Suggested tool for changing struts?

H

Honolulu

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I have an E30 that needed new struts. My three-bolt tool, while cheap, wasn't enough to sufficiently compress the springs so I could unbolt the strut bearing and change cartridges while avoiding taking the strut out complete. I took it to a shop which charged 250 (I supplied new cartridges and bump stops).

What are/were my options for this tool, other than the route I took? The 3-bolt tool has worked on several cars, but was unable to hook onto the spring at a point where I could sufficiently compress it. Additionally, it was dangerously unstable at the bottom too. I'm not above admitting there are jobs beyond my current ability or tooling, but 250 clams would/ought to have gotten something that would pay for itself.

Down the road, I'm thinking the front cartridges in my E9 will need attention, so there is a future to this.
 
I won't touch stock e30 springs with any cheap tool.
Scared to death of them because they are so long.
E9 springs are a walk in the park compared to the e30 ones.
The best tool for the e30 springs is a Branick compressor- they cost 700 bucks and are worth it.
Going rate for 2 struts here is 75 bucks on a Branick
 
Okay now! $75 for two struts would have been MUCH more like it.

Well, 250 is what I was charged by the guy recommended to me by the parts shop, and their advice has been good in the past. Maybe it serves me for having the wife and kid pick the car up.

The recommended guy took overnight, despite dropping the car off at 7:30 a.m. the first day. At 3 p.m he claimed that "everything went wrong" that day (bad sign?), and I BTDT so I sympathize completely. The wife wanted to pull the car and go elsewhere but what advantage would that have provided? Sh*t happens, rain falls, ya get wet, deal with it.

I gotta get me some fabrication skills. I are engineer. I can do this.
 
I suspect the $75 is for the strut change with the struts removed from the car.....ie bring the struts in to the shop, not the whole car.
DaveG
 
You are correct - struts out and swap springs is 75 for the front two.
Struts in is 100 bucks a corner in the bay area.
250 is within reason but not a Kama'aina rate.
 
I have a set of compressors that grab from each side, fairly standard, and they work great. I would always pull the struts when working on them...faster and easier in the long run.
 
Okay, thanks, I didn't want to mess with the ball joint, but it looks like that's the way it needs to be done.

On the bright side, my daughter reports the car is MUCH improved.
 
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