing it off it would hang a bit and then pop a millimeter or two). Great product! Does a great job, and is a real sturdy and well put together piece of hardware.

I have used the two bolt type compressors in the past to compress strut springs but always had an extreme pucker factor when tightening those bolts. Thy just don’t exude confidence when you see them bowing. This tool though effortlessly compresses the springs with no flexing or distortion. Keep the screw lubed and it’s almost effortless. Says no impact and to be honest there’s no need for one. I have used it on several different vehicles and it has worked perfectly on all of them. Highly recommend this tool from both a safety aspect as well as ease of use. I don’t use the plastic inserts, I want the most positive bite on the spring possible and my cars are not show cars so who cares if it’s scars they paint on the spring a little. Honestly I don’t see any damage without the inserts. Quit using the cheap two bolt compressors, they aren’t worth the risk. There is a tremendous amount of stored energy in those springs. They can easily break bones ore worse if they let go at the wrong moment. Be safe not sorry!!

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.

I used the item several times without the yellow covers and it worked great. The covers just got in the way.

Solid piece of equipment except for plastic carry case, internal damage (cracked and broken)

Bought and used this spring compressor on a 2019 chev trail boss to add a lift/ levelling kit. This unit had no issue compressing the strut springs to add spacers. Strong. No bending and multiple sized holders for great adjustability and supoort different sized springs. Easy to use and held the spring solidly with the inner and outer lips. Would completely recommend to anyone doing similar job. Compressing springs is very dangerous but if you need to do it, this is certainly a safe tool to use.

This is WAY bigger and beefier than I was expecting. Be clear - there's probably no way you can use this on a typical car's front springs because it won't fit alongside the spring in the strut tower inside the fender. I imagine you could use them on the rear, though, because there should be plenty of side-access. With that out of the way, if all you've ever used before is those $20-$30 compressors (there is NO tool that scares me more than those - I used them a few times, and there'd be just no way to predict when that cast clamp is going to break - and then, look the h*** out!), you'll immediately appreciate how much better in every way these are. No chance of slipping if you're even moderately paying attention to alignment, even compression of the spring side-to-side, quick/easy/secure setup on the spring. Could not have been more pleased with the quality. Would've preferred if they were closer to $100, but the price is what it is. On my current (2000-2016) VWs, the middle-sized plate handled the front springs, and the smallest plates handled the rear springs perfectly. I know they say not to use impact tools in the listing, but the instructions seem to indicate that impact tools are to be expected (?).

Worked great on the rear springs on our 2010 Tiguan. I would give it five stars if it did not say you could not use an impact.