Installing front springs with suspension off the car?

[Shvegel]

Hi,
Has anyone loaded the front springs with the suspension off the car?  I am wondering what you used to compress the springs?  It doesn't look like any of the spring compressors I have seen would fit in the space provided. 

[Mike K]

Not exactly the full answer you're looking for but this may be helpful:

I replaced the front springs with suspension on the car, using one of these compressors -see pic #1.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MacPherson-strut-Spring-Compressor-Kit/dp/B00B24GGYC/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1476263246&sr=8-20&keywords=spring+compressor

I modified the the way I used the compressor, by placing the lower compressor plate outside the spring & under the control arm as is shown in pic #2 (which I found online).

It worked very well, I also found that in my instance it was so much easier to remove the shocks as it gave more space and freedom of movement of the control arm when it came to compressing the new spring & lining it up.

Best,
Mike

[Dave H]

Mikes spring compressor looks the way to go if you can get hold of one.

I did mine on the bench with a 1M length of 12mm screwed rod through the whole assembly and out the top of the subframe.
I would not recomend this to anyone inexperienced as the force in the spring is scarey.
You cannot use anything larger than 12mm as it has to pass through the threaded bolt hole for the subframe mount (wrap top of your screwed rod in plastic at this point so thread is not damaged ),  lubricate the screwed rod and wind up from the bottom,double nut and use large washers.
I was frightened the whole thing would let go, the spring fly out and kill me so kept secureing everything in rope as i progessed.
It works however ask anyone else who has done it this way and i gaurentee they will confirm " its real twitchy bum stuff ...

To reiterate I do not recommend this method to anyone of a nervous disposition.

[Benz Dr.]

The best way is to take your springs to a place that does suspension work and have them compress and strap them. Once you have the springs installed you simply cut the straps.

[Mike K]

The best way is to take your springs to a place that does suspension work and have them compress and strap them. Once you have the springs installed you simply cut the straps.

That's too boring, there's no adrenalin rush in doing that....

Like Dave, my bum was twitching as I compressed those springs, it's really scary!

Best,

Mike

[Benz Dr.]

Well, I didn't mention that it's safer because I thought it was self evident, but yeah, a good twitch now and then does a person some good.........

[Shvegel]

Dan,
That's a good idea.  Already missing one finger.  Thanks all!

[waltklatt]

Yikes!  Gotta be careful with those front springs.
Seems they are preloaded when trying to open them up.
The W123 and W126 sedans are hard and preloaded to an extent.
Worked at a junkyard and we always put the cars on the ground with the rotors on the concrete floor and removed the shock tops from the front of the car.  When the last thread of the nut was met, the whole front would jump up a distance when the preloaded spring was loose.
Scary stuff there.

[GGR]

I tried the rod method a couple of times and I confirm " it's real twitchy bum stuff ..."

I now get the springs out while the front axle is still on the car, and I wait for it to be back in the car with the engine on top of it the put the sprigs back in place.

Long time ago, while still a teenager, I needed to get the springs out of a car in a junkyard for my first car which I was rebuilding. The donor car was on its roof. I stood on the control arm while unfastening it, assuming that my weight would keep everything under control. Man, I wish I had a parachute when everything got loose!

[Benz Dr.]

Man, I can just about envision that.

 I tried something almost as bad once back in 1977. 1974 Audi LS 100 ( remember those POS cars anyone ? ) that had struts on the front. I decided that I was going to change them at my sister's place in Detroit. Taking it out wasn't too bad but I had to remove the spring to install the new shock. So, with my handy dandy new spring compressor I went to work in the guy's basement next door.

At some point one of the spring compressors flew off and went right through the floor/ ceiling! No one was in the way upstairs. Good thing too because it knocked a piece of plaster off the wall.
So, now I had a shock with one spring compressor on it and the other side so bulged out that the errant one couldn't be put back on. What to do..........

Well, we took it over to a local garage for some help. I can still remember the owner's eyes when I walked in carrying this time bomb........

'' Get that &%^$# thing out of here!!! '' was all he could manage to shout as he ran for cover.

  The guy with the hole in his floor explained that I was from Canada ( somehow that made a difference although I'm not sure why ) and that I was now stuck in the States with no way back home. The owner looked it over and quickly came up with a plan.
He looked like he was walking over a mine field as he approached the shock and then he carefully placed it under one of the arms on his hoist. The weight easily compressed it and the clamp fell off.

I was told never to come back and to stay on my side of the river. I never went back to that place but I did manage to cross the river a few times after that.     

[Mike K]

Watch these 2 trying to remove a suspension spring from a Mercedes. Go to 10min15 on the video and see what happens....!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLVvS6CuNlQ

[GGR]

Dan, you really made me laugh!!