Peterac, I cut the plates using an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel.

Diesel911, on that hooked tool, how thick is that rod? Looks like 1 inch. I've seen a similar tool with thinner rods used on a Benz and they bent like wet noodles. Yours looks beefy! I have a heavy duty macpherson strut spring compressor which I use on all my other cars. It is really robust but the hooks are a bit too thick to fit between the coils of the Benz springs.

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'82 300TD
'77 6.9
'75 280S
'74 280
'87 Porsche 944 turbo

Admiral,

Thanks for the reply I will be making one!

What are your thoughts about the welding of the nut and strength of the rod?

Peter<><

I didn't worry about it at the time, but I guess the heat could reduce the tensile strength at that location. The alternative is to jam 2 nuts together. Maybe if you use a long nut, and just put 2 spot welds on the end, then the part of the rod that will be (slightly) weakened will be the part not doing any work.

__________________
'82 300TD
'77 6.9
'75 280S
'74 280
'87 Porsche 944 turbo

Good point, I was thinking along the same lines.

Very much appreciate you design and sharing!

All the best

Peter<><

The threaded Rod used on both of my Tools is 1 inch, and I don't think the Rod is garde 5 due to the fact it did not cost much.

I made the Hooks on mine and it took some time to fit them to the Mercedes.

I had an issue with My Lower Control Arm Bushings. I actually managed to safely pull off the Springs with the Cheapie Harbor Freight Spring Compressors.

But, the Bores inside of my Lower Control Arms had thick scaley Rust in them and when cleand out they were enlarged. But, I had to get the Car on the Road and I installed the Bushings anyway.

After That I got some used Lower Control Arms and had to do the job over again. That next time I bent up the Harbor Freight cheapie Spring Compressors.
I replaced the threaded Rods on the with Thicker Rods and they still Bent.
After that I made that Tool that pulls the spring up into the Spring Perch.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

D911, I don't see any threads in the rod. Is that an optical illusion? Trying to figure out how it works.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I was thinking the same thing. The threads look very fine if they are there.

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

This just came to mind. A source of Acme threaded rods may come from house jacks (for jacking sagging basement joists).

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

McMaster-Carr has Acme rod and nuts in a variety of sizes and materials.

Yes, the threads are 1"x14 threads per inch and the threads may still have some grease in them.
I had thar Rod left over from another project.

When I did the hooked Spring Compressor I used the same 1"x14 threads per inch rod.

The end of it turned down and smooth so it will center into the Nut Bottom Nut. The Nut is not attached to the Plate.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

If you search- ACME threaded Rod some also shows up on eBay.

Some also showed up when I searched Amazon.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Just as a reference point, I bought my 3-foot acme threaded rod from Grainger for $17, and I still have 2 feet left.

Here's an important note!
The 3/4" nuts used with this tool are used with a 1-1/4" wrench. My 1-1/4" socket BARELY fit through the hole in the engine bay. So if you want to use something larger, beware, your socket won't fit!

The idea is to use a socket wrench from above through this hole for the welded nut, and then use an open end wrench through the spring coils on the free nut at the bottom.

__________________
'82 300TD
'77 6.9
'75 280S
'74 280
'87 Porsche 944 turbo

Closer to home, how about the threaded rod inside the factory jack?

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

the factory jack has a pretty thin threaded rod. I'd not think it could handle the expansive forces...

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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!

Factory jack! Great idea!

Vstech, the acme thread in the jack is designed to lift one corner of the car but not strong enough to compress the spring?

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked