Replacing front springs 1990 300TE w124

[Mat_b]

Both the front springs have broken, managed to get old ones out, wedge in blocks of wood and get around corner to a garage, They say they can't get them compressed enough with standard spring compresser, one of them remembers many years ago having to borrow a special tool. The Haynes manual didn't mention a special tool. Anyone else have experiance replacing w124 front springs and/or know what the uncompressed lengh should be, just in case I've got the wrong springs. Another garage is confident they can get them with the aid of a press, but I'm worriered I got wrong springs because I thought the w124 (older mercs) were quite straight forward to work on, I live in Dover, Kent if any one knows of a local garage with special tool?

 

[BlackC55]

You really have to have the special too otherwise it is a dangerous job.

 

[jibcl500]

I use a Sealey spring compressor it works from inside the coil, its impossible to fit anything to the outside of the spring.

jib

 

[jibcl500]

This is the tool I use,

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=ViewProduct&method=mViewProduct&productid=5199

Its a fiddle on narrow springs as it fits inside but once fitted it doesnt move, used it may times.
jib

 

[meanie]

This is the tool I use,

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=ViewProduct&method=mViewProduct&productid=5199

Its a fiddle on narrow springs as it fits inside but once fitted it doesnt move, used it may times.
jib

That's a bit of a find!
Although I have access to the proper Merc compressor,which is also a bit of a fiddle as the bottom of it fouls on the hole in the wishbone,I'm going to take a punt on one of those at that money.
What have you used it on so far?

Thanks!

 

[jibcl500]

That's a bit of a find!
Although I have access to the proper Merc compressor,which is also a bit of a fiddle as the bottom of it fouls on the hole in the wishbone,I'm going to take a punt on one of those at that money.
What have you used it on so far?

Thanks!

W140, W124, W202, its a fiddle on narrow springs but it works, on a broken spring becareful as the compression on the broken spring will allow it to shift and if it does wrap it in towels and shift it across with a crow bar.

jib

 

[roadhog]

I used that one when I did my ball joint a couple of weeks ago. How do you get it out once the spring is in place? I ended up having to modify mine with an angle grinder just to get it out. Not sure if it's still fit for use now.

 

[jibcl500]

if it goes in it comes out!!! its a fiddle.

jib

 

[Bolide]

I'd get the car recovered to an independent specialist. Local garages can be awfully obtuse at times and are sometimes capable of wasting lots of their time and your money

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Ian B Walker]

Anyone else have experiance replacing w124 front springs and/or know what the uncompressed lengh should be, just in case I've got the wrong springs.

That would be a difficult thing to explain as Mercedes springs a chassis specific due to things such as auto box, air con etc.