Quote:
Originally Posted by scottmcphee
Umm, so everybody who's used an external type compressor has died?
These answers seem very alarmist.
How could a manufacturer make something rated for 1200 lbs survive in the market if every customer dies?
What's so special about a Mercedes spring that a Klann type is required?
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It's also dependent on the car, not just the spring.
On the W123 at least, there is not enough room in the wheel well to properly orient external compressors. This means that one side of the spring is compressed more than the other. The slope of the spring and the compressive force tends to cause the clamps to slip towards each other.
You can get by using external compressors. You might even be able to do it more than once. Ever seen a compressed banana-shaped spring with both compressors on one side? It's not safe, or stable, and there's a crap-load of stored mechanical energy in there just straining to get out...now what?
It's foolhardy to use incorrect tools on a dangerous repair when there are better, safer tools available and most jobs that need spring repairs do not just suddenly occur without warning.
Plan ahead, get a suitable tool for the job. It really sucks to have the car partway disassembled and then suddenly realize that it'd be a dangerously bad idea to continue on that path. BTDT.