$200 Spring Compressor - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tgingrich · #1 08-31-2006, 10:15 AM

I was reading the thread below about prechamber tools which linked to an ebay site and found this :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Coil-Spring-Compressor-Parts-Tools_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35625QQihZ002QQitemZ120026157558
Anyone purchase this tool from here? Any thoughts on quality, reliability, safety, etc. I mean it is pretty low tech.

Brian Carlton · #2 08-31-2006, 10:58 AM

That tool will work fine on all W123 or W126 vehicles. I've got a similar tool........they're basically Klann clones........and there hasn't been any issues with it.

sokoloff · #3 08-31-2006, 11:26 AM

El Paso Tools gets some/all of their stuff from Baum Tools. They have sold me quality tools for reasonable prices.

Len

Brian Carlton · #4 08-31-2006, 12:09 PM

Speaking of these spring compressors, has anyone used one of them on the rear of a W124?

If so, can you comment on the suitability of the unit for this purpose?

TIA.

Ron in SC · #5 08-31-2006, 12:40 PM

I've got a set of those too, that I bought from a forum member. He purchased them it Baum tools.

I did try to see if they worked on the rear of a 124 and they did not fit well, so I did not use them, I removed the springs another way. I need to remove springs to get to the heim joint in the wheel carrier.

Brian Carlton · #6 08-31-2006, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron in SC

I did try to see if they worked on the rear of a 124 and they did not fit well, so I did not use them.......

Can you provide some details?

Does the W124 need some type of spacer to allow the tool to function? I'd like to understand why the tool won't work on a W124???

gsxr · #7 08-31-2006, 01:05 PM

Relax, it works on the W124, and just about every other MB with coil springs except the 107, 114, and 115 front springs. See attached PDF file.

You can do the rear springs on a W124 without the compressor (especially lowering/Sportline springs) if you have a couple of hydraulic floor jacks, but the compressor is NOT optional for W124 front springs.

Cephallus · #8 08-31-2006, 02:07 PM

I have the El Paso compressor and it's virtuall identical to the one I was paying to rent from Performance Products. Have used it 9-10 times with no problems.

2nd the post about not using a compressor on the rear. Make sure the car is secure on jack stands and use a hydraulic jack to slowly lower the arm until the spring drops out.

Brian Carlton · #9 09-01-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

Relax, it works on the W124, and just about every other MB with coil springs except the 107, 114, and 115 front springs. See attached PDF file.

You can do the rear springs on a W124 without the compressor (especially lowering/Sportline springs) if you have a couple of hydraulic floor jacks, but the compressor is NOT optional for W124 front springs.

Apparently, it does not work on a W124 rear spring without an additional collar. From the latest member to rent the tool:

Quote:

Don't misunderstand, the spring plates do fit the rear 124 springs. That's OK. You need to compress at least 6 coils to compress them. The spring plates fit and the spring does compress--but not enough to remove it. As you "wind" the tool to compress, the threaded portion of the tool extends above the top of the spring mount, thru the hole at the top. This isn't a problem with the front, as there's a clear opening at the top of the spring mount for the threaded rod to poke out thru. In the rear, however, the top spring mount is blind!!!! You compress the spring only partly; then you can't compress it any more, because the threaded rod pokes up against the body. With the Klann tool (as depicted in the Chassis book), the factory thought-ahead and supplied a collar that slips around the tool, that effectively lowers the bottom spring plate position, allowing full compression, without the threaded rod extending as high. See the chassis book or CD for explanation. The chassis book has better illustrations (of using the collar around the tool) in the 4Matic section, though identical to removing non-4Matic. It's just better depicted.

Comments, Dave, or anyone?

gsxr · #10 09-01-2006, 12:57 PM

I've never tried to pull a rear spring without also lowering the inner control arm pivot... it works fine if you do that. Compress as much as you can, then pull the inner pivot bolt on the LCA, and the spring comes out safely. I've never used the spacer/collar but I'll have to see if it's orderable separately... I don't recall seeing a part number for it, though.

Brian Carlton · #11 09-01-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

Compress as much as you can, then pull the inner pivot bolt on the LCA, and the spring comes out safely.

Details, please.

When you compress it as much as you can...........is the spring still exerting force on the body? When you pull the pivot bolts on the LCA, does the LCA jump downward?

I'm totally unfamiliar with the W124, so, additional details for clarity are appreciated.

gsxr · #12 09-01-2006, 01:38 PM

That's the factory procedure now... lower the LCA (aka "spring link"). The old Klann tool used a spacer, the new Klann (with three tabs on each plate instead of two) does not. Here's the factory PDF - note that it specifies the link be unbolted and lowered:

http://mercedes.braingears.com/124_DISC2/Program/Chassis/32-0230.pdf

Brian Carlton · #13 09-01-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

That's the factory procedure now... lower the LCA (aka "spring link"). The old Klann tool used a spacer, the new Klann (with three tabs on each plate instead of two) does not. Here's the factory PDF - note that it specifies the link be unbolted and lowered:

http://mercedes.braingears.com/124_DISC2/Program/Chassis/32-0230.pdf

Yep, that explains it..........thanks for the clarification, Dave.

Ron in SC · #14 09-01-2006, 06:08 PM

All I remember is when I used my compressor on the rear is that it did not compress the spring, I guess I did not do it right from reading the above threads.

The easiest way for me to compress spring was to use a hydraulic jack to raise the wheel carrier with the vehicle on a my mid-rise scissors lift.

I needed access to the wheel carrier to replace the heim joints also called ball joints.

#15 09-01-2006, 07:00 PM

Napa rents that style spring compressor for free (With a $170 deposit.)

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