What Is The Best Strut Spring Compressor? (2020 Edition)
Compressing strut springs is an essential part of car maintenance, but it can be one of the biggest hassles. springs are standardized, yet there are dozens of different types. Finding the right string compressor which is easy to use might be nearly impossible.
Universal strut spring compressors exist, but they vary drastically in quality. In this article, we’ll show you a handful of the best strut spring compressor options and describe the features that you’ll need to look for to make a good purchasing decision.
Compare Our Picks For Best Strut Spring Compressor
Page Contents
- Top Picks – 2020 Strut Spring Compressor Reviews
- Our #1 Pick – OEMTOOLS 25550 MacPherson Strut Spring Compressor
- Our #2 Pick – 8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor (Red)
- Our #3 Pick – Branick 7600 Strut Spring Compressor
- Our #4 Pick – ABN 11.5” Inch Strut Spring Compressor Tool – Set of 2 (Pair) – Macpherson Spring Compression
- Our #5 Pick – Shankly Coil Spring Compressor Tool (2 Pieces – Universal), Spring Compression Tool
- Our #6 Pick – Performance Tool W89322 Professional Strut Spring Compressor
- Our #7 Pick – OTC 6494 Clamshell Strut Spring Compressor
- FAQ
- What Should I Look For In A Strut Spring Compressor?
- How Long Should I Expect My Strut Spring Compressor To Last?
- Does The Material Of The Strut Spring Compressor Matter?
- What Kinds Of Strut Spring Compressors Should I Avoid?
- What Is The Best Way To Power The Strut Spring Compressor — Hex Key, Or Power Tool?
- What Are The Types of Strut Spring Compressors?
- How to Maintain a Strut Spring Compressor?
Top Picks – 2020 Strut Spring Compressor Reviews
Our #1 Pick – OEMTOOLS 25550 MacPherson Strut Spring Compressor
The OEMTOOLS 25550 MacPherson Strut Spring Compressor is a sturdy strut spring compressor which is perfect for easy compression.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy to use
- Good detent pins
Cons
- Requires additional lubrication
Any MacPherson strut spring will meet its match with this compressor. The compressor features broad spring contacts, which help you to get the lock you need. Likewise, the detent pins work to maintain the lock once you have finagled the compressor into position.
With the help of this compressor, you’ll never struggle to replace strut cartridges or fix the strut assembly. All of the individual elements of the compressor are hardened and made of tempered metal. Thanks to a 10-inch size when fully extended, this compressor is ready for anything.
You do need to take one precaution while using this spring compressor, however. The threads of the compressor should be lubricated carefully to avoid seizing of the center screw, which can mess up compression efforts harshly.
Our #2 Pick – 8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor (Red)
The 8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor (Red) is ready to be a durable tool for all your strut spring compression needs.
Pros
- Great safety features
- Not compatible with impact drivers
- Free carrying case
Cons
- Requires additional lubrication
- Safety features may be an inconvenience
Most MacPherson springs will be served by this pair of compressors. The compressors also come inside of a handy red carrying case, which is a nice touch.
The hardened center screw of these springs is extremely fortified, so you won’t need to worry about wear and tear. They do tend to seize up after extended use, however, so you should invest in a good grease or lubricating gel.
The locking pin on the spring compressor ensures that compression persists safely so that you can perform other repairs in peace. You shouldn’t use an impact driver when using this spring compressor, nor should you place 100% of your faith in the locking pin, as always.
The hooks should be aligned with the safety pins backed out such that the hooks can make it over the springs when you are trying to seat the compressor. This additional step may seem like an added inconvenience, but it’s there for your safety.
Our #3 Pick – Branick 7600 Strut Spring Compressor
The Branick 7600 Strut Spring Compressor is an extremely heavy-duty unit which can compress practically any size strut spring in total safety and ease.
Pros
- Universally compatible
- Excellent safety features
- Immobilized compression
Cons
- Massive
- Can over-compress struts
This spring compressor is a beast. As is evident by its standalone construction, this compressor is intended for the springs of semi trucks. No adaptors are required to adjust the compressor springs, so you won’t need to worry about compatibility.
The compressor itself is made out of steel construction, and every part of it is designed with your safety in mind. Unlike with other strut spring compressors, this unit keeps your body far from the direction of the compressed spring’s force.
You should still be careful, but the mounting options for the spring add yet another dimension of safety.
The other main feature of this compressor is the wheel-turning compression handles at the top. You’ll need to exert yourself for the more serious springs, but the advantage is that everything is immobilized, unlike with other compressors.
You may not need to lubricate the central screw of this compressor provided that you do not over-compress springs. You may benefit from sharpening the ridges in the area of the greatest stress, but it’s far from necessary.
Our #4 Pick – ABN 11.5” Inch Strut Spring Compressor Tool – Set of 2 (Pair) – Macpherson Spring Compression
The ABN 11.5” Inch Strut Spring Compressor Tool – Set of 2 (Pair) – Macpherson Spring Compression, 13/16” Socket 1/2″ Drive is a standard strut spring compressor with a wide range of safety features and also compatibility options.
Pros
- Can be used with power tools
- Hex-key compatible locking rotator
- Great detent pins
Cons
- Center screw prone to erosion
These ABN strut spring compressors have a threaded rod which makes it easy to use. The detent pins help to stabilize the spring while also providing a measure of safety for you.
At the core, the central threaded rod can be attached to power tools or hand cranks depending on your preference. Especially if you use a power tool for compression, you need to lubricate the entire central rod extensively due to the carbon veneer of the compressor.
One end of these compressors have a hex-key port which you can use to lock in and rotate as needed. This is a nice touch which is surprisingly absent from most other strut spring compressors.
The center screw and brackets of this compressor are unlikely to fail during your lifetime, though the center screw may erode if it isn’t properly lubricated. Given how long the screw is, erosion is not a very large concern about using the compressor. The pins are unlikely to ever break.
Our #5 Pick – Shankly Coil Spring Compressor Tool (2 Pieces – Universal), Spring Compression Tool
The Shankly Coil Spring Compressor Tool (2 Pieces – Universal), Spring Compression Tool is a composite material compressor which is optimized for light commercial vehicles rather than consumer vehicles.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Doesn’t need lubrication
- Widely compatible
Cons
- Less durable than other compressors
- Worse for beginners
Most strut spring compressors are optimized for compatibility, but this spring compressor has a specific niche: commercial vehicles.
Thanks to its oddly shaped hook-and-clamp design, the spring compressor can lodge itself within the small areas underneath commercial vehicles. This tool can also be used to compress other coil springs, a nice feature that most other spring compressors lack.
The 10-inch bolt on this spring compressor is standard, and offers 9.5 inches of safely usable space on the main screw. The main screw is forged from enamel, which makes it a bit less durable with regard to torsional force.
On the other hand, the enamel forging makes for a spring compressor which is far more tolerant of tensile force, which is the primary force it will be facing when it is used in the shop.
So, while improper use of this spring compressor will likely result in its premature malfunction, proper use of it is unlikely to ever need any maintenance or repair. Indeed, you won’t need to lubricate this spring compressor — a rarity among tools in its class.
Our #6 Pick – Performance Tool W89322 Professional Strut Spring Compressor
The Performance Tool W89322 Professional Strut Spring Compressor is a handy compressor which is great for amateur use.
Pros
- Great instruction set
- Great for amateurs
- Perfect for home repairs
Cons
- Low maximum compression force
Most strut spring compressors come in pairs and are intended for professional use. This one, however, is a standard-design spring compressor which is priced and packaged to be useful for amateurs.
On the unit’s carrying case, you’ll get a helpful guide to spring compressors. The guide will help you to compress springs safely while also maintaining the life of the compressor itself.
Thanks to the unit’s locking pin design, these compressors protect the user first and opt to be convenient second. The compressors are made from steel and capable of compressing the springs of any vehicle up to a light truck. For car repairs at home, it’s hard to find a better compressor.
The only issue with these compressors is their lack of force multiplication. You’ll need to put in a lot of manual effort to compress springs.
Our #7 Pick – OTC 6494 Clamshell Strut Spring Compressor
The OTC 6494 Clamshell Strut Spring Compressor utilizes a unique design which only requires an impact wrench to operate.
Pros
- Works where other compressors don’t
- Strong locking mechanism
- Slip-proof design
- Highly steady
Cons
- Safety features aren’t well-designed
- Odd design may be inefficient
The triangular style of this spring compressor isn’t for everyone. Many users will find the added structure to be inconvenient. Others will find it difficult to isolate the springs as a result of the added bulk.
But for those who need the added framework to ensure an effective lock, this is the best compressor that you could ever ask for.
The compressor’s design plugs into the spring at its farthest tip, using the legs to steady the entire unit rather than using a clamp and locking pin to prevent slipping. The locking pins are thus in the legs of the unit.
Professionals will likely be irritated by the number of additional actions required to prepare the four separate locking pins. These are valuable safety features for amateurs, however.
Unfortunately, these safety features somewhat contradict themselves on the basis of the unit’s design. The user must be directly in the way of an errant spring to compress the spring, which means that a slip would put their hands directly in the line of fire.
FAQ
What Should I Look For In A Strut Spring Compressor?
The main features you should look for in a spring compressor are safety and ease of use. Safety is the single biggest concern with spring compressors. The springs of a vehicle carry an immense amount of stored potential energy when they are fully compressed.
If these springs suddenly get knocked off-center from the compressor, they will unfurl at extremely high speed while flying away from the vehicle, potentially hitting you. These compressed springs can cause serious injury when they are released.
The single essential safety feature to look for is the locking pin. Every spring compressor has a least one locking pin which you will secure to preserve the compression. Multiple locking pins are safer than lone locking pins because lone locking pins can fail if they are brittle.
The other main feature to look for is ease of use. Ease of use is typically at odds with safety. The more locking pins you need to secure, the slower each compression cycle will be. Most professionals will be fine with one locking pin and an acceptably long central screw.
How Long Should I Expect My Strut Spring Compressor To Last?
Your spring compressor will last longer if you take care while using it and perform basic maintenance afterward. Over-compressing strut springs is the single biggest stressor to compressors, and it’s also bad for the spring.
After you use your spring compressor, you will need to re-lubricate it. There are several lubricants which are ideal, and most of them are lubricants intended specifically for the purpose.
Without lubricating your central screw, you compressor may shear off chips of the screw while compressing. This isn’t dangerous, but it does eventually degrade the ability of the compressor to do its job. If you take good care of your spring compressor, it should last 20 years.
Does The Material Of The Strut Spring Compressor Matter?
Yes, the material of the spring compressor is a major factor. Most spring compressors are made out of tempered steel construction. This is a great material because it has high tensile strength and because it doesn’t disfigure easily. Steel also has a high torsion strength, and it isn’t brittle.
Steel is the ideal spring compressor in most cases. There are some cases in which a composite or enamel spring compressor is preferable, however. Composites may have better characteristics than steel when it comes to handling incidental forces like torsion.
Torsion shouldn’t occur when you’re using your compressor, but sometimes it does anyway if the lock of the compressor isn’t perfect. Composites are less likely to warp in the face of these pressures, though they are more brittle most of the time.
Typically, composites end up being less durable than steel compressors though may be exceptions.
What Kinds Of Strut Spring Compressors Should I Avoid?
The compressors to avoid vary with your intended use. If you plan on only doing occasional spring compression, you don’t need an industrial grade spring compressor which is a standalone unit with heavy cladding.
On the flip side, you also don’t need a spring compressor that has wide compatibility if you have no plans to use it on multiple types of strut springs. The best strut spring compressors for casual use are small units which work in common consumer vehicles.
Professionals don’t necessarily need to avoid these small spring compressors, however. Often, they’re the right tool for the job. Larger compressor units can add a lot of bulk without adding much value if you’re already effective at the key competencies of compression.
What Is The Best Way To Power The Strut Spring Compressor — Hex Key, Or Power Tool?
Most people will be better off using a hex key than a power tool to power the compressor. Power tools don’t have the same feeling of connection to the spring and the central screw of the compressor, which means that you’re far more likely to accidentally over compress springs.
Likewise, power tools are more difficult to use with some compressors than others, but a hex key will work for most, provided that you have the right size.
If you plan on doing an abundance of spring compressions, a power tool is a great labor-saving feature, however. Especially once you have a good feeling for the way the strut springs behave you can easily compress them with a power tool far faster than with a hex key.
Provided that you’re experienced, you can also avoid excessive compression once you can feel the difference via the power tool.
What Are The Types of Strut Spring Compressors?
There are three primary types of strut compressors. Let’s take a look at all three.
External Spring
These are common and the ones you’ll find most frequently recommended on our list. You grip the spring on the outside from two points, and you can use a wrench to bring the coil to a closed position. This process makes it easier to remove them from your vehicle.
Internal Spring
These require a more involved process, and they are generally more expensive. There is no structure to get in the way, and the compressor required a jack-shaft to slip between. These are not commonly used any more due to the difficulty of removal.
Klann-Type Spring
We find these most frequently in Europe, and they are suitable for larger, heavier, and more expensive vehicles that require more precision. They use a telescopic ack-shaft that makes the job much easier to complete, but they are highly expensive.
How to Maintain a Strut Spring Compressor?
When looking at maintaining your spring compressor, the most critical part is the claws. You want to make sure that these are free from rust and corrosion at all times, so they get the best grip.
To ensure that you’re spring compressor claws are in optimal condition at all times, you’ll want to run them through some preventative maintenance at least every six months.
When maintaining them, you want to grease the thread and all components of the compressor to make sure that everything is working correctly.
Before going to use it, you’ll want to check the compressor for functionality before putting it to use. If there are any questions or concerns such as corrosion or weakness in a specific area, you’ll want to refer to the owner’s manual or manufacturer. They will help you decide if repair or replacement is necessary.
