BALLSHOP Hydraulic Spring Compressor 1 Ton (2200 lbs) Strut Spring Compressor Hydraulic Coil Spring Compressor for Car Repairing and Strut Spring Removing (Red)

as described

I bought this to change some springs on the front struts on a Saab 9-3. I read the reviews and though I would take a chance on this rather than using my old spring compressors. I know it was cheap but I was only going to use it occasionally. Constructing the compressor was straight forward even though the instructions were almost illegible. So the first thing was that the release lever pin was too short so the R pin that secures it in position could not be used. As I needed to get the job done I decided to carry on. So the device itself is incredible rickety. The pump lever moves all over the place. without a spring in the device the hydraulic ram would rise to its full extent. Use it to remove a spring and as soon as any force is required the ram would only rise ~50mm and no amount of pumping would make it go any higher. Then to add further misery to using this piece of crap the release valve fell out dumping oil all over the garage floor.! At this point I gave up and used my old spring compressors that did the job without issue. As I haver said I wasn't expecting fantastic quality but this thing is without doubt the worst piece of junk I have ever bought! Buy at your own risk!

Needed one of these so that I could do my car instead of using the other style clamps.It's a good product, but had difficulty fitting the other accessories into the holes, due to the poor finishing quality of the product, over welded and not cleaned off, so had use an hammer to hit the parts into the holes, same for the top bracket that didn't fit either agai due to poor quality finish.In saying that once I did all this the actual unit wasn't too bad to use shame there isn't any instructions on how to use it (luckily I don't need them) but someone will.For the cost though, it's OK not the best out there but does the job intended

You need to start by asking yourself what do you expect for the money?If you are earning your living 'on the tools' at a garage perhaps then you would pay perhaps £2.5k - £4k for a professional piece of kit. However as a busy home mechanic with a well equipped workshop this is a time saving and much safer way of dealing with McPherson type struts, probably one of the most dangerous jobs you might undertake on your own.So why my opening question about expectations? Well like much of the kit produced in the far east it has issues with the following:- Quality of machining, accuracy of fitment of components, poor fixings nuts & bolts etc. So what do you do? I made up sleeves to take up the excess clearance when the 'claws' that grip / contain the suspension spring, some 2.8mm difference in the bore of the socket(s) on the machine and the diameter of the spigot that fits into those same socket(s), that is quite a lot and will cause considerable out of true movement, (it will spread the claws under pressure and make the spring liable to jump out potentially) also it will stress the components excessively. Then I made a similar sleeve for the jack handle which had a full 3mm difference between bore and handle diameter, although it was to be secured with a bolt but it fitted like a matchstick in a shirt sleeve. Then put new clevis pins in the jack pump linkage which tightens it up nicely as do the other actions here.So, why give it four stars for value? Well it is good for just over £100, what do you expect for just that much money? If you want one and cannot do the modifications yourself then find someone who can, perhaps has a lathe for example.Mine now works fine and will probably get used six times a year or so. You may ask about warranty violation, personally I'll take my chances and everything I have done is reversible back to as delivered.

Poor quality and almost impossible to return as it is too heavy for Royal Mail and Hermes. The return label does not include return postage. Amazon customer services tell you that it only comes with 2 months warranty!

Did not even compress 1 spring.This item is no good. The build quality is shocking and the metal is so soft. Contacted seller for refund.