Spring Compressors

[Uncle Fester]

A little advice please,

I have seen two types of spring compressor, a single prong, and a two prong type like this

Halfords | Laser Coil Spring Compressor

upon reading the customer reviews, one reviewer stated that the twin prong type was difficult to use on MB springs due to clearances, can anyone else confirm or deny this?

What is the best type of spring compressor for the W203? (rear springs in particular)

 

[Haris]

They'll be fine to use for the front, as I think you should have a MacPhearson type spring/shock setup up front.

Won't work on the rear, apparently the best way to change springs is to jack the rear of the car up, stick it on axle stands, stick a jack underneath the arm which holds the spring, undo the arm and slowly let the jack down. Stick new spring in, jack the arm back up and bolt it back together.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Cheers for that, but could you elabourate on "undo the arm" ?
Surely there must be a spring compressor that will work on the rear springs?
I would feel happier using compressors.

 

[grober]

Cheers for that, but could you elaborate on "undo the arm" ?
Surely there must be a spring compressor that will work on the rear springs?
I would feel happier using compressors.

There's a single bolt at the inner end of the suspension spring arm where its mounted on the subframe. You undo this and drop the arm on a trolley jack- the spring literally falls out. You take off the spring pad and thread it on to the new spring- replacement is the opposite -- use a new locking nut on the inner bolt or locktite. The rear springs are smaller and not so powerful so more easily removed but still require careful handling.

 

[kth286]

Cheers for that, but could you elabourate on "undo the arm" ?
Surely there must be a spring compressor that will work on the rear springs?
I would feel happier using compressors.

Even with a spring compressor on the rear, you still have to lower that lower spring support arm to get the spring out.

All that the spring compressor does at the rear is take some strain off that lower arm, and allows you to drop it less than if there is no compressor on the spring.