Posting this in both diesel and tech.

Need to rebuild my front end and seeing if anyone would be kind enough to lend/rent the compressor and is located in Atlanta?

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Check with Russell.

Bet he's got one.........

I don't know if his name is Russell but perhaps DieselGiant has one, he's around ATL

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

russell==dg and he doesnt have one either.

Sigh.


This is what they had at auto zone? The guys at pepboys had the same and said they use it on v8's etc.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Internal-Coil-Spring-Compressor-Shop-Quality_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43998QQihZ015QQitemZ250044635181QQrdZ1

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Nothing from Russell.........amazing.


Forget that POS......it's won't fit in the confined space that you've got and the arms are problematical. Rent or purchase the proper unit.

I have the type that goes on the outside of the springs. Two pieces, one on each side, has a J hook to keep the thing from slipping. It's your's if you pay shipping both ways, or, I'll be in ATL for a Falcons game thanksgiving weekend. Chuck

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2000 C230 Kompressor "Frosty"

2007 PT Cruiser
2001 VW TDI Beetle
1999 Landrover Discovery II
1971 Corvette

Gone: 97 Cabrio, 83 240D, 93 VW Eurovan, 95 Volvo 850, 93 Chevy Astro Van, 77 VW Bus, 99 VW Jetta, 74 VW Bus

though it is very nice. I found out that any Spring tool of the same design works, most notably the one Autozone rents for free. I am speaking of the type where the rod comes up the throat of the spring and two plates screw on the rod to compress the spring.

McPherson spring compressors do not work, Do not try this. I know one idiot very well who is skilled but sometimes a little too daring who tried these and nearly got injured badly. He is probably a very good mechanic, but he has his moments. I respect him but...I won't name him because the 1st Admendment protects me from incriminating myself

......ahh.......that'd be the 5th, Richard.......

Much like many other activities.

The only one autozone has runs through the middle and has hooks on each end. This what you are talking about?

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

That's it, I used that hook model in the red plastic box quite easily. I was thinking about that right after the post and I was thinking of correcting what I said, but i figured you would figure it out....

To make the job easier, rent two for free. That way you are spared the agony of compressing and then decompressing the spring on one side so you can reuse the tool on the other side. With two of these, you just do each spring and set them aside in compressed form and save yourself a lot of time!

After all they are free rentals...While you are at it, get your card punched twice so you get a free 25 dollar gift certificate.

If you have other Front End questions/Rear End questions let me or Brian Carlton know. I've spent quite sometime on the Front End and Brian has alot of experience with Rear Ends...(uh ohhh, I hope that doesnt sound the way I think its going to sound.. Brian is going to KILL me)

extremely helpful, many thanks.
any other recommendations on replacing things that require spring compression, while your in there?

1. SWAP your Passenger side and driver side spring! Ineveitably after 22 years, the car leans to the driver side. Sooner or later the car was driven by some 250 pound guy. I always swap the springs to "even" even things out.


2. Inevitably the rubber seems to go first on all the tie rods and Ball joints. When you are down there take a look. Get ahold of a Pitman arm puller if you want to replace anything. I've never seen a 300D lately with factory original rubber. Inevitably you either have to replace a ball joint or tie rod. You might as well do it now wen you have evrything apart.

When i redid my front end, I EXCHANGED the springs from D to P side and vice versa , put in new tie bars, bushings, ball joints, I pretty much replaced evrything I could...

Ya I hadn't thought of that Ill do the swap. The rebuild kit I have does everything except for shim pads and those are en route.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Richard, I hate to burst your bubble on this, but a 300 pound guy would compress both driver's side springs by 5/8" max. You could leave the springs compressed by 5/8" for 20 years and they would return to their original position. Remember, the weight of the body (over 2800 lb.) compresses them down about 3" from their free standing height. The additional 300 lb. is negligible.

It sounds like a realistic solution, but, it won't measure up to an engineering analysis.