[SilentAttack]

How do you guys compress your factory springs? I've taken my factory springs and used (hopefully ok) struts to two places and neither place said it would be possible to compress the spring enough to get it onto the strut. Anyone else experience this issue?

[martinblair]

Really? That's pretty odd, it's not difficult at all. You can rent the spring compressor (often for free) and it takes maybe ten minutes a side (maybe longer if you're using a hand wrench). Take a look at Autozone, get their Macpherson strut sprig compressor, and do it yourself. It really is quite easy. I had never done suspension work myself and I was done both in one beer.

[PhaseP]

Because they have an internal spring that resists the full extension of the piston rod. See here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...trut+internals

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by PhaseP

Because they have an internal spring that resists the full extension of the piston rod. See here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...trut+internals

That's pretty cool actually. Top-out springs are pretty awesome, they let you run higher spring rates with better ride quality.

I guess they're harder to work on though.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by martinblair

Really? That's pretty odd, it's not difficult at all. You can rent the spring compressor (often for free) and it takes maybe ten minutes a side (maybe longer if you're using a hand wrench). Take a look at Autozone, get their Macpherson strut sprig compressor, and do it yourself. It really is quite easy. I had never done suspension work myself and I was done both in one beer.

+1.. with a free rented spring compressor and a impact wrench it took less than a minute.

[matteblue3er]

You need to grab onto the spring perch on top and lower most coil to fully compress. If you try and grab the upper most spring, you won't be able to compress it enough.

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by rothwem

That's pretty cool actually. Top-out springs are pretty awesome, they let you run higher spring rates with better ride quality.

I guess they're harder to work on though.

They may be cool and good technology, but I don't miss them at all.
I replaced them with Bilstein B4's which didn't have those since they were extending fully without any resistance. And I no longer have that infamous "xi explosion" that was happening even on mild potholes on the road. And I used to have those since day one when car was brand new.

I don't know if it had to do with those inner springs or not, but I really don't miss those.

[PhaseP]

Really? That's pretty odd, it's not difficult at all. You can rent the spring compressor (often for free) and it takes maybe ten minutes a side (maybe longer if you're using a hand wrench). Take a look at Autozone, get their Macpherson strut sprig compressor, and do it yourself. It really is quite easy. I had never done suspension work myself and I was done both in one beer.

+1.. with a free rented spring compressor and a impact wrench it took less than a minute.

I think you guys only removed the spring from the OEM struts, but put it onto non OEM struts that extend all the way.
Removal is easier because it is already extended by the top nut. Placing on to OEM strut would be more difficult because you need to extend the piston up against that internal spring which is not a weak spring.
Note in that picture OP posted, how short the piston rod extending out compared to other regular struts.

Originally Posted by SilentAttack

How do you guys compress your factory springs? I've taken my factory springs and used (hopefully ok) struts to two places and neither place said it would be possible to compress the spring enough to get it onto the strut. Anyone else experience this issue?

[SilentAttack]

That would explain why they were suck a PITA. I ended up taking them to a shop and paying $60 to have the springs put on