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  #1  
Old 08-16-2019, 08:39 AM
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w123 spring compressor thoughts?

Hey Gents,


sorry for this noobish thread/question but I just bought this


https://www.*******.com/products/spring-compressor




I also bought $1200 worth of Genuine Mercedes-Benz suspension parts(working for MB has perks but thats still a lot)



Was going to try to save some $ and do this job myself as I am fairly handy but is this spring compressor going to work and if so is it gonna kill me/break?



Springs scare me but a shop quoted me $2000 to do what I want done so I was going to attempt myself.



Thanks in advance!

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  #2  
Old 08-16-2019, 08:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Madmax55 View Post

Springs scare me but a shop quoted me $2000 to do what I want done so I was going to attempt myself.


It's tough to comment without knowing exactly what it is you want to have done.

Plus, it appears that your link to the spring compressor is being blocked.
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  #3  
Old 08-16-2019, 09:20 AM
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sorry about that!

the brand is

McPherson Strut Spring Compressor
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  #4  
Old 08-16-2019, 09:21 AM
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https://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123FrontSuspension
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Old 08-16-2019, 10:46 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Madmax55 View Post
sorry about that!

the brand is

McPherson Strut Spring Compressor
A typical strut spring compressor would be no match for a W123 spring.
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  #6  
Old 08-16-2019, 10:58 AM
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Perhaps working for Mercedes you could loan one? Fear might be the wrong word but I have a healthy respect for car springs. So much so I would only use the original quality one.


Some people use the oriental copy. Even that is not for me. The general types of spring compressors are out of the question for those 123 front springs.
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  #7  
Old 08-16-2019, 11:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barry12345 View Post
Perhaps working for Mercedes you could loan one? Fear might be the wrong word but I have a healthy respect for car springs. So much so I would only use the original quality one.


Some people use the oriental copy. Even that is not for me. The general types of spring compressors are out of the question for those 123 front springs.



Thanks guys, and no I work at the office here in Atlanta so no tools handy here. not at a dealer.



Do you have a brand you would recommend or does anyone?
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  #8  
Old 08-16-2019, 12:05 PM
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You might be able to rent one.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tool-rental-program/368227-spring-compressor-tool.html
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  #9  
Old 08-16-2019, 02:07 PM
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I've reached out to rent one! thank you!



I would still like to buy one but its either garbage for sub $100 or good for $500 or the proper tool for near $1000.
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  #10  
Old 08-16-2019, 05:54 PM
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I rented one from advance auto to do my ball joints. I know everyone talks about W123 springs can’t be compressed by “normal” spring compressors. It worked, now I will give you the fact it wasn’t easy by any stretch but at the end of the day it worked.
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  #11  
Old 08-16-2019, 06:19 PM
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I bought a cheap $50 spring compressor off of eBay which is designed for Mercedes springs. It did the job, but after using it about six times, the threads appear to be stripping, so it's probably at the end of its life. I was even careful to grease the threads well.


I also had to enlarge the access holes for the front springs.
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  #12  
Old 08-16-2019, 08:45 PM
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I have been reading about the spring compressor issue since 2007. Back close to 2007 the specifically made for Mercedes aftermarket spring compressors cost more then they do now and at the same time there was fewer makers.

Now there seems to be a bunch of made in china makers and they cost less but the quality is not so good. Or at lest you cannot separated the good from the bad by looking at an ad.
One would think the ones that Pelican Parts, Baum Tool, El Paso Tool, and Zdmak Tools sell would be a cut above the average but I have never used any. At least you would get some sort of warranty from those places.
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  #13  
Old 08-16-2019, 08:47 PM
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I have been reading about the spring compressor issue since 2007. Back close to 2007 the specifically made for Mercedes aftermarket spring compressors cost more then they do now and at the same time there was fewer makers.

Now there seems to be a bunch of made in china makers and they cost less but the quality is not so good. Or at lest you cannot separated the good from the bad by looking at an ad.
One would think the ones that Pelican Parts, Baum Tool, El Paso Tool, and Zdmak Tools sell would be a cut above the average but I have never used any. At least you would get some sort of warranty from those places.
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  #14  
Old 08-16-2019, 09:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GhostRider8 View Post
I rented one from advance auto to do my ball joints. I know everyone talks about W123 springs can’t be compressed by “normal” spring compressors. It worked, now I will give you the fact it wasn’t easy by any stretch but at the end of the day it worked.
For starters, a MacPherson strut spring compressor is NOT a normal spring compressor. Strut springs are much lighter than typical suspension springs and they are normally compressed with the strut off the vehicle, so clearance problems are not an issue. Using a MacPherson compressor on a W123 spring is a great way to wind up in the ER or the morgue.

Secondly, a spring compressor is not required when replacing W123 ball joints. You just need to keep the weight of the car on the lower control arm. And that's per the FSM.
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  #15  
Old 08-16-2019, 10:36 PM
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I got your message about the compressor rental, but alas, I do not know where mine is.

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