The tool I used to compress my front road springs (plus remove and install
the rear bushes) was a piece of 7/16-20 threaded rod, a couple of clamping-
kit nuts and washers, and whatever other large washers, plates, cups (large
sockets), and so on were needed for the exact job.
Perfect for the bushes, but I would recommend you use the next size larger
rod for springs. My gut feeling after doing it is that 7/16 doesn't have
enough safety margin. A compressed spring held by a rod that *could break
or strip* is a scary bomb!
Threaded rod can be gotten at any decent hardware store. It's real cheap.
You'll need ~2' or so. Enough for about a 20" piece and another for about
a 5" piece. Roughly. Buy more than you need and saw off pieces to fit.
Clamping-kit stuff can be gotten at a machine-tool supply. You want the
heaviest shouldered nuts you can get. Don't use regular nuts, not even
grade 8, they don't have big enough bearing faces. Get spherical washer
sets if you can, since the angles change as the spring compresses, otherwise
just plain heavy clamping washers. Make sure to use a good high-pressure
grease on all the threads and faces that will be under load.
I used a block of wood to replace metal plate seen in some compressor kits.
This is the plate that fits under the spring pan, fitting over the four
studs (with one hole in the middle that the rod passes through). I made
mine out of about 2.5" solid softwood stock, band-sawed and drilled to fit.
Thick softwood is strong enough for this job (I just used what I had lying
around) but hardwood would be better of course. Wood beats metal here only
because it's easier to work and is harmless to the metal surfaces.
That's about it... BUT:
Compressing road springs is VERY DANGEROUS!!! Don't mess with this
job unless you know what you're doing. Be very very careful. Worst
case: death.
--ian
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