Hello All!

I've been working on my 85 300D for the last few days, trying to replace the suspension.

All the coil springs have come out in 2 pieces. The car was riding really low for a long time.

I'm using a ZDMak spring compression tool to get the new springs in. Last night I was able to get both the rear coil springs installed without much difficulty, except that now the rear tires are bowed in slightly.

However, today I took out the front coil spring and I can't get the new one to fit in. I have the ZDMak compression tool around as many coils as I could fit, and it's as tight as it goes. I have about 9 coils in the compression.

I just can't get it to go in. It's very frustrating. I'm wondering if I should disconnect the control arm???

Any thoughts??

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'85 Euro 300D - 258k 4 spd manual
'85 300TD Wagon - 180k - SOLD
Always looking

If you need a little more space just to get the front springs over the ridge of the dish where the springs fit at the bottom, then I'd recommend undoing the nut that holds the ball joint on the upper control arm (UCA) in place.

You'll probably need to split the joint below the ball joint on the UCA.

Hold the lower control arm in place with a jack - then you can pump it up a bit once the spring is in position - so you can remake the UCA ball joint joint you have just split BEFORE removing the tension in the spring!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

What I ended up doing was lifting the car all the way up with the floor jack, and then I put the coil spring under the rocker panel and lowered the car down a few inches. That allowed me to get an extra coil in between the spring compression plates.

Now the new shocks and springs are installed!! Wahoo!

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'85 Euro 300D - 258k 4 spd manual
'85 300TD Wagon - 180k - SOLD
Always looking

Ouch! I prefer the previous posters method. Yours worked, but could have popped out and done you some damage. I always treat springs in compressor tools as loaded bombs!

I have three different styles of spring compressors, sometimes one fits better than another, or 2 sets can be used in stages.

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I choose to be happy, even when the Mercedes is being awkward, lol

Where did you get the new springs?

Post a picture of your new ride height if you can.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

I believe I did something similar, but instead of the upper control arm, I undid the lower control arm were it is attached to the frame - slid out the eccentric bolt, tapped the LCA down with a mallet and that gave me enough room. The only thing is that you will need to mark the orientation of the eccentric bolt (the spacer, or washer, or whatever it is called) relative to the frame - just a little dab of paint or something.

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'95 E300D ("Tank") - 231,000 miles
'79 240D ("Biscuit") - 197,250 miles (Sold)
'83 240D ("Ding-Ding") - 217,000 miles (Death by deer)
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"Back off, man. I’m a scientist” ~ Peter Venkman

I'll take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

I was very cautions about lowering the car on the spring. It was already in the compression tool so I would lower it a tiny bit, adjust the discs, lower a little more, adjust the discs more. It worked out well and I think the way I did it was safe. But working with the springs did make me a bit nervous. Glad the job is done!

The ride height is pretty high right now...I'll post the photos tomorrow.

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'85 Euro 300D - 258k 4 spd manual
'85 300TD Wagon - 180k - SOLD
Always looking

When I R&R my front springs, I did as Army mentioned. I could only get the plates between 6 or 7 coils. when I compresed the spring, it wouldn`t come out. so I removed the nut in the control arm and Lowered the lower control arm down with a jack.

I used 2 hammers hitting both sides of the upper control arm, and the shock of hitting released the joint.

Be sure to disconnect the caliper, when lowering the lower control arm it will stretch the brake hose.

Think Safety, Safety, Safety when working with these springs. they can kill you.
Iam trying to picture in my mind, how you compressed the spring under the rocker panel, and slipped in the plates and then inserted the shaft. How did you get the shaft in with one end under the rocker, and the other end on the ground?
Not a good idea to try this again.

HMMM, you posted while I was typing....

Charlie

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1) Not much power
2) Even less power
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Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

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