i always drop my axle...i have done it so many times it doesn't take long. i just do not like spring compressors.

 

take about the same amount of time anyway, unbolting shocks/swaybar and jacking up VS having to run a spring compressor twice

 

As long as you don't count the time running to and from the store to rent a spring compressor

 

this type of thread comes up every once and a while.

my opinion is that yes, there may be hundreds of people who use the compressors without anything happening....but do you want to be that 1% that has the compressor fail on them? every inch that compressors compresses can equal a couple hundred pounds of force.

i dont use them, and we dont keep them in the shop.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/single-...sor-43753.html much better choice. Like I said I had 1 out of 2 let go and it scared the crap outta me. I know the risk and had to do it cause I was in a pinch.... no amount of experience would make the separate style compressors safe. At shops they use wall mounted compressors usually with shielding around them. The link up top though is much safer then the cheapie 2 piece ones.

 

the wall mounted compressors are only for struts, they would be pretty useless on an XJ.


just drop the axle. trac bar, brakeline, shocks, and maybe LCA's are all you need to unbolt

 

Oh ya.. man I'm slippin lately. Anyhow I like that 60$ harbor freight compressor.

 

I just unhook my shocks and swaybar discos... then jack up the XJ... springs just fall out...

 

i have used these several times: http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-33...aign=nextag_r1

slow and easy, don't use powered impacts and all was well. yeah, i guess there is always a chance at the bolt snapping, you can always position yourself in a safe position for that. yeah, you can drop stock springs easily without a compressor, try removing/installing 4.5" springs with aftermarket LCAs. the suspension only drops so far, you need to make up 3" to get the springs in.

if i am going to be removing the control arms anyways then i won't bother with the coil compressors, but otherwise they save a hell of a lot of time.

and yeah, i'd be afraid to use $10 harbour freight compressors.

 

Ya taller lifts and shirt arms get more difficult.

 

These are the exact ones I used, and saved me a ton of time. Seemed solid as hell too.

 

Ok I am in a pinch, I am adding up country springs and 2 inch coil spacers, and I have my axle lowered to the point my rotor is touching the ground, and I have my sway bar removed and the shock out. How can I get the spring in with out a compressor?

The stock spring was a bear to get out.


Should I jack up the side i am working on(near the frame) to get the jeep higher and then try to lower the axle more?

Any Ideas would be helpful as It is in the garage and torn apart.

 

Is your lca hitting the mount? If not you need to jack the body up higher

 

The Mount? What mount are you referring too?

This is my first time doing this kind of work, I have done brakes,shock's and all the normal repairs but never this

Thanks

 

The axle mount for the lower control arm. Where it mounts.