Recently started a round of work including front suspension.

Tried the cheap Ebay spring compression tool and could not get it to fit properly. Did some research and discovered that was to be expected due to control arm opening for tool insertion being to narrow in diameter.

Did some more reading and found the spring could be removed 'safely' by jacking the height up enough to allow control arm to point straight down after removing strut/shock nut and the tie rod connection. Just in case the jack failed I stood in front of the bumper and used a trolley jack to hold then lower the control arm.

I found a spring compression tool on ebay that is supposed to be identical to the Klann one used by Mercedes techs. Miller 9150 9151 9152 Crossfire Clamps Tool Set. It's on order but hasn't arrived yet.

Questions

Are the Klann spring compression plates easier to insert than the cheap ebay tool plates?

Has anyone had any problems using the Klann tool to remove/insert front springs on a W124?

Any tips on how to properly/successfully use it?

Sway / stabilizer bushings.

Found a few comments that the non Mercedes bushings would squeak sometimes due to lack of a Teflon liner to lubricate the bushing.

Does Lemforder or any other brand use that type of liner?

Miller spring compression tool set arrived.

Picture attached.

High quality as expected. Adjustment turns with very little effort.

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Be sure to lube the jack screw and use *no* power tools on it…

Good luck and be safe, remember always keep the axis of the compressed spring pointed away from anything that you care about.

Also double and triple check as you are charging it up, that the 3 tabs on the shaft are securely inserted in the slots in the plates top and bottom.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Received the Mercedes brand sway bar bushings. I believe the dashed white circle showing in the bushing picture is proof that Mercedes spec'd a teflon liner to 'prevent' squeaking and any lubrication of those bushings.

It'd be good to check if the cheaper off brand ones have a similar lining.

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Wish I'd found this thread earlier:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/290354-spring-compressor-tips-124-front-spring-replacement-control-arm-replacement-2.html

Really good information.

I believe these ridges are for more surface area so the bushings can "bite" the swaybar. The way these bushings work is that they distort themselves as the bar rotates in them.

Toyota and Mazda genuine bushings for swaybars are like this too.

Previously they used to instruct to use a bushing install fluid which caused the metal to seal on the rubber like a tire would. You can use tire install lube in place of the defunct MB product, I find the AGS ruglyde best for this job - install the bushings, torque them down and let the car down within 10 minutes and left alone for another 10 minutes, this completely dries out that lube and makes the sway bar lock to the rubber.

In these new bushings, you have to tighten the brackets when the car is at ready to drive height. (meaning the car should be on ramps or you raise the lower control arms so the weight of the car rests on them)

p.s. lubro moly sell the bushing install fluid and so do BMW as a genuine product part. - the ol' AGS ruglyde works great too.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Hopefully I'll be installing the sway bar Sunday after noon. Should warm up to about 50 degrees then.

From the Mercedes workshop manual it says to not lubricate the new type sway bar bushings with a teflon liner. For the older ones they said to use a lubricant.

I believe the new bushings have a smooth surface that touches the sway bar. I'll confirm that tomorrow.

I placed a picture of the lining in one of the Mercedes brand sway bar bushing liners. It appears to be a fabric that most likely is the teflon liner mentioned in the workshop manual.

If you want to see a picture, go to:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/415062-w124-1995-e300d-some-part-s-other-info-front-suspension.html#post4212281