I helped a buddy put on a Rough Country 3.5 short arm kit today and even though they don't say to I just wanna throw it out there to pick one up from the local auto parts store before you start tear down. Could've saved a bunch of time.

 

X2. Just putting on my 18/60 springs was VERY thankful I had coil spring compressors. They were essential.

 

I didn't find it necessary at all. Not sure at all how much time exactly you saved. Definitely not hours.

 

x2, what helped to give the needed droop to remove & install the springs were:

1. Lifting the jeep as high as you can and resting it on tall 6 ton jackstands
2. The 3 ton stands didn't raise the jeep high enough to allow the axles room to droop/move up & down.
3. Loosening all the control arm bolts
4. Making sure the brake lines, abs, diff breather tubes, electrical wires(for those w/lockers) were not causing any resistance in making the axle droop
5. Unbolting the trans skid plate if that was limiting the DS from allowing the axle to droop
6. Jacking one side of the axle to allow the other to droop more

.....I have heard a lot of horror stories about spring compressors causing injuries/accidents.... I try and stay away from using it unless I have no choice....

But if others are adamant about using it to help with the install, can get it for free, have it already laying around and are confident in its safety, best of luck and wish those a safe & fun install....

 

Using a jack (bottle or stock) on top of the axle and against the frame is easy and much safer than a spring compressor. Those things are an injury waiting to happen in my book.

 

I also had to disconnect the front driveshaft to get enough droop to get the passenger side spring in and it was a bear at that

 

The hour or so was the running out to get the tool and get back. I was using jack stands and a frame lift and the only coil that went in easy was the passenger front but every lift has different quirks with every install, just something to have oh you before hand worst case

 

1) You need to raise it and you need those 6 ton jack stands anyway. Raising it a few more inches is a few more pumps of the jack handle.

3) You still need to loosen them regardless of how you're going about removing springs.

4) True, but it's really easy and quick.

5) True, if you have an auto. But it's also easy to do.

6) Again, if you have a good jack, it is very easy and doesn't require any effort, relatively speaking.

So really I don't see much time saving, especially when you consider you still have to go rent the spring compressor, then come back home and understand how to use it and maybe watch a few youtube videos just to make sure you know what you're doing and compressed springs don't snap out at your teeth. Then you have to compress springs 8 times (4 to take out, 4 to put in), not sure exactly how long it takes. Then you have to go and return the tool. In the end I don't see much time saving if any at all. Sure you could get the compressor if you wanted, but getting it just for the sake of a quicker install doesn't make much sense.