I have been wanting to lower my car/up the spring rate for a while now. I'm really scared of cutting the coils, and too cheap to shell out over 250 bucks for new lowering coils. So my sights are set upon spring compressers. Has anyone used them on their Volvo? Also, the cheapest price I have found locally is 61 bucks for 2 of them at Napa (AND NAPA IS A BLOODY RIP OFF!!!). So any ideas or stories about using them would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance,
Blake

Hi Blake - gotta ask, why are you really scared of cutting the coils? As Cameron said, it's nothing to be scared of. In fact, assuming you have an air compressor, you can probably buy a die grinder for less than the set of spring compressors! Be sure you have a good set of "real" compressors to get the coils off the car before cutting, though :-)

I've cut the coils on:
three 240Z's
riviera
le mans
F85
240GT :-)

and probably some others I forget about just now. Never had an issue, except when I lowered my wife's F85 too far. She still beats me up about that, and the car's been gone for six or more years...

Kyle
--
1980 242GT 197K, 1990 744Ti 113K

I had considered this too. Seemed like an easy and effective solution.

I eventually decided against it, because of the the possible consequences if the compressors slipped, broke or otherwise let go. Several people suggested it might
lead to a control problem, which seemed unlikely, but I was more worried that this might send the spring through the top of the strut towers in the front. Not sure if this would happen but it seemed possible. I eventually got a set of lowering springs.

$61.00? I got a good set at harbor freight for 10 bucks.
As far as chopping the springs goes, I've got a 142 with them and it rules. It tracks straight, and there's no control problems. The ride is stiff, but not anywhere near unbearable.

I don't know about HF set as being "good" ... "servicable" is more likely the term, as its design can make it slip off without too much effort.

The cheap solution is to buy two sets to use 3 or all 4 of 'em when doing a spring.

Better solution is just invest in a better set.

-- Kane

--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

Okay - I'm losing my mind and realized I'm talking about a different kind of spring compressors - I still say though that removing them and chopping them is fine.

Alright, maybe choping is the way. But do i have to completely remove the spring to do it, or could i just compress it and then grind it?

Thanks again,
Blake