Ok, I think I need some advice on this Autozone spring compressor cause I don't like the way it looks on these 6308s. One side looks ok, but the other side doesn't seem like it will grip the coil nicely during compression:

http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/small.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/1.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/2.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/3.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/4.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/5.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/6.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/7.JPG
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/8.JPG

Am I doing something wrong... i tried a couple different orientations, but this jsut doesn't quite well.
I think i'd be safer with the Eastwood :
http://www.eastwoodco.com/images/us//local/products/detail/p520.jpg

I've ever seen one like that. I don;t even think that would fit. But I've used one like the 2nd many times. Harbor Freight has them for like $25. Just remember to grease the threaded shaft. :clonk:

I have the one same as the Eastwood, but I had to shorten the thread by several inches. The real problem is removing the spring compressor once the spring and control arn is in place. There is very little room.

So.. I just use the compressor to get the springs to sit into the control arm at full droop, then remove the compressor and use a floor jack under the lower control arms to compress the springs until the ball joint meets the spindles.

Easy with the weight of the car, a little harder with a bare subframe.

With a bare subframe, samething except I loop a chain under the floor jack and over the subframe (with plenty of rags to prevent scratches). The chain prevents the subframe from lifting away from the jack and allows the jack to compress the spring. A little forward thinking, but it was a piece of cake.

I have the one same as the Eastwood, but I had to shorten the thread by several inches. The real problem is removing the spring compressor once the spring and control arn is in place. There is very little room.I had to add about 2" of washers to mine.

I used the exact same Autozone compressor on my 6308 install and it worked great with no issues.

I rotated the compressor until it held tightly onto the spring.

The price was right too--free.

I've used the first one you show on springs and struts many times. Works fine.
Especially using a variable speed air ratchet to do the compressing.

As someone already said,, It would be easier using only the vehicle weight and a non roller floor jack. Use jackstands under the body for safety. Stay out of the path of the spring.

I have removed my .750 wire coil springs this way. Too hard to remove hooks and plates. Make sure you get coil in the upper grove in the frame.

Try another AutoZone, the second picture is the type my Autozone carried when I installed my Eibach springs.

We just used that Autozone one on my friend's BB Pace Car and it worked great. I've used the other kind many times, and was very impressed with this type of spring compressor.

so do the pictures I posted show the correct orientation for this compressor?
http://www.camaro327.com/000/111/2.JPG

The long ones goes on the taller coils and the short, the shorter coils!

I did break onna my coil holders tho so be carefull. (My cut # 5536 coils at like 500 to 525 pounds)..

It is just the bottom one of the two in the pic. and from HFT so wasn't all that expensive or high quality.

And I just took it apart up in there and it came right out! But it's still a pain tho..

pdq67