Spring compressor for W124 LCA?
 

I hear people on the boards talking about how it's essential to use the Klann spring compressor. Why is this necessary? Is there any reason I can't use the spring compressor I can rent from the local Parts Hut?

Curvature of the spring when CA is at the bottom of its travel. I don't see why you couldn't do it with a conventional compressor, but the internal compressors work so nice!

Jay

Kindness to your local Mortician
 

Use of anything other than a Klann (Type,Internal) spring compressor calls for
a "Closed Casket" funeral.
[It's almost impossible to sew all those little bits back together.]

There are SOME "Adventurous" souls who advocate Mechanical Operations
using a Floor Jack UNDERNEATH the LCA to control COIL SPRING De-Compression
rates.
(Sounds awfully like Russian Roulette,with All Six Chambers Charged,to me.)

The McParts "Big Boxes" frown upon the Capital Expenditure necessary for the
Acquisition of the Super Heavy Duty INTERNAL Type Compressors.

As Always,Your Mercedes,Your Funeral.

Here Ya Go
 

El Paso Tools (In Florida [?])

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Coil-Spring-Compressor-Suspension-Tool-Kit-Set-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c1d2c6d55QQitemZ120748535125QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

$189.00

Use it then sell it to another DIY er online.

Having just completed the LCA operation with a Klann-clone, I can tell you that it would be difficult to do (and pretty much impossible to do safely) with an external compressor.

Sixto published a thread here on replacement of the outer bushing (it lives in the wheel carrier and the LCA attaches to it). Sixto's technique was to use a jack to lower the LCA until the outer bushing could be gotten at for removal/replacement. However, I do not think that Sixto was removing the spring or replacing the LCA. As was mentioned earlier, the spring tends to curve as it unwinds and I would be concerned that it might decide to go POW! when you least expect it. I'm pretty sure that the Klann compressor is available in the tool rental program of this forum.

Jeremy

Front or rear LCA?

Sixto
87 300D

Front. My brakes locked on a rainy day awhile ago and my driver's front quarter got acquainted with a divider. :/

If they Lower Control Arm is staying on the Car; People have said that you can support the Lower Control Arm on a something like a Jack Stand and let the weight of the Car keep the Spring Compressed while you remove the Spindle/Steering Knuckle from the Lower Control Arm so that you can change the Ball Joint the as Don said is actually in the Spindle.

If the Lower Control Arm is coming off you need to compress the Front Spring.

I have tried to use the Strut type Coil Spring Compressors 2 times. The First time I bent them. I replaced the Threaded Rod with thicker 5/8" Threaded Rod and they also bent.

(If you use the $189 copy of the Klann Coil Spring Compressor you may need to enlarge the Hole at the top ot the Spring Pearch.)

After that I made my own Spring Compressor that compressed the Spring up into the Spring Pearch. First Pic.

Another Member made is own Compressor:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=987680

The last pic shows the right type Spring Compressor in action.

W124
 

The ball joint is in the LCA. A spring compressor is not necessary for ball joint replacement. I haven't used my telescopic compressor on the front of the 124's, yet. Everything I've done - ball joints, struts/mounts, swaybar bushings - has been done with the spring in place. Just make sure the LCA is firmly supported!!

Jay.

Layback40 really piled on the abuse when I posted this one:D

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=282512&highlight=macgyver+spring+compressor-dont+home

ABS didn't kick in?

Did you bend the LCA? Frame? Just checking?

Sixto
87 300D

If you would like to rent the klann copy spring compressor I would be willing to rent mine out for a small fee + deposit since I won't be using it for the next few months. I've used it 2-3 times so far and its worked out great.

pm me if interested.

I believe the clones are a fit problem only on 123s. 124s and 140s have a wide enough hole to take clones.

Sixto
87 300D

I never did clarify in the macgyver spring compressor thread--Theres NO WAY I would have been crowching in front of the wheel well smacking the fork with the 5 lb sledge. I layed some cardbord over the hood and had the fork on the top bj and one good smack popped it loose, when I got the chain loose and released the jack the spring didnt fly anywhere-it just flopped out on the floor like a trout.

Thanks for the info. I was careful to say "you may need" when I posted; as I have never used the Clone or Klann Spring Compressor before.

Also there may be several companies making the Spring Compressor Clones so there is no way to know if all of them are made with the same dimensions.