Thanks for the reminder. I'll be sure to get bolts that are the right grade.

Def need a spring compressor. The loaner one from autozone is crap and doesn't fit. Been looking at these two so far.

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Never seen copper anti-seize, I'll have to look into that.

 

For spring compressors, I prefer the "2 per spring" variety like the MacPherson Strut ones you're showing. The single action version on the right doesn't look substantial enough to pull the Dakota springs together - I've had tools like this fly apart on me, so I tend to trust my instincts and lean towards safety vs. convenience. The MacPherson version you show has a single fingered hook at each end, so you would only need to concern yourself with the radius of the hook to make sure it fit the spring. A lot of them have 2 fingers per hook, so then you also need to concern yourself with the curvature between the 2 finders & again, if it's wrong, don't buy it. That containment piece on the hook with the threads might actually get in the way on our springs, so I'd want to make sure it could be removed.

Permatex makes both varieties of anti seize and they're both the same price where I get mine. I use the copper version on things like brake rotors to keep them from sticking to the hub.

 

I came across this one too. I like how it has little U-bolts to go around the spring.

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That looks neat, but small (the shaft looks short) - I would want something that would be long enough to connect to the spring at the extremities with the spring fully extended . I'm not keen on the welded bent steel vs. cast iron for the attachment points. They would work fairly well for smaller springs and with the U-bolts, maybe even take some of the bending moment from the threaded shaft. I'm pretty sure that these would work when you consider that 1" tie down ratchet straps do the job - I just like things to look "bullet proof"

Should you get any of these compressors, remember to grease the threaded shafts well - use a high pressure grease if you can get it. Without keeping them well lubed, the threads end up getting ripped up from the spring pressure.

 

I agree with everything that you are saying...I guess I should probably start a thread and ask the guys if anyone has a spring compressor, what they use and what works or doesn't work well. I'll try a couple different ones and let you know what I find. I will probably do another (DIY Dom) video on my results. Thanks for all the input!