The elusive door sping tool

Well, a lot of people have no idea what a door spring tool is or where to get them. Simply put a door spring tool compresses the firming spring in the door jam. Removal and reinstallation of this spring is necessary when servicing your hinge pins, bushings and hinges on any car door. Unfortunatly I've found that places like Autozone, Advance, Pepboys, Carquest, etc don't carry this tool. Fortunatly you can buy it online or do what I did, go to your local autobody shop the day their tool guy shows up and pay him direct...(Or if you happen to see a Snap-on truck, grab him). This is much easier than fighting with a prybar or trying to wire it down...

I picked up a Steck door spring tool. Steck part # 21900 http://www.steckmfg.com/21900.htm

Cost is $15.00

Simply push the tool in under the ends of the spring (not the outside of the spring) and tighten the 13mm nut on the side with a box wrench. The spring will simply compress and you pull the spring out. Install in reverse. Granted, pretty much everything described is simple, but this message is mostly for the inexperienced among us that we try to help.

Here is a pic in case you do manage to find it at a regular autoparts store..


http://www.pghconsulting.net/teal/dspring.jpg

And for all the Canadian forum members, Princess Auto has them for about $5 bucks. I have not seen them for sale online, but they sell them in their stores. http://www.princessauto.com/PAcountry.cfm?CTRY=CAN&INF=home

i got mine a napa i asked the guy he didnt know what i was talking about, so i told him to type in the part # (770-3818) and sure as shoot it came up, took 2 days to get, special order i guess

i got mine a napa i asked the guy he didnt know what i was talking about, so i told him to type in the part # (770-3818) and sure as shoot it came up, took 2 days to get, special order i guess

Good to note! When I went on my search for it long ago the guys I know didn't know what the hell it was either.

yeah, me too ... couldn't find it at OReily's, Autozone, Advance ... ... finally found it at Napa. It looked like it had been on the shelf for 20 years ... !!! Ebay has some too!

hey folks, when you use these, make sure that you attach the tool to the widest points of the spring ! ... anything less will not compress enough.

I had to use a scrap piece of 2X4 and a hammer to help tap the tool deeply into the springs ... this worked well ...

Also, as the Haynes says ... wrap a heavy towel or rag around it, just in case the spring flies out of the tool ... safety !!

protect your paintjob! tape the inner edges of your door!

I had a friend hold the door for me ... didn't disconnect any electrical ... just hold that door steady !!!





Good to note! When I went on my search for it long ago the guys I know didn't know what the hell it was either.

I just called NAPA and ordered the tool (770-3818) and she said it will be here tomorrow morning for $21.50 including tax.

Good deal...:) It makes life easier.