Car springs can be death. It can also miss you if it gets out of the restraint. If it does not you are in a world of hurt.


The stored energy is massive when compared to what the human body can take. It ranks high in the risk department when working on cars. Life is just too short not to take the best option when dealing with stronger car springs.


The front ones on 123 cars are about the strongest you will run across on passenger cars. For example they have a very heavy diesel motor alone to support.


Most of the combined shock and spring combinations still deserve some respect. The 123 diesels front springs just are not in the same league. They need a lot of respect.

Unless you visualize removing many 123 diesel front springs. Rent or borrow is the better option.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H99582U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered this one. My review is in the product description. It works fine, but the tool needed to be altered a tiny bit to actually fit in the hole...

It is common for the aftermarket ones not to fit into the hole in the fender well. In the past people have enlarged the hole in the fender well to fit the Tool.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The aftermarket tool worked fine for me. Ball joints required more umph than I had so I cleaned them up and got the US Grant tool out and dropped the LCAs at the local indy. He gave them back with ball joints installed and painted black to match the arms.

Buy at least 1 each of the bolts that hold the upper and lower control arms to the body. You may need the Sawzall to remove them ant you won't want the project to be slowed down due to rusty control arm bolts.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Truth be spoken here.



Ah, how this thread brings back memories with my 1985 300CD-T.



Short reply:
I followed the (I think) Factory Service Manual recommendation and used the Klann spring compressor. Heh, heh...no need to widen the hole on each fender well. Weaseling that baby into each hole, getting those disks around the spring, compressing the spring (ugh!), and then removing it...what a dastardly undertaking. Though *very* experienced with 1980s 300CDs (including a head gasket replacement), still, to do that spring fandango, whew, that was one spicy taco. How I used to live so wildly...



Long reply:
The above, plus...
The springs were part of a *complete*, and I mean COMPLETE, front end rebuild - never done one before - the one job I had avoided for decades. I think once in life was enough for me.


So, I say, Klann, baby!

I was looking at this but it says rear only? did yours work on the front?

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1978 300D

I wish! Just don't have the $1000 to drop on a 1 or 2 time use tool

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1978 300D

yes. You will see on the reviews from that post (CG) that I included the pictures of how I had to alter the tool a little with a grinder to make it fit the hole. There was also a casing issue where the tool would not fit the plates correctly, thats pictured as well, a little grinding took care of that as well. I used this to install my HR lowering springs. About to use it again to do my lower control arm bushings.

crap could i borrow the tool from you? I am down in Marietta! Ill pay you in $ or Beer

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1978 300D

I was just down there last weekend Let me see when we are coming down again. Also, let me make sure I still have the tool, some of my tools didn't make my move with me a couple years ago. I'll check today.

Perfect! yeah i just want to do my Lower ball joint, guide rode mount while im there and the inner lower control arm bushings.

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1978 300D

I’ve used both the eBay tool and the genuine Klann tool and the eBay tool is perfectly fine for a W124 or the rear springs on the W123 but I would only use the genuine one on the front springs.

the front on mine needs the most love but I also need to do the rears, have new rear spring pads from MB!



still on the hunt to borrow a compressor tool if anyone can help out!

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1978 300D

if you look at the pelican parts help pages. The w129 shows how to remove springs without a compressor. I did this on my heavy S Class W140. Just make sure you lift the body high enough. Mc Phearson Struts are what I fear,they can kill.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran