w210 front spring replacement
 

hello all. i am in the process of replacing the front spring perches on my 97 e300d. i was able to get the springs off with a spring compressor i rented from auto zone but thinking ahead i dont think it will work when i go to reinstall the new springs i want to install after i do the perches. can i drop the steering bracket and install the springs without compressing them or is that a bad thing? is the mercedes spring compressor tool the only way to go or is there other tricks for this? thanks in advance. jim

I've read a post here somewhere on how somebody did it without a spring compressor. That's a big risk if you ask me. The spring holds up the car - imagine the energy stored if something were to go terribly wrong and the spring released all that energy on your body.

I bought a used Klann on eBay and and have used it a lot, maybe 10 or 15 times already (my cars and other's Benzes). Very well made tool, and I feel completely safe using it. I think somebody here rents them out.

I'm one of the folks who did it on my car WITHOUT using a spring compressor - just lowered the control arm, and observed that when it's fully lowered, the spring is barely compressed and does not "pop" out like everyone says it will (as long as you lower the control arm very slowly). In fact, I had to use a prybar to get the spring out of the control arm indentation. I think the risk of injury using this method is very minimal as long as you do things slowly, and for added safety I managed the jack from the opposite side of the car, reaching across underneath. HOWEVER - I did this on my W124. I have no idea if it will work on the W210, but am researching the matter as I plan to replace a ball joint soon. If you find out, please post back!

dropping the front on 210 is a bit more challenging than the rears (which was
pretty straight forward). using a spring compressor, even for partial tension
will aid greatly towards safety. yes, it can be done....but so much relies on
balance and safety that one doesn't recommend this lightly rather, with caution.

"managing the jack from the opposite side of the car" cries out for a bit more explanation. This sounds like a great trick but it is not intuitively obvious to me how one would do this.

i have a welder buddy coming tomorrow to weld the perches on for me and then i will attempt to install the new springs. i will keep you guys posted as to how this goes. thanks jim

The front of the car was up on jackstands, with wheels hanging about 6 inchess off the ground. I put the cradle of the jack under the driver side control arm, then ran the handle perpendicular to the car - it reached all the way across the car to the front passenger side wheel well, just forward of the tire. I just had to reach in there a little bit, but was able to use one hand to slowly unscrew the handle, gently lowering the lower control arm until it was hanging. Hiding way on the other side of the car, it is nearly impossible to get hit by the spring if it comes flying out of there. I suppose it could ricochet, but it would have to ricochet twice, on two opposing garage walls, and then hit me squarely in order to do any actual damage. But like I said, I realized that the risk is very very minimal. After the lower control arm was hanging, I was very scared and approached the spring like a rattlesnake. Then I realized it was almost fully extended and actually would not "fly" out of there like everyone said it would. I actually had to use a crowbar to pry it off the lower control arm indentations, while actually using my other foot to push down firmly on the lower control arm. When replacing it, I had to use the same crowbar to pry it into place before slowly compressing with the jack. IMHO the risk is hugely overrated. Of course, a dummy could easily kill himself - for example, if he didn't center the perch properly on the control arm, I could see it slipping SUDDENLY - and then of course BOOM it would take his head off. Especially if he is standing on the same side of the car (I'm sure most people would do so). If you take your time, use common sense, take every precaution possible, etc. then you should be fine. It wouldn't hurt to wear goggles either - the spring flying could kick up a rock or something (I know I wore goggles). Also, I ran a thick old 20 AMP extension cord through the upper spring perch hole, through the middle of the spring, and through the lower hole in the control arm - sort of a safety chain which would have to be torn in case the spring broke loose. The thought was that the extension cord tearing would absorb a ton of energy before the spring hit me. But like I said, my fears were just way overblown.

Thanks - great idea.

If you are doing a lower ball joint, you don't need to take the spring out. In fact, I don't see why you'd have to take the spring out to do the top one either.

Block up the car under the frame and put the jack under the lower control arm.

got the perches welded on today...but
 

i broke the bolt on the upper balljoint on the steering knuckle. i lowered the suspension arm as for as i could without putting pressure on the brake lines and the space was way too small to put a spring in without compressing it alot. i am going to bite the bullet and pick up a mercedes replica compressor. jim

spring perch project complete
 

just finished welding and riveting the new front spring perches on my 97 300d. also replaced the springs, shocks, and upper control arms. also replaced the rear shocks and just got back from getting new michelins installed. the car rides like a dream and i have good peace of mind with the new perches and tires. i will be glad to share my knowledge the best i can with anybody who has any questions about replacing these parts. regards jim

I was doing my bi-annual oil change and installing my winter tires today and as always I take a good look at the car while I have it up on jack stands.

The below pics is what I found on the drivers side front.

I will call a MB dealer (Motorwerks in Barrington) tomorrow and ask what can be done as far as MB picking up partial cost. I will not get my hopes up since I only visit the MB dealer on occasion to buy parts (I do all of my own maintenance).

Jim, based on the outcome I may pick your brain for installing new perches.

Just saw your pics of your horrible find, Ray. Do you have an update and
whether M-B will subsidize the repair cost? It's depressing to see photos
of this dreaded ailment....ack!!

Raymond,

MB covered 50% of the spring perches, I only paid $628 for both sides. At least I discovered the problem before it completely failed.

I started a new post about my first visit to the Mercedes dealer:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/206795-mb-service-campaign.html

Overall I am pleased with the work they performed but since I am use to doing all the maintenance myself it was an expensive visit to the dealer.