W124 front springs

hi anyone done the front springs on '88 ish W124? my 88 230 TE failed its test on a broken front spring (etc.), the guy who tested it for me (a mate) quite gracefully got out of the job claiming to be too busy, he reckons its a pig of a job? looks straightforward in the manual - is there a problem with access? need a special spring compressor?

cheers !

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Yes, you actually do need a special tool to remove that spring. They are about $200 or so on ebay. You can rent them at Performance Products... I am not sure how much they want to rent now...

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Tiger

hmm looked up the Merc type compressor - goes up the middle not outside the spring? ends up costing most of £200 pounds to get here (UK) I've never done a car spring, but done a couple of bike units, but I can't see why an ordinary car spring compressor wouldn't work, unless the springs are incredibly long? Looks like it would need plenty of offset for an ordinary type compressor to clear the 'swinging arm' thing the bottom is mounted on, though must get to a tool shop and eyeball some compressors...

cheers!

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Do not use Mcpherson strut compressor... the one that goes on outside. MB is a true spring which has forces of 4 or 5 times of the strut springs.

Use only internal spring compressor. These tools came from Europe, so you should be able to get them there.

Reply to
Tiger

Those are all the wrong types of spring compressor for Mercedes. Do not use them or risk ending up in hospital or worse.

Reply to
Tiger

Agree with Tiger, a very dangerous job without the correct spring compressor - you will injure yourself badly when the spring (old or new) comes flying out!

Reply to
rpffreeman

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