Reddit reviews OEMTOOLS 25550 MacPherson 10.75 Inch Strut Spring Compressor | Set of 2 Universal Spring Compression Tools | 9.75 Inch Maximum Safe Opening | Easy to Use Suspension Tool

It's really not that expensive or difficult. This guy is an idiot for using c-clamps though.

Sorry about the delayed response. Here’s what I’d tell you regarding install:

This is definitely not a “first time with a wrench” kind of job, but part of the reason I learned anything was by performing jobs I was under-qualified to complete in the first place

I’d say if you want to save a few hundred bucks then go for it. I would recommend you have a contingency plan such as a second vehicle to drive to the store for a missing tool/part, or to drive the shock/spring down to a shop to have them remove it for you if you run into trouble

Final piece of advice is this: compressing the spring with something like these can be extremely dangerous if not done properly. I’d recommend you start by watching a few videos of guys performing that part of the task (there are a few specifically for silverados) - if you don’t feel you are up to this part of the task, then have them installed professionally. If you are ready/willing/able to get that part of the install done the rest is just some tight bolts, properly placed jacks/stands, and a few hours to kill.

Highly advise you call a buddy to help. They might even be inexperienced too but they’ll get to learn along with you

for the rear, lift under the differential (use a hockey puck between the jack and diff cover if your jack doesn't have a pad) and put a jack stand on each side of the car on the frame just in front of where the LCA meets the chassis.

Then lower the jack under the axle which will let you push down the axle so that the springs just fall out.

don't lift the car at the LCA's. They don't seem like they are designed to bear that much pressure on that chassis joint but I could be wrong.

Camber plates are not really needed until you hit about a 2" front drop.

Here's a short list of the most common tools I carry when working on someone's car

Torque wrench

Deep sockets that can take a beating from an impact gun

Extensions (pro tip: if you ever have to change your starter, you will need about 15+ inches of extensions)

And this is the spring compressors I use

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CMDPLM/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also have a 90 something piece craftsman set with most of the 1/4" and 3/8" drive bits and swivels/boxx wrenches, etc but usually use the 1/2 stanley sockets get grabbed first.

These are also super handy if you have a power drill (better yet, a power drill with impact setting)


Mustangs don't really have a whole lot of random tools needed to work on them so unless you have a foreign car, your tool set shouldn't ever really get too complicated.

It's typically when you get blindsided by some small little issue like a rusted or rounded off bolt that can turn a 2 hour job into a 2 day job. I worked on a guy's old fox body to help him replace a clutch and he had 2 stripped transmission bolts. I had these handy which were more or less the only way we could have gotten that done (besides calling a tow truck to take it to a transmission shop)

http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industrial-Tools-394001-Bolt-Grip/dp/B0000CCXVZ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406576108&sr=8-2&keywords=stripped+bolt+remover