Thomas and I are both on the hunt for a spring compressor since we are both undertaking the same endeavor. Recently there was a post about replacing the lower balljoints on a 126 using the weight of the car and a jackstand to retain the spring (with the shock still attached). There was some lively debate about this practice and the MB manual even states to do it this way as long as the lower control arm isn't being removed - there was also some discussion about an error in the translation.

After reading all about this, before I started out I did a little experiment. I placed the car on stands under the LCA. I shook the car, bounced and tried to rock it, everything held. Then I lifted the car about 1/4 inch on one side and repeated the test. Much to my surprise the car shifted on the stand. The jack slid up the control arm, coming to rest at the LCA bushing mount. I live in California, as does Thomas, and sometimes the earth moves out here.



Very scary indeed. Glad I played around ahead of time, imagine what would have happened if the stand moved while the steering knuckle was removed .

I have tried a couple different spring compressors, but none will fit between the coils or down inside the spring mount. Looks like it has to be the high dollar compressor. Fortunately I am in a position I don't have to have the car ready by 0600 tomorrow. Only took about an hour to get to the spring removal point, but now I'm stuck here. The spring has to come out to access the guide rod mount at the LCA.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.