CQHall

After scheduling difficulties with my regular mechanic for *several* weeks in a row (he's a tech at a dealership that works on my ride on the side at his house) and outrageous quotes from a few local place, I've decided to buy the proper tools and upgrade the shocks and springs on my W210 myself.

Besides, it's good to have a good kit of tools.

Here's a list of what I think I need so far for the job at-hand:

- 4 x H&R Sport springs
- 4 x Koni Externally Adjustable shocks
- 4 x #1 MB Spring Pads (I also have a set of #2s just in case)
- 1 x Metric socket set
- 1 x Metric wrench set
- 1 x Floor jack
- 2 x jack stands
- 1 x spring compressor (I might rent this one)
- Garage
- Instructions
- Time
- Patience

Can anyone help me find a good set of instructions?

OK, what am I missing?

Air Marshall Eldritch

Honestly, this is not a job I would undertake myself, especially handling a spring compressor without previous experience.

CQHall

Are you suggesting that it's a 2 man job or are you recommending that I should only try this if I have experience?

If it's the latter, I understand. I'm not taking your concern lightly, but how do I get previous experience? I've been witness to a handful of suspension replacement jobs (including one W210 a few years back).

Air Marshall Eldritch

I'm sure one guy can handle it (at least the one guy who did mine can), it's just that messing with springs under pressure makes me nervous. But if you are comfortable with it and have seen it before, then go for it. I personally would need to have someone at least walk me through this job step by step before going it alone.
I think back to when I replaced a garage door spring and ducked when applying pressure for the first time. If it wasn't connected properly, it could have snapped off and decapitated me. I know this isn't quite the same, but...

Huachipato

If you do it on you own - I want to echo what RBrenton says. It is not a task to take lightly at all. I worked on the springs from an old Mustang and never scared myself more than then. The danger is if the compressing tool slips and cause the spring to jump. It has a lot of force in it, and if it happens, it happens in a fraction of a second.

Not saying don't do it, but just saying to be super extra careful. For what it's worth, it is not a bad idea to have somebody there just in case something does happen, then somebody is there to provide immidiate aide.

raymond g-

i'm about to start spring swap also. just got the vogtlands in last week. if
you dont see me posting anymore, it's possible the blunt force trauma occured.

Air Marshall Eldritch

I have the Vogtlands too. Aren't they a lovely purple?

shadowgriffen

that's a scary thought, seriously.

compressed springs are nothing nice.

raymond g-

yes it's a bit frightening. good pilots always have redundancy plans. i'm so
**** that i walk puckered when relaxed. okay, too much info. fact is i worked
on another car last summer and we reinforced in compressed state using
multiple straps on the spring. it's akin to using jack stands even though the
floor jack is rated for 4 tons and your car is only 2 tons. whenever possible,
try to factor in a kick *** safety net.

uberwgn

Very phunny


Yeah, you've got to have the proper spring compressor. I bought one (BAUM) this past year. I've been going thru quite a few spring/shock trials on my W210 car. Getting close to being done (fingers crossed).

I had trouble with the compressor on the rear, it just isn't happening so I ended up removing the single bolt that holds the LCA in place and remove the spring that way. It's actually very quick but you must excercise extreme caution when lowering the LCA with a jack supporting from below.

FWIW, the KLANN website has a small video of the guy doing R/R with the KLANN tool.

Good luck and be safe. When everything goes right, it's very quick.

raymond g-

U-
that's one of the ghetto tricks with the rear which seems to work if you're
very careful...multiple jacks etc. I would never recommend that to others
though have been tempted to try myself. should be relatively safe though.
wish i could do this with the front but that end is much trickier, so fuggetit.

yeah, that Klann video is linked on this forum somewhere, also...one of the
spring replace threads.

ProV1

dont forget to get the entire suspension re-aligned & adjusted once you do the shocks & springs

sbarsap

which one is easier/faster front or rears. I heard the frons are a breeze but for the rears you have to remove some other parts to get to the springs.

uberwgn

They both take about the same amount of time, IMO. An experienced individual should be able to knock out a corner in about 15 - 20 minutes. Doing the rear, by lowering the LCA, clearly adds an element of danger not found when using the spring compressor.

mv420xx

i ordered h&r sport springs, kyb struts and #1 pads...cant wait to see the drop. good luck with urs. post pics when ur done.

uberwgn

mv, I hope you ordered the V8 springs and not the V6 springs...

mv420xx

yeah me too... i called and ordered them and told him it was a diesel, got them from tirerack along with the brembos i had ordered prior. i was in the computer so my car should be in the system stating its a diesel.

here what the invioce says:

part # - 29724.2
sport-spring h&r - 30320
$247

michakaveli

The trick is getting the right compressor!

uberwgn

Yeah, #29724 is the front spring for the V6 cars. I have a set of those sitting in my basement

uberwgn

I'm real annoyed with Tire Rack and their bogus application guides. They think diesel I6 = gas V6, which is horribly wrong. Only the H&R V8 springs with the thickest isolation pads would give adequate ride height in my '99 diesel. The V6 springs had the front bumper dragging on the ground. H&R ended up sending out v8 front springs and that has worked.

I've since purchased a set of Eibachs and am going thru the exact same horsesh|t. I was hoping to improve the punishing ride quality (H&R/Bilstein) and pickup a little bit of height with the Eibachs. Eibach's USA guide sez one size fits all: V6=V8=diesel. I was skeptical, and rightly so. I have lost ride height going to the Eibachs. In fact, the front is so low I no longer have any clearance. I think I lost about 1/2". It's just ridiculous and I've got the #5 pads in front.

I contacted Eibach USA and they contacted Germany. Eibach Germany sez we don't make a spring for the w210 diesel cars. Eibach USA says, "Oh ".

As a proposed solution, they've offered to do a custom set of springs for the front so I can pickup 1/2" or so. I am still waiting for those springs to arrive.

vinceC

My experience with springs on M-B cars has been tough. I always have trouble with the compressor slipping (once it came right off - yikes!) before I can get enough compression. In desperation I had to borrow a KLANN compressor from the dealer when I could not make two different other type compressors work. The KLANN type compressors make a spring change a ten minute job. I think Performance Products will rent out a SIR TOOLS clone of the KLANN.

CQHall

Well, the DIY project has been nixxed. My mechanic buddy is available this weekend, so I'm gonna let him do it.

BTW, he has the Klann type compressor with different sized "caps".

diveguy

Anyone know the correct part number for Vogtland sport springs (front and rear) for the 1997 E420 .... I keep getting conflicting part#'s

It's either:

952036 or 952085

Thanks!

Bob

CQHall

You might get a faster/better response if you start a fresh thread with that question. I'm not sure how many people will see that question here.

mv420xx

just got off the phone with them and they said theres no other alternative...that spring should fit both models. i guess ill find out, i even got #1 pads. i wonder how this thing is gonna ride?

wish me luck...