Rear Spring installation
 

I replaced my rear integral link, MAJOR PITA. I had to remove the spring to get it in. Any spring compressor you can recommend? I am trying to find this one. It works perfect on x5. Jump to 1:05




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZoG...nel=mesing2005

Not the same but looks promising

https://www.vevor.com/products/new-c...20group%20%231

Also promising;

VEVOR Strut Compressor 45# Steel Spring Compressor, Universal Fit Heavy Duty Strut Spring Compressor, Thick Compression Arms Spring Compressor Tool, Auto Equipment Tool for Car Repairing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097D4V8GF...MRXMVK2CB3CWFC

The question is, where/how to get all the extra extensions ?

You don't need a compressor to remove the rear spring. You have to pull some things apart, but it will come out when you release the swing arm enough to drop low enough.

tool needed to compress
 

Looking for tool like this with the S extensions
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B096FZ41...7ND7NP2P8GNNTQ

that is correct, similar to https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B096FZ41...7ND7NP2P8GNNTQ

Am I missing something? Can't you just align the spring and lift the swing arm from below with floor jack until the cross bolt aligns?

I cheated by having air springs but search YouTube for other similar jobs like ball joint swap that need to release and recompress spring.

I searched for a while for the extension type external compressor no luck.

I saw a good handful of internal compressors that looked promising and are not expensive

I will try that, I replaced my integral link and the only way I could get it back on was to remove the spring. That took me a day to do as it would not line up when I jacked up the hub with spring on. Will try again though. Thanks. I have the side mount compressor from harbor freight but not sure if it will come off once past the frame. What a pain project lol.

Great video and links - I never knew tools like that existed.

When I did the rear suspension work on my 2001 3.0i with all springs, I used an old compressor I already had. It is the same simple style that they still make, with a threaded rod with a hex on one end pulling two hooking things together. The key feature of my particular one was that it was old enough (quality steel, built for smaller lighter cars) that it would fit in the very cramped area for the E53. The threaded rod was probably about 1/2", and the hooks were small and forged. On the E53 there was barely enough room for these to fit, but they did.

Whatever compressor is used, the trick of jacking up the suspension to compress the spring and then using the compressor to just hold it in place, and maybe compress just a little more, is something to try for.

Plumber's strapping works nicely to hold the spring compressed but I have to admit I'm a sucker for tools and was looking at that same tool before I did mine but could not find it with all the extra extension pieces that are shown in the video.