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How to use spring compressor?
Topic Started: Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:28 am (1,469 Views)
dan_189
Part of things
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I intended to put in my 40mm eibach springs today but I failed. Would like to know where I went wrong! I bought a 2t garage jack and I have a Klann style spring compressor specific for the w201 and a few others.
The rear I tried first couldnt get the plates in so I moved to the front.
I put the front springs in as I saw in the Klann video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#
However as I compressed the spring it wouldnt come out, the bottom of the compressor would say in the hole at the bottom of the control arm and I couldnt get the spring out!! arggghhh!!!
How much should I compress the springs, should the coils be touching each other?
The original spring now looks like its a few mm from its original spot and end of the spring is not butting up to the control arm??
Also I have the jack where is the best spot to jack it up from underneath? I was using the jacking points but the cup bit on the end of the jack kept digging into the bottom of the car and exposing metal which I had to paint.

Help please!!
Thanks
Edited by dan_189, Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:28 am.
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RobertE
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Serial victim...
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Bloody carefully, is the answer to the title! Consult an experienced fitter, please - there have been some terrible injuries to people who didn't concentrate on this. Someone posted a 'how to...' guide on here.
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jeremy
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Too Far Gone To Help
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Richy is our resident spring compressor expert .

Jeremy
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dan_189
Part of things
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I exercised much caution when using it I was very weary about it. I got it to compress safely but the end of the compressor wouldnt come out of the hole in the control arm :(
Any other advice I have watched a few videos but they didnt help a whole lot.
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geeza
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Waiting for xmas to eff off
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DO NOT look look at top of the spring while doing this unless you have ninja reflexes or unless you wish to have your head taken off
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mazza
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More than part of things
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dan_189
Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:28 am
I intended to put in my 40mm eibach springs today but I failed. Would like to know where I went wrong! I bought a 2t garage jack and I have a Klann style spring compressor specific for the w201 and a few others.
The rear I tried first couldnt get the plates in so I moved to the front.
I put the front springs in as I saw in the Klann video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#
However as I compressed the spring it wouldnt come out, the bottom of the compressor would say in the hole at the bottom of the control arm and I couldnt get the spring out!! arggghhh!!!
How much should I compress the springs, should the coils be touching each other?
The original spring now looks like its a few mm from its original spot and end of the spring is not butting up to the control arm??
Also I have the jack where is the best spot to jack it up from underneath? I was using the jacking points but the cup bit on the end of the jack kept digging into the bottom of the car and exposing metal which I had to paint.

Help please!!
Thanks
Hi

did you position the plates at highest and lowest point of the spring? f you did! you need to compress the sping a bit more...more muscle!!!

If you are removing original springs, they should come out without any problems.

mazza


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dan_189
Part of things
[ *  * ]
@geeza I did it from behind the strut so I was a little better off haha
@mazza yes I put them as high and as low as I could and still couldnt get it out!! The coils were about 0.5cm from touching one another should I go lower?? It was the end of the tool that wouldnt clear the hole in the control arm, im confused!
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mazza
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More than part of things
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dan_189
Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:01 pm
@geeza I did it from behind the strut so I was a little better off haha
@mazza yes I put them as high and as low as I could and still couldnt get it out!! The coils were about 0.5cm from touching one another should I go lower?? It was the end of the tool that wouldnt clear the hole in the control arm, im confused!
Hi

try squeezing the coils a little bit more...if that doesnt give you the clearance required, you can unscrew the front shocks from the suspension top mounts. This will allow the control arm to be lowered slightly.

make sure that the control arm is supported, best to use a jack, this way you can lower the arm as required.

its a bit of a strange one..usually this happens when removing already shorter springs with fair bit of drop.

hope this helps

mazza
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Ukmerctechie
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Dir is Kool. WKKP Forever!
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Position the plates as far to the top and bottom of the coils as you can get them.
Compress the spring as far as it will go,the coils in the centre will be touching.
Push the spring up into the top cup and withdraw the bottom,you sometimes need to lever the compressor up slightly if large pads are fitted.
The spring will then fall out.
You need different a different screwbody for the rear springs.
This info is assuming you have bought a genuine Klann tool and not the cheap crappy copies.
Heres some pics of positioning and use.
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Edited by Ukmerctechie, Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:45 pm.
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dan_189
Part of things
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Hi Ukmerctechie, I think it was the fact that I had space up the top to get the spring out so I can push it up?
I do have a cheap copy one :( I couldnt get the clann one here for under $1500 AUD, I could buy another decent w201 for that lol
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Ukmerctechie
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Dir is Kool. WKKP Forever!
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Yes mate you can push the spring up into the top cup to make room for it to come out.
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stwat
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Have you undone the strut at the bottom or the top to allow you to push the wishbone down giving you more room?

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Richy190E
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bubble bubble
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Theres no need stu, you simply compress it and it pulls clear from below as Andy said, sometimes a slight 'tweak' with a small prybar just to ease the last coil off its seat but no effort really :)

once you master it you can remove a spring in under 5 mins.
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Ukmerctechie
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Dir is Kool. WKKP Forever!
[ *  *  *  * ]
1min 20 secs mate personal best B)
Wasn't my compressor (Portmanns) so airgun away! lmao
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dan_189
Part of things
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Im going to give it another shot, when I did it yesterday I didnt have anyone helping so when the spring got loose I couldnt hold it and compress it anymore it would just spin around I had around 0.5cm between each coil ill try and get them down further to see if it makes a difference
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dan_189
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tried again this time it just wouldnt move:
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Richy190E
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bubble bubble
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You can get the bottom plate 1 coil lower by the look of it.
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dan_189
Part of things
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Richy190E could I please see the pictures you used in the compressor sale thread?
Thanks
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deekerh

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The Wheeler Dealer's episode about the 16 Valver included replacing springs might be helpful see link below:-

Link:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBFZ7u3msqE
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Richy190E
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bubble bubble
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dan_189
Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:44 pm
Richy190E could I please see the pictures you used in the compressor sale thread?
Thanks
Click the link in my signature, goto page 1 and the pics are half way down showing the operation on my car step by step.
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dan_189
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Thanks the pictures weren't coming up before.
Anyway my tool is identical to yours but im still having trouble?? Could it be the position of the control arm should I start taking some of the suspension bits apart?
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dan_189
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Glen over at the rev told me that both sides of the car need to be up or else the suspension via the sway bar will be pushing up :) Ill have to give it a shot with both sides up
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jeremy
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Too Far Gone To Help
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I am no expert in this , but surely you could close the spring up a lot more than you have done ???


Jeremy
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dan_189
Part of things
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Im not sure can they go further? From the pics I have seen seems like I have compressed the spring the same amount but it did not come out :(
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dan_189
Part of things
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Finally got it, car needs both front wheels off the ground or else the sway bar wont let you take out the spring, also needed to get the spring even tighter than I had it...
225/45/17 EVOII 8.25 ET 34 Number 3 spring pads AMG fender spacer kit. Had number 1 spring pads but I wasnt daring enough to put them in haha :)
Havent put in the rear yet car handles like crap...
Results:
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jeremy
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Good work Dan , glad to see you are getting there ,

BTW Get some 245's on those Evo II's of yours .


Jeremy
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dan_189
Part of things
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Thanks, had 245s on them but I sold them because they were too big, the 225s barely fit!!
Have to still cut out more of the rear moldings and drop the back. Car is strange to drive, tight as a drum up front and loose as err where ever your imagination takes you with that one lol :)
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dan_189
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Has anyone fit 245s on a standard update w201?
Edited by dan_189, Wed Dec 2, 2009 10:21 am.
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jeremy
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Too Far Gone To Help
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Evo II's have 245's as standard


EDIT : Aren't our springs twisted into a slot that holds them at the ends ????


Jeremy
Edited by jeremy, Wed Dec 2, 2009 10:45 am.
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alogaparaloga
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Very nice Dan, This ride height is prefect for the front.
Rear is nice too if you can keep it around this ride height.
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dan_189
Part of things
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Thanks alogaparaloga I have to lower the back the car rides terribly with soft springs in the back and hard at the front. Im really happy with the drop.
The EVOII I would assume had much larger wheel wells because of the body kit giving the clearance for 245s
@ Jeremy yes the front springs are held in by a 'perch' that the bottom coil sits in I would assume the rear are the same.
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Richy190E
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bubble bubble
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Yes, the rears are sat in a coil shape impression.
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dan_189
Part of things
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BTW would recommend this tool, once we figured out the best was to use it it was a 15min job each side :) The longest time was getting the car up and secure.
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