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?

__________________
RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)

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

__________________
On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

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.

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

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.

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

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

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

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. :/

__________________
RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)

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.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

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.

__________________
On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

Layback40 really piled on the abuse when I posted this one

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.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

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.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel