Attempting to replace a spring on a strut as the old one snapped, the car is a 1.8 Focus mk1 and my brother bought the spring from a local motor factors. When i compress it no matter what coils i put the compressors on it just doesn't compress the spring enough to bolt it back together so i'm really stumped here?

I'll put a picture on so people might be able to see the issue, perhaps been sold the wrong spring?

 

The spring need compressing a lot more than that bud. You need to get those jaws over the other two coils. Using to pairs of those clamps will make your life easier.

 

can you not get someone to push down on the top mount really hard while you nip up the bolt?

 

bin those spring clamps and get a proper spring compressor or take it to a garage and get them to fit it

 

Lowering springs would slide straight on