Army

I like the idea of a slot in a screwdriver but with the plate that houses to holes for lug nuts in the way - I do not see how it will work - unless I guide it thru the stud hole

I have everything on eexcept one spring soI do not wan to dismantle

I will try the long needle nose screw driver- thx

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72 350SL, 73 450SL, 82 300TD,84 300SD, 85 300D

What does a "long needle nose screw driver" look like?

You may want to try a combo of both the needle nose pliers and the sacrificial "notched" screwdriver.

I've never had to use the screwdriver, but I've been very very close. Three or four or ten attempts and the spring torquing away will tempt you to pull out the Dremel with the cutting blade to create your own tool.

Also, make sure you have the almost-but-not-quite-symmetrical spring oriented correctly. See PDF.

Attached Files

w123 rear brake springs.pdf (188.5 KB, 102 views)

used the long needle nose pliers and faced the hook end of spring downwards and rotated pliers clockwise and bingo bango bongo - it went on - (working on left rear emergency brake shoe (left shoe of left rear).

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72 350SL, 73 450SL, 82 300TD,84 300SD, 85 300D

Sorry I forgot that I had made these pictures. It's a bit late now as you've got it sorted out with long nosed pliers but here's what I was going on about.



And here's the tool in use



EDIT - hang about it looks like I've been reading from a different hymn book - were you stuck with the return pressure type springs that hold the shoes against the cylinder?

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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!

Army

That tool (shoved thru the stud hole) is ideal - beats going in horizontally with long needle nose pliers. I will definitely make one in my spare time so I will be more prepared next time. Yes that is the spring I needed compressed, but on the left shoe

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72 350SL, 73 450SL, 82 300TD,84 300SD, 85 300D