Product review (5 stars): Well designed kit to replace broken spring on Kitchenaid compactor
After seven years of constant use the spring on the foot pedal switch broke.  A puppy who figured out how to work the foot pedal to hear the funny noises might have had something to do with it.

I would have preferred to be able to purchase a replacement spring, which should have cost less than a dollar, but the only option is to buy this kit.

As others have mentioned, the upgrade kit is well designed and the instructions were very easy to follow.  The installation time was a little over half an hour, most of the time spent getting additional tools.