Danger installing your own struts
 

I have a 1999 VW Beetle. I was looking at upgrading the springs and struts. But I have been told that it is dangerous replacing them yourself. Something along the lines of the strut suddenly decompressing and hitting you or some such nonsense......is this true? I could understand the springs, but the struts?

You definately need a spring compressor. Once the spring tension is off the strut, you should be fine.

Confirm with a VW expert first.

AFJ

A coiled spring can hurt or kill you if it comes loose at your direction but done properly its not an issue.

Go to a rental place and rent some spring compressors or buy them, they are not that expensive.

Just be careful and talk with people on the forum on how to do it. Wear gloves and go slowly!

JoeA

If you are changing springs and struts together, sometimes they will drop as a unit without having to compress the spring. I'm not sure about the beetle. If not, you will definitely need a spring compressor. It's not hard but a little nervous the first time. If you need to get the strut out of the spring /strut assembly because they need to be compressed for removal, take the spring/strut assembly over to a local garage to compress - seperate the two. Call a few garages and ask if they will do this for you, usually for a small fee.
PS: I did hear a true story about a year ago where the spring compressor let go and took out a guy's eye and half his skull, I can't remember if he lived or not.

oooooookkkkkkkkkk.....

Thats all I need to know. Looks like some local mechanic is getting $400 of my green....

A backup safeguard might be a good idea for the uninitiated. You could wrap a chain around the spring and secure it to the strut. In case the compressor breaks or let's go, the spring won't go anywhere.

Sherwood

I use those really thick zip tie to keep the spring compressed. Usually 4 on each spring. I think I saw this in Wayne's book.

If you are going to buy a spring compressor, get the kind that has u bolts to lock it to the spring. I had an older one slip off the spring on me. Caught my hand between the spring and the wheel well ( was on a p/u truck).
Ended up with two broken fingers.

Most of the auto parts chains will rent spring compressors, among other tools. I helped Serge944 do the springs his 325is this last weekend; he he rented a spring compressor from Kragen, and it set him back a whopping $6

AutoZone, will "lend" an External or Internal compressor (or a variety of other tools). You are charged for the tool and when you bring it back they refund the cost.

Not a problem on pre-88 911s with Torsion bars, but I did the shocks on my miata which are coilovers (similar to struts) and the spring compressors can be tricky depending upon the area that you have to work in. The job requires that you be conscious of the potential danger and careful.

When I did my RX-7 the first time I was VERY careful. The second time I experimented. By the time I did my MINI I was a self proclaimed expert and do not use spring compressors anymore.

I take out the strut, place it on the ground. Put my battery powered impact gun on the top screw and undo it. The spring pops and as long as there is nothing stopping the bottom from moving you will get no kick back. It moves anyhwere from 6" to 3' depending on the car.

I would not recomend you doing this but I just wanted to point out that I was very scared the first few times and now I can tell if one will pop of poof.

When I did my Mustang it was a nighmare I had to comprerss the springs while in the car and that was not easy. A tip I got from a friend was to buy some thin chain, compress the suspension with a jack and wrap the chain around a few coils securing it with a nut and bolt. Then release the jack and you can pull the spring down and out of the suspension. Just be sure to use a strong enough chain for the job. That worked like a charm in a car that needed the spring compressed to get it out.

On cars with struts its pretty easy to do. We had to compress the fronts on the MINI slightly to get them to clear the suspension knuckle. I will not tell you how I did it because it was risky and involved 2x4's. :D

Reminds me of prom night...

This one time in band camp......