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#1
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Spring Compressor
is the (autozone) universal jaw style spring compressor safe to use?
why or why not? thanks matt |
#2
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Don't know what car you have, but it will not fit on many MBs. If it is two separate compressors, in other words two separate threaded rods with hooks on each end, then I think they are unsafe on any spring. They have a tendency to slip around next to each other resulting in a banana shaped spring that looks like it wants to escape. Then you have to gingerly release the tension on the screws, reset them, retighten them, and hope they don't slip around again while you handle the spring.
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1987 W201 190D |
#3
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no, you need the correct tool. but i think you can get away with it on the rear springs
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#4
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Quote:
![]() The best reason.......the correct spring compressor is available through the tool rental program for ~$30-35 and makes the job safe and definitely easier. Do a search for "tool rental program". ![]()
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Sam 84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle ) |
#5
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X2
For SD Blue's Safety Suggestions.
One of these Coil Springs is capable of going through a cement block wall ,If it gets away...A Human Body does not stand a chance in Hell!
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'84 300SD sold 124.128 |
#6
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I agree, I used my set of Autozone compressors on the driver side of my 240D, although it worked, with the nut facing down, my compressors were on the brink of stripped threads. These MB springs are of top quality and are thick and heavy duty (well.... its an MB, what do you expect? LOL) but anyways, it was hard to get the hooked ends into the coils, I had to pry them apart to fit the hooks in. After nearly stripping the threads, I said "Screw this"..... I was going to replace my LCA bushings, just for the hell of it, but after that crap, I took a closer look at the bushings and decided they werent really that bad anyways. Also, compressed springs are deadly if the compressor breaks. I was working on a chevy truck once when my clamp type compressor broke on me, and it sent the LCA of the truck into the concrete and shards of concrete flew out across the shop. Springs are NO JOKE!!!
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#7
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Nope, I've tried.
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My Primary Driver - '85 300CD - 4-speed conversion, 2.47 rear, lowered, euro headlights, rebuilding (not restoring so much) Wife's - '08 Saab Sportcombi Aero Riding a '03 Yamaha Warrior |
#8
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One of the guys I helped put his Vogtlands on blindly ignored me when I told him not to. He was doing it at his friends house in the garage. AFAIK they still havent patched the hole in the FLOOR where the spring compressor threads FAILED and rod went throught the CEILING.
Nuff said.
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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg 1995 E420 Schwarz 1995 E300 Weiss #1987 300D Sturmmachine #1991 300D Nearly Perfect #1994 E320 Cabriolet #1995 E320 Touring #1985 300D Sedan OBK #42 |
#9
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I've tried both Autozone rental tools. I quit long before I entered the danger zone...I could see there was no way in he|| they would work, not even close. Clearly a dangerous scenario.
I ended up buying the eBay tool which I (and others) have used many times.
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1998 W210 diesel (wiped out by a texter) Baum spring compressor "for rent" |
#10
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I'm going to break with the pack here and say it depends on yr application. I used an advance auto spring compressor on my front coils to compress the spring enough to replace the A-arms after getting new lower ball joints pressed in. Complete compression wasn't required. Also, I bought two lengths of chain and and boltable chain link as an extra safety consideration. I wish I could've rented the correct tool, but didn't have the $200 deposit at the time.
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1985 300D Gretchen (Astral Silver) 220k 1983 240D 4-speed Evelyn (Orient Red) 203k TANSTAAFL |
#11
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Here is what the MB springs do to those compressors(I did not take these pictures)
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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#12
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I had no problem using the AZ spring compressor on the front springs of my 210 to change the LCA. It is a center shaft, and took some creativity to get the cleats inside the spring coils and then assemble the unit inside the coil.
On a side note, the rear springs on my 126 did not require a spring compressor at all. Unbolt the diff, drop the frame down and the springs fall right out.
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Mark in MA 05 MB E320CDI 402k Granite Grey Metallic 05 MB E320CDI 267k Black 05 MB E320CDI 232k White 05 MB E320CDI 209k Tectite Grey 99 Dodge 2500 Cummins 5sp 148k 62 Jeep CJ-6 120k |
#13
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Lisle 62300
As described in this post http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1989547 I used a Lisle brand compressor which uses the words 'super safe' in the product description. The tool made for Mercedes springs would have been easier to use but this one will work on just about any coil spring and like Alton Brown I tend to stay away from unitaskers in my shop if I can.
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'82 300D - Light Ivory, 2nd Owner (Back in the wind April 2013!) '95 E300D - White, grey interior. (Suffering from stuck/broken glow plugs) Deuteronomy 22:4- "Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again." |
#14
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I am getting ready to replace the front and rear bushings on the trailing arms of my W110 (fintail). I need a spring compressor that works on the outside, because there's no way to get the tool into the inside of the spring. I looked at the Lisle unit, but it's for struts, not plain springs.
I found this one from Eastwood: http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=2441&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=coil%2Cspring. It's made of 3 5/8" rods. Any opinions?
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Chuck Taylor Falls Church VA '66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe |
#15
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Yes, I've seen the lurid pictures, but the Eastwood spec says it's not for struts but for coil springs. And I'm not finding much else in external compressors.
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Chuck Taylor Falls Church VA '66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe |
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