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  #1  
Old 03-12-2001, 06:58 PM
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Found this article on another group. The tool looks a bit pricey, but sounds well worth it.

W210 Spring Install ( The correct way )

After searching this and other discussion boards for 2001 W210 spring install instructions, I was surprised at how little everyone knew or was willing to tell. Several local shops and the local MB dealer all wanted 4+ hours labor to do the job. None would tell me how to do it myself or what tools would be needed. MB hotline told me they didn't even have a service manual available. ( I wonder what the MB techs use )

After some more digging, I found that with the proper tools all 4 springs could be replaced in less than one hour, in my garage, without even removing a single wheel.

The procedure below is my first hand experience, your mileage may vary. Since working with springs can be dangerous ( I read the replies ), get some knowledgeable help if you are unsure about any of the steps involved.


Here is a list of tools that are required:

1. Sir Tools Mercedes Coil Spring Compressor Kit
http://www.********.com/sirtools/mb/M0070.html
Or check with your local Matco distributor for a similar compressor by Klann Tools.

2. Impact Driver

3. Floor Jack ( 2 would be nice, a full lift would be better )

4. Jack stands

5. Metric Socket set




Here is the procedure:

FRONT:
1. Lift a front about 8-10" and turn it out.
2. Place jack stands under the lift pads.
3. Insert the shaft of the compressor through the hole in the lower control arm.
4. Attach the discs of the compressor to the shaft near the top and bottom.
5. Note about how far apart the discs are. You will need the same spacing when compressing the new spring.
6. Note the location of the lower end of the spring; the new spring must be lined up the same.
7. Using the impact driver, compress all coils between the discs. Pulse the trigger.
8. Pull the spring out.
9. Remove the spring pad from the spring.
10. Decompress the spring with the impact driver using a pulsing trigger.
11. Attach the compressor to the new spring, remembering the spacing on the original spring.
12. Using the impact driver, compress all coils between the discs. Pulse the trigger.
13. Place the spring pad on the new spring.
14. Install the new spring, remembering to line up the end of the spring.
15. Slowly decompress the spring, making sure it stays lined up where the original was.
16. Remove the spring compressor, lower the car.
17. Elapsed time for front 15 minutes.


REAR:
1. Lift rear wheels about 8-10".
2. Place jack stands under the lift pads.
3. Remove the plastic cover from the lower control arm.
4. Insert the shaft of the compressor through the hole in the lower control arm.
5. Attach the discs of the compressor to the shaft near the top and bottom.
6. Note about how far apart the discs are. You will need the same spacing when compressing the new spring.
7. Note the location of the lower end of the spring; the new spring must be lined up the same.
8. Using the impact driver, compress all coils between the discs. Pulse the trigger.
9. If you can pull the spring out, do it ( I couldn't ), then skip the next step.
9. Remove the single bolt on the inner end of the lower control arm.
The arm should fall a bit, now the spring will come out.
10. Remove the spring pad from the spring.
11. Decompress the spring with the impact driver using a pulsing trigger.
12. Attach the compressor to the new spring, remembering the spacing on the original spring.
13. Using the impact driver, compress all coils between the discs. Pulse the trigger.
14. Place the spring pad on the new spring.
15. Install the new spring, remembering to line up the end of the spring.
16. If you removed the lower control arm bolt, install it.
17. Slowly decompress the spring, making sure it stays lined up where the original was.
18. Remove the spring compressor.
19. Install the plastic control arm cover, lower the car.
20. Total time 45 minutes.


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  #2  
Old 03-12-2001, 08:57 PM
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Great Information but,

Did you rent this tool? If not, I cannot afford $600 to buy a tool for a one time use. Four hours do not sound too bad if you have to spend that kind of money. I know Performance Products http://www.************************ has the same tool listed for $457 and it is also available for rent but, I do not know for how much. I do not think MercedesShop has a tool rental program YET (hint). If you bought it, may be you can rent the tool to members of MercedesShop and get some of your money back...
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  #3  
Old 03-13-2001, 01:54 AM
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Ummm yeah $600 for a tool to change the springs? I could understand the expense if you are a tech and are charging people to install springs, but if you are just the average Joe DIY'er like many of us are, its cheaper to take it to a tech.

My tech will charge me $40 per wheel, and only 3 hours total to do it.

To me that is a hell of a good deal, and I don't have to risk taking my head off by a flying spring.

Plus the two tools you mentioned that I don't have, would easily cost the same price as me getting springs installed 5 times at my tech.

$600 = roughly 4 spring installs
Impact Wrench - Lets just say $150 because I have no idea how much one actually costs.

But lets see the pics of the car, I'd like to see how it came out.

Alon
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  #4  
Old 03-13-2001, 10:37 AM
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Tools

I wasn't the one actually lowering my car. I just found the article posted elsewhere.

Yeah, the tool is expensive, but I bet it can be rented, since it is carried by Matco Tools. You may have to do a little research to find out where. But purchasing it may come in handy especially for those of you who can't decide what spring cap to put on. With the tool you can try out any spring cap combination you want, in the time it takes you local tech to just put the springs in once.

Just think of it as another reason why you bought a Mercedes. To own expensive tools



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  #5  
Old 03-13-2001, 05:18 PM
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For everybody's benefit I just called performance products. They "rent" the spring compressor for $85 for three weeks. The trick is, they will charge you the full amount ($457) and once you return it, they will refund the difference (less $85).
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  #6  
Old 03-13-2001, 06:06 PM
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The reason that I stay away from posting on SPRING related IS, IT'S dangerous!! Have seen several "good" techs injured. Not, NOT a DIYER job!! Have a good shop do it for you & live a long life!!
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  #7  
Old 03-13-2001, 07:47 PM
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MB Doc, COuldn't agree more. I would rather not risk the injury. My tech will do it for me, and if I want spring pads changed, he'll do it too, I just figure that its better to let a pro do it. At least then I know he knows exactly what to do.

Alon
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  #8  
Old 03-14-2001, 10:26 AM
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I disagree

If a tech says it's going to take 3-4+ hours, I'd say he's ill-equipped, and thus doesn't know what he's doing. Being ill-equipped is probably more dangerous than a diyer being properly equipped.
Using the proper tools when working with springs is very safe, that's why you're using it, and that's why they cost so much. If you're injured while using a spring compressor, it's probably because the tool failed, and in which case it's not your fault to begin with.
But purchasing (or renting) the proper tool for the job is incredibly important to prevent injury. However it rewards you with flexibility in doing the project on your own time, at time savings, and if need be, money savings since you can repeat the procedure over and over until you get it right.

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  #9  
Old 03-14-2001, 06:06 PM
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thats why there's Fords & Chevys

AT dealer with 20+ MB techs only and $100,000 worth of special tools, we would charge you 3-4 hours to remove & install springs & do that at least 2-3 times a week! Hope you are careful working on cars! Have seen very severe injuries & it ins't any fun. Have no IDEA what it's like to not work with the right tool! I own over $60,000 of my own.
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  #10  
Old 03-14-2001, 07:06 PM
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Wait a minute

If you've got the right tool, why is it taking you 3-4 hours to change out a set of springs? It shouldn't take more than an hour, especially if you've got the experience of 2 or 3 a week. Even another poster earlier claimed he could do it in under and hour, WITHOUT a spring compressor.

Using the proper compressor I've personally seen a set of springs on a w210 changed in under 30 minutes. 3-4 hours doesn't quite make sense.
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  #11  
Old 03-14-2001, 08:32 PM
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try reading closely!

Don't think I said that it took 3-4 hrs but that that is the hours CHARGED. You have to pay for those $$$$ tools & that is the time that MB says a job should take. TRY taking life a bit easier as we are trying to help(you are way too serious)!! Most DIYER's should leave this to the pros. This is a help forum, not a chest beater on who can do what!
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  #12  
Old 03-15-2001, 10:49 AM
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Well

If dealers and service shops would charge a fair and accurate rate for their work, then we wouldn't need a help forum for us DIYer's.

We'll leave that for another thread.


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  #13  
Old 03-15-2001, 12:54 PM
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Mikey, read again

Please lighten up! Dealers Don't change the times from what MB says to charge & if they do then they get into trouble w/Benz. That time is what MB says that it should take for the average job by the average tech. Seems you have a problem with everything that other people do for a living! BTW we have a 2-3 week back load year round so I think we must do a few things correct!
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  #14  
Old 03-15-2001, 01:20 PM
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The reason my tech will charge me 3 hours labor is he is going to check the whole suspension and replace busings if needed.

So his estimate to me is fine, I would rather have him take his time, than just slap them in there.

Plus while he is under there, he can make changes to the camber if needed.

Then afterwards I go for an alignment.

I figure that if the springs cost me $125, and the install costs me $160, then $285 to get springs, and with installation is one hell of a cheap price. I could imagine if I had paid $300 for the springs, that an extra cost would be hard to cough up, but for me I'll still be under $300 so its all good.

I tried a spring compressor, and yes it was not the $600 one, but it was a spring compressor noe the less. I compressed one spring down as far as I could and still didn't have it loose enough to pull out, so I figured better let my tech do it, because I don't have the right tools.

Maybe its way easier on a 210 than a 124. I just know that when I get mine done, the cost and time will be well worth it.

This same tech, pulled the tranny out of my Dad's SL, Redid the Front pump and main seal, and had it back in with fluid and filter change and all in half a day.

He fixed the rockers in my brothers 380SL and the brakes in 1 day. He did the gas tank repair in one day too, and he had to drop the whole rear of the car to get the tank out so he could repair the leaking hoses and all.

I think the time and cost is not bad at all. Just because someone can do it in an hour or less means nothing because they have probably done it many times, or they have some $600 tool plus thousands of more dollars worth of the right tools.

I am more than happy to pay my tech whatever he asks for when it comes to the repair on my car. And I do this for good reason. I know he will do it right the first time, and I know his diagnosis is always right on the money. With that kind of service, He deserves what he charges.

Thats my opinion on it.

I'm glad you found a way to do it quickly and have it be cost effective. If thats wht you want to do, then its your right. I'm not that confident when working with large springs, so My choice is to pay to have it done, and let him charge 3 hours labor.

Alon
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  #15  
Old 03-15-2001, 02:04 PM
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Ash, I agree

I have no problem paying for work that's done properly and correctly. You of course got a great deal on (I'm guessing here) the Neuspeed springs at $125. $160 for the install is certainly not unreasonable either. But more springs cost around $200-$250, and two local install shops here wanted in excess of $300 to put the springs in. They, like MBDOC, looked up the hours it took, and charged accordingly. So for $550, I get a set of springs put in, no camber adjustment, heck, from the sounds of their voices, they didn't even sound like they had a clue with what they were doing. One guy recommended we cut the springs!

So instead, I spend $500 for a compressor, $250 for springs, get the luxury of changing them when I want to, adjusting pads at my leisure, AND I can help a friend out who might need the same work done, and charge him for the 30 minutes I work, instead of 3-4 hours.

That's why people do it themselves. Safety isn't an issue when you've got the right tool. And a $500 tool is a minimal expense, knowing some guy isn't going to rip me off for 30 minutes of work, and 3 1/2 hours parking space, just because some book says he's supposed to.


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