Car lowered, possibly by heating springs, springs shot. Found lots at pick n pull. How hard are they to get out? It appears they just sit in place and cutting shocks and struts should get them off. Any tips / advise, other than watch for them shooting across the yard!!!

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1982 300sd, new project car to restore

It doesn't matter if you know what you're doing, as long as you look like you know what you're doing.

I pulled a set from a 94 E320... it's doable... of course, there was no engine in the car I pulled from.
I could hide inside the car while I unhooked the lca... it didn't explode from the car, but it did pop pretty hard.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Don't do it without a proper compressor, unless you like playing Russian Roulette with you life.

Yeah, you can use a floor jack under the control arm or unload it some other way. It may pop gently one time, and another rip your face or shoulder off if you screw up.

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1987 300TD 147,000 miles- Palomino leather interior, 1995 facelift and body cladding, E350 wheels, Rebuilt suspension and sport springs, rebuilt turbo, New Monarch injection pump and injectors....and the list goes on and on...

I tried that but couldn't get them out even with the struts and swaybar off. I think I would have been successful if I loosened the control arm bushings first.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

weird,
If you must try & remove them without a spring compressor, could you please;
1/ Advise where you would like us to send the flowers.
2/ Make a video so it can be posted as a Dont Do It !!!

I have seen a spring go through a wall after it bounced off a roof truss. we sacked the mechanic after he calmed down. He could have killed 4 other people in the shed apart from himself.
i dont know if using a strong chain & D shackle around a coil would stop it.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

IN A YARD! I took the strut upper retainer bolts out then the lca bushing bolts out, then the spring just dropped onto the ground. I DESTROYED the lca bolts/bushings though. lots of pressure on the bolts as I removed them. DO NOT DO THIS WORKING FROM THE WHEEL SIDE OF THE LCA!!! I was INSIDE the engine bay, with the engine removed. IF you can find a car that's already had the motor out, it's not unsafe at all... for you. it could have hit the ground, bounced up, and killed anybody else working in the yard near you.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Wonder if you could put a long crow bar through the center of the spring to keep it in place as you unbolt the lower control arm? In regards to the W124 it does not take much to get the springs out after the struts are out of the way.

Always try to unbolt stuff to leave it for the next person looking for parts.

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Jim

Just removing the top-bolt on the strut will release the strut, and as John mentioned it can be done from inside the car.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff