A friend of mine believes the compressor below will work fine on a Mercedes suspension. Don't panic - he doesn't own a Mercedes and I don't plan to use this thing. But we want to settle the debate. Can anyone give me a good reason why it won't work?

Spring Compressor

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Won't work.................

the coils aren't spread enough appart and that one looks like a fatal accident just waiting to happen.

The bottom perch is solid anyway...........

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

It looks sturdy enough to do the job but, I don't think that you could get the fingers on the Eastwood unit in between the coils of a MBZ spring (at least on a 115, 123 or 126).

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Also compresses springs that are perfectly straight or slightly curved.

I think they realize that those fingers may not be wide enough to keep a bending spring from popping out.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

definately wouldn't work on a W116......................it takes serious force to compress Benz springs....and I do mean serious force.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Before I found this forum, I tried one of those spring compressors. Two reasons: not enough space between the coils and the bottom where the coil rests is enclosed

After reading this forum, I am glad it didn't work. Dangerous!!

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

One of my mechanics is making an MB spring compressor. He is using a 1" ACME treaded rod and making the plates with his milling machine. It will be sturdy enough.

The rod that is pictured looks to be about 3/8" and the spring holders about 1/2" wide. You'd need good life insurance and no dependents. Perhaps you work in the prison auto shop and really don't care what happens to you.

There is a reason that the Klann Unit is $600 to $800 (and its not even gold plated).

Ditto what the other guys said: NOT enough room, too strong. Unless you work on truck chassis's for a living (and have truck tools), you can't cobble something together without endangering your life or limb.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

i made my own ill try to find it and post pics of it

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

That Eastwood unit looks like the same thing I rented from AutoZone; same issue mentioned earlier: I couldn't even get it inside the coil (w201).

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1990 190e 2.6 - The only one I can really call "My Car".

1987 190e 2.3 - The donor car's up and running, only mods are Euros and a Sony headunit. My Dad's runabout now.

1990 300e 2.6 - The parents' ride.

BTW, both Rusty at BuyMBParts and Performance Products rent the correct tool. After all, this tool, for most of us, may only be used once or twice in a lifetime.

It makes no sense to me, why "make" a tool which not only hasn't been tested but is used for a job that is this dangerous. There are much less riskier tasks you could design a tool for if you feel a need to be creative. Why create a ticking time bomb?

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )