Advice needed please - Xsara broken coil spring

[Old-Guy]

Over several decades prior to becoming a Xantia owner, I changed lots of strut cartridges and several broken springs using wind up compressors, but I'd be very wary of using them on modern asymetric springs. Like discs, pads and dampers, it important to change springs in pairs.
As others have said, buy decent compressors with double claws, clean and grease both the threads and the faces that take the compression - less effort and less torque trying to twist the claws off the spring. It's literally vital to avoid banana-ing the spring by uneven compression. I too would strongly recommend using a 1T ratchet strap around the spring - and never work with any part of your head or body in line with the axis of the spring, just in case it goes BANG!

[daviemck2006]

My ones only have one hook each end and I only used them once and won't use them again. I now take a strut out and take it to my mot man and he changes them in minutes in his hydraulic machine and usually doesn't even charge for it.

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[smoker]

Thanks again for the advice - good to know the pros and cons from those who have gone before.

I think I'll make a start and see how I feel - noting the warnings about spring compression.

Mickeymoon - thank you for the generous offer of your compressors. I'n not too far from Reading probably worth a trip to collect. I'll (try) to drop you a PM.

[mickeymoon]

Thanks again for the advice - good to know the pros and cons from those who have gone before.

I think I'll make a start and see how I feel - noting the warnings about spring compression.

Mickeymoon - thank you for the generous offer of your compressors. I'n not too far from Reading probably worth a trip to collect. I'll (try) to drop you a PM.

I'll root them out tomorrow - I live in Twyford, but I work in Staines if that's easier for you. They've been in my shed for more than 4 years now after I bought them to do the springs on a Berlingo in 2012!

[smoker]

Thx - Staines is closer - used to work there myself a lifetime of two ago.

[Hell Razor5543]

I was in Staines today, at our offices near to the Sainsburys store.

[smoker]

So I spent an "enjoyable" couple of afternoons over the weekend replacing springs and top bearings on both sides. I used a pair of double jaw-type compressors, and a couple of single jaw compressors for good measure. Double jaws are definitely the way to go as the main tools. I fully appreciate comments from those who have done this re the forces involved - just when you think you don't want to go any tighter, you're about half way there. Nevertheless, appears to have been a success and looking forward to many more miles.

Thanks again for the advice and moral support.

[Paul-R]

Well done. See it wasn't so bad after all, was it?

[jgra1]

good work.. the last one I did i used 2 doubles and at least one single.. worth covering the claw in anything to help resist slip ..

I hate doing them! you can literally feel the tension