230K
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2003
- Messages
- 2,190
- Location
- Belfast
- Car
- 09 E320 cdi Sport Estate, 98 E300TD Estate, 99 SL 500
Hi
After suffering 2 broken springs, each broke within 2 months of each other. I decided to purchase a spring compressor tool off Ebay from America. It was interesting that both springs broke at the same location about 2-3" from the bottom end of the coil.
Here is the broken spring.
A nice shiny new spring compressor set.
Raise the car up and remove the front wheels. I was able to do the 2nd spring without removing the wheel but maybe best to remove it if your a rookie. 2 post lift makes it handy.
Install the spring compressor from the bottom through the hole in the wishbone. Position the plates as far apart as possible you need every mm you can get to get the spring out.
View from under the wishbone. Tighten up to compress spring. Spring will eventually start to spin, use vice grips to stop it spinning.
Spring fully compressed and removed
Release tension on spring be undoing nut
New spring compared with old
New spring compressed, again try and get as muchof the spring compressed to leave installing easy. Be careful not to be too greedy as plates will snag on perch and wishbone when tension is released.
Wire brush and apply rust proofing to the spring seat in the perch. I used Waxoyl
Clean all the grime and grit from the wishbone, wire brush and rust proof.
Install spring from the bottom
Rotate spring untill seated correctly on the wishbone
Release tension be unding nut on compressor.
Thats it replace road wheels and give her the once over finally before letting her down off the ramp. I would thoroughly recommend the purchase of this tool if your changing spring. Far superior to the hook type. Both springs could easily be done in an hour. I even took one out again to Waxoyl the perch because it was that easy.
Tools required:
Spring Compressor.
19mm Socket and Ratchet
Wire Brush
Vice grips
Waxoyl
Ride height raised by 21mm but this may settle back a bit over time.
Good luck.
230K
After suffering 2 broken springs, each broke within 2 months of each other. I decided to purchase a spring compressor tool off Ebay from America. It was interesting that both springs broke at the same location about 2-3" from the bottom end of the coil.
Here is the broken spring.
A nice shiny new spring compressor set.
Raise the car up and remove the front wheels. I was able to do the 2nd spring without removing the wheel but maybe best to remove it if your a rookie. 2 post lift makes it handy.
Install the spring compressor from the bottom through the hole in the wishbone. Position the plates as far apart as possible you need every mm you can get to get the spring out.
View from under the wishbone. Tighten up to compress spring. Spring will eventually start to spin, use vice grips to stop it spinning.
Spring fully compressed and removed
Release tension on spring be undoing nut
New spring compared with old
New spring compressed, again try and get as muchof the spring compressed to leave installing easy. Be careful not to be too greedy as plates will snag on perch and wishbone when tension is released.
Wire brush and apply rust proofing to the spring seat in the perch. I used Waxoyl
Clean all the grime and grit from the wishbone, wire brush and rust proof.
Install spring from the bottom
Rotate spring untill seated correctly on the wishbone
Release tension be unding nut on compressor.
Thats it replace road wheels and give her the once over finally before letting her down off the ramp. I would thoroughly recommend the purchase of this tool if your changing spring. Far superior to the hook type. Both springs could easily be done in an hour. I even took one out again to Waxoyl the perch because it was that easy.
Tools required:
Spring Compressor.
19mm Socket and Ratchet
Wire Brush
Vice grips
Waxoyl
Ride height raised by 21mm but this may settle back a bit over time.
Good luck.
230K
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