Getting an internal spring compressor to work properly

[JHZR2]

As they say in Margin Call, “speak to me as if you were speaking to a child, or a golden retriever.”

I replaced shocks and springs on my ML320 tonight. It was a horrible job. Not because things wouldn’t come apart, or because any of the disassembly was particularly hard. Just one thing. Springs.

MB uses an internal spring compressor. Surely it is the safest way. Mine is Gedore Klann. Bought the main unit from a Chrysler dealership going oob, added bigger plates when I needed them for my w126. I’ve used this on multiple classic MB diesels with minimal issue other than fear when clamping long strings down hard, and handling them.

Today I was using it to remove broken springs. Easier said than done!

The big issue is/was, how do you know how many coils to capture, and how do you keep the center tube straight and centered?

Getting the broken ones out was bad. I had the compressor clamped down and stuck, multiple times. Not a good feeling when a spring is compressed tight.

But it was worse with the replacements!

I couldn’t get the tightening to be straight. I couldn’t keep it centered. The threaded rod extended too far and interfered with the mount.

Perhaps worst, was the new springs. I didn’t get enough coils, then got too many and the end one didn’t allow the compressor hex end to turn as I couldn’t get a socket on it. The powder coat is all scratched up. Just a big pain.

So how do you set it up so the shaft stays centered and I grab enough? I feel like there must be some very simple technique, perhaps how the plates get oriented or something.

 

[Trav]

I believe this one of the vehicles that you can remove the caliper and abs wires, put a floor jack under the LCA to support it, remove the sway bar link and upper joint, release the jack and use a big pry bar to force the LCA down and pull the broken spring out and get the new one in without a lot of trouble. Use a jack to get the LCA back into position.
Klann did have a compressor pair with an adjuster in the middle of the threads that worked well with this style of spring set up but they are only good for compression of 3-4 coils but if you lower the LCA that is all you need if that.

 

[JHZR2]

I believe this one of the vehicles that you can remove the caliper and abs wires, put a floor jack under the LCA to support it, remove the sway bar link and upper joint, release the jack and use a big pry bar to force the LCA down and pull the broken spring out and get the new one in without a lot of trouble. Use a jack to get the LCA back into position.
Klann did have a compressor pair with an adjuster in the middle of the threads that worked well with this style of spring set up but they are only good for compression of 3-4 coils but if you lower the LCA that is all you need if that.

Thanks. In hindsight that is perhaps what I should have done. Just get minimal coils shrunk down and let the thing fall out.

I guess my question is more fundamental though. Borderline stupid. On the new spring, depending upon how I had the plates, on what number of coils, and depending upon how far up/down the plates were, the spring would compress, but the tool would be diagonal in the spring.

When I finally got it, I could fit it right in with minimal issues, and the tool was pretty well centered. But I don’t know how I got it that way once each side and not the 2-3 other times I compressed the spring per side, trying for a fit.

The plates are shaped like pac man, should the mouths be open in the same direction, opposite directions, something else? Is there a best practice?

Thanks!

 

[Trav]

Thanks. In hindsight that is perhaps what I should have done. Just get minimal coils shrunk down and let the thing fall out.

I guess my question is more fundamental though. Borderline stupid. On the new spring, depending upon how I had the plates, on what number of coils, and depending upon how far up/down the plates were, the spring would compress, but the tool would be diagonal in the spring.

When I finally got it, I could fit it right in with minimal issues, and the tool was pretty well centered. But I don’t know how I got it that way once each side and not the 2-3 other times I compressed the spring per side, trying for a fit.

The plates are shaped like pac man, should the mouths be open in the same direction, opposite directions, something else? Is there a best practice?

Thanks!

I am guessing you are using the Klann 0025 Compressor? This is how Klann shows how to use it, all well and good but with broken springs it is never this easy as the thing want to flop around all over the place. taking the extra 30 min to drop the LCA IMO is well worth it.
Notice the aluminum jaw plates in the vise.

 

[FowVay]

haha, that music in that videos reminds me of being at a blue movie kino while down on the Ku'damm in Berlin back in the '80's. IYKYK

 

[JHZR2]

I am guessing you are using the Klann 0025 Compressor? This is how Klann shows how to use it, all well and good but with broken springs it is never this easy as the thing want to flop around all over the place. taking the extra 30 min to drop the LCA IMO is well worth it.
Notice the aluminum jaw plates in the vise.

Thanks. I think the main thing is that at least for the video, the openings were both the same direction. There are three ways the center rod can go in, top and bottom, so nine possibilities? I suspect only one or a few are actually right though all may work safely.

Thanks!

BTW, I’ve never seen Bundt wheels on a w201. Interesting combo in that video.