Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: steve6367 on 20 December 2021, 22:00:55
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Can anyone recomend a set that is upto the Omega front springs? Some of the cheap ones at Halfords etc look like they may not do it!
Many thanks
Steve
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I bought a UK sourced version of theses...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254088854549
If you have an MV6 you can get away with undoing the strut top nut with the car on its wheels. Obviously not recommended but with the shorter springs you just need a bit of weight on the top mount to get the strut reassembled.
With standard springs you haven't got a cat in hells chance of safely pulling removing the top mount without a decent spring compressor. :y
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The best (and safest from a health point of view) are something like these, but they are quite cumbersome to work with
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000kg-Macpherson-Strut-Coil-Spring-Compressor-Dumper-Extractor-Yolk-Protector-/183122732775?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Alternatively, a pair of threaded bar spring compressors with a double hook are safer than those with a single hook
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEALEY-2-PCE-CAR-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-KIT-/191412238567?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
There are threaded bars with single hooks at either end, which also have a locking facility which helps secure the hook to the spring coil it is hooked onto which increases the safety aspect. I have a pair, but cannot see any listed at this moment - maybe I could find an example picture with a more detailed search...
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Here's those with the safety hook....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-Car-Coil-Spring-Remover-Compressor-Clamp-3pc-With-Safety-Hooks-AK384-/112569561565?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
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The best (and safest from a health point of view) are something like these, but they are quite cumbersome to work with
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000kg-Macpherson-Strut-Coil-Spring-Compressor-Dumper-Extractor-Yolk-Protector-/183122732775?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Alternatively, a pair of threaded bar spring compressors with a double hook are safer than those with a single hook
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEALEY-2-PCE-CAR-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-KIT-/191412238567?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
There are threaded bars with single hooks at either end, which also have a locking facility which helps secure the hook to the spring coil it is hooked onto which increases the safety aspect. I have a pair, but cannot see any listed at this moment - maybe I could find an example picture with a more detailed search...
Your second link type don't fit the Omega springs particularly well. Similarly, the 'safety' ones. Both the clamps and that they foul the spring seat before you can compress the spring enough.
The compressors such as your first link or mine might be bulky, but they aren't intended to be used on the car.
Clamp the strut in a suitable vice and let the compressor do its thing ;)
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The one DG showed is what you want. It's available for only slightly more than the '3pc set with safety hooks'. I've used several different versions of those, and still have what I consider a decent pair that is robust enough to use. Although I doubt they'll ever see daylight again.
They're just about OK if you're going to use them on a traditional parallel spring that isn't a high rate. Even then, the hooks are too short and the thread tends to catch on the spring cups. If all you're going to do is remove the spring and refit it, that just requires care. Removing them from a loose spring isn't fun. Clamping a loose spring requires a couple of MTFU pills. I know two competent, experienced people who had to have surgery when these things slipped. The ones with left and right threads are particularly bad. I would rather use a number of exhaust clamps than these things.
If you can weld, something like THIS LINK (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RExQGwtNzlc) would be a good idea.
What DG suggested effortlessly compresses a brand new Omega spring in under a minute using a ratchet, and just a few seconds with an impact:
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/lbum33l64lpasrg/CompressedSpring.jpg?raw=1)
and
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/5tse25bci35y4tn/TheRealUseForCordlessImpacts.jpg?raw=1)
I didn't realise I had this pic of my good pair of the traditional sort
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/j9oqw6kwlvvt8at/OldSpringCompressors.jpg?raw=1)
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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124837523007
For minimal extra cost, might be an alternative for those with a bit more space... ;)
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The best (and safest from a health point of view) are something like these, but they are quite cumbersome to work with
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000kg-Macpherson-Strut-Coil-Spring-Compressor-Dumper-Extractor-Yolk-Protector-/183122732775?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Alternatively, a pair of threaded bar spring compressors with a double hook are safer than those with a single hook
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEALEY-2-PCE-CAR-COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-KIT-/191412238567?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
There are threaded bars with single hooks at either end, which also have a locking facility which helps secure the hook to the spring coil it is hooked onto which increases the safety aspect. I have a pair, but cannot see any listed at this moment - maybe I could find an example picture with a more detailed search...
Your second link type don't fit the Omega springs particularly well. Similarly, the 'safety' ones. Both the clamps and that they foul the spring seat before you can compress the spring enough.
The compressors such as your first link or mine might be bulky, but they aren't intended to be used on the car.
Clamp the strut in a suitable vice and let the compressor do its thing ;)
Really.....?
These were 'examples'; not specific individual items to buy.
With the suggestions of what types are available, the OP can decide which best suits his needs, for the Omega and also other cars he may work on.
I have several different type of spring compressors, all similar to, but not identical to those I posted; not all are suitable for all cars however, or the application. You use the most suitable for the particular job at the time.
I wonder sometimes whether it is worth posting suggestions....
Plus, the instructions state that the solid tube type compressor with assorted spring plates should NOT be used with an impact......
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I posted based on my experience of rebuilding front struts on at least 15 Omegas.
Initially with the first 'claw' type and latterly with the type I linked to with none of the issues experienced with the cheap type.
Oh, and I don't own an impact gun, although it is a bear doing it manually with HD springs, so I can sympathise with Nick W using one.
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I posted based on my experience of rebuilding front struts on at least 15 Omegas, a couple of Vectras and the A Class.
Initially with the first 'claw' type and latterly with the type I linked to with none of the issues experienced with the cheap type.
Oh, and I don't own an impact gun, although it is a bear doing it manually with HD springs, so I can sympathise with Nick W using one.
I struggled with the claw type ones until buying the type I first linked to. They've not been used since.
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I bought a UK sourced version of theses...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254088854549
If you have an MV6 you can get away with undoing the strut top nut with the car on its wheels. Obviously not recommended but with the shorter springs you just need a bit of weight on the top mount to get the strut reassembled.
With standard springs you haven't got a cat in hells chance of safely pulling removing the top mount without a decent spring compressor. :y
This is what I bought, really good!
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This is what I have at home
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ssc1000g-1-tonne-strut-spring-compresso/
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This is what I have at home
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ssc1000g-1-tonne-strut-spring-compresso/
Very nice, ideal if you work on a few cars and justify a tool like that. :y Makes the job so much quicker and safer. :y
As it's a job that I don't do that often, I have the double claw type spring compressor ........ and my full face crash helmet. ;D
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This is what I have at home
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ssc1000g-1-tonne-strut-spring-compresso/
Very nice, ideal if you work on a few cars and justify a tool like that. :y Makes the job so much quicker and safer. :y
As it's a job that I don't do that often, I have the double claw type spring compressor ........ and my full face crash helmet. ;D
Got it for free from work when we shut our bodyshop down.
I have mainly workshop-spec tools anyway and have a theory that if I need to borrow a tool 3 times then, providing it is not hideously expensive, I purchase one myself.
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This is what I have at home
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ssc1000g-1-tonne-strut-spring-compresso/
Very nice, ideal if you work on a few cars and justify a tool like that. :y Makes the job so much quicker and safer. :y
As it's a job that I don't do that often, I have the double claw type spring compressor ........ and my full face crash helmet. ;D
Got it for free from work when we shut our bodyshop down.
I have mainly workshop-spec tools anyway and have a theory that if I need to borrow a tool 3 times then, providing it is not hideously expensive, I purchase one myself.
I am allways happy if I have a reason to buy new toy...
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Back in the early 80's, my then 'better half' sent me out shopping with a list. For some reason or other, I couldn't get everything, but she was less than impressed when I came back with a quality Williams 'click' torque wrench, despite it being needed for a cylinder head job on her Mini :o
Ungrateful (cow), I thought.....
40 years on, she is no longer my 'better half', but I still have my Williams torque wrench...... :y
Good tools will last a life time.... :)
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;D
My Mum once had a tidy up and washed all my spanners/sockets etc
"they where covered in oil " ::)