Trying out an Amazon coil spring compressor on Mercedes Benz Ml350 strut assembly. Steps on how to assemble strut coil spring compressor. #diy #budgettool #mechanic #technician #springcompressor www.amazon.com...
For me safety is TOP priority. So much so, I bought a more expensive Sealey version of this tool. The yokes to hold the spring have rubber liners to hold the spring to reduce the possibility of it slipping or springing out. It has a safety chain which I used around the spring. Sealey has a very good rep for quality of it's tools. I also used pieces of old car tyre cabled tied to the top mount and bottom of the housing of the shock to protect me should the worst happen and the spring ping out. Otherwise good video. I don't think I shall ever be using the threaded compressor death clamps ever again although having a fairly good second pair which weren't bad. This type of hydraulic tool makes separating the spring and shock absorber a far easier and quicker process as well as safer. Many thanks.
im pretty sure there's a warning on most if not all strut assemblies stating do not use power impact wrenches . use manual wrenches to tighten nuts because you "may" damage the system . but hey if its stupid and it works then its not stupid i guess
I did my Mercedes S211 springs today with the same type of tool shown, however I employed a number of additional safety features. The older I have got the more sensitive to danger I have become ;-) 1) I employed the chain, just wrap it around taking up slack with supplied shackel. 2) Tied 8 cable ties (~7.5mm wide) around compression shoes and mated spring rung. Why? -The shoes appear to be cast and of chinese quality, a little porous in places. - I have seen images of the top shoe snapping under compression, producing a hazardous projectile. The cable ties will retain the shoe to the spring in such an event. 3) I place two old tyres over the whole unit, surrounding spring and upright post, suitable seated so not to cause restriction during compression, this provided me complete peace of mind.
@@713jtmechanic8 BTW, I noticed you had the top piece with the gusset in compression which provides more space for spring compression but in all sales pictures it shows this component reversed with the gusset support underneath. Wondering if there is an issue either way?
Oh no! Using those 30.00 compressors are scary to use. I am glad you are safe. It's the reason I purchased this spring compressor. Thank you for sharing.
HI good little video .. I bought one of these a while ago work fine ... but you *** must and I mean must *** put a chain around the spring and around the post ... these presses can let the spring go and fly out mine did and im glad I had the chain round it .. mine came with a chain and screw cleat to connect the chain togeather
Hi Tony, I did install strut upside down before creating video. I was attempting to see which position worked more efficient and safer. However, the compressor could not compress spring enough to remove strut mount in the upside down position for the Mercedes strut. Installing the strut in the position seen on video was more successful and safer in my experience with this tool. I do believe that your suggestion works great for other struts. Thank you for the feedback.
@@713jtmechanic8 he is right , and with compressing struts you also have to have whatever is compressing struts to as far to each end as possible when the springs bend out like that it means you are only compressing some of the spring not all of the spring at the bottom of that spring you had one more rung you should have move it to below where you had it
I have one of that type, an excellent unit, I am in the process of building a cage for around the unit incase a spring jumps, very dangerouse if you are not protected, I actually am using an 8 mm chainrestraint in the meantime. As the chan that came was not to secure or strong enough to hold a spring if it slips, better Safe than sorry...
I've had one like this for 15 year now with the exception being the one I have has the upper connection different in that it has a partial circle hinged on both sides that goes around where the spring is and then has hooks that are adjustable with wingnuts that hook over the coil spring on each side. Just don't use anymore because they come as assemblies with new springs and mounts now. Was looking to redesign into pipe bender. Can see how my design would be safer in that it hold onto the spring.
@@713jtmechanic8 Actually, the version you have looks much more practical then the one I have. I might design a top piece like your. I'm retired now but have a 45 year tool collection as self employed mechanic. 👍
I have one these tools as I'll be changing out my Jaguar XK8 shock upper mounts and lower bushings. This bit of kit was a little more than the cheap death trap spring side clamps but like you I'm all about safety here. One question, you kept the spring in the tool whilst rebuilding the shock assembly but have you used this tool to fully release the pressure on the spring and then completely remove the spring (for cleaning and rust removal say as an example). If so, was the jack release smooth and did the spring pressure release gradually or as a quick action. Just curious as I'll be tackling the job on my car this week.
Hi John, I believe the spring release was smooth regarding couplers held spring evenly, but quick action. It's been a while I have not used it and didn't pay attention. Yes, this tool is much safer than the cheap death trap. Good luck with your Jag.
@@713jtmechanic8 Thanks for the reply. I tested this last night after getting the shock/spring assembly out out of my car. The spring compressor works great and with the safety chain wrapped under the spring, this gave me huge peace of mind. The jack release is smooth and I found that the pressure from the spring helps it move backwards without any intervention. I'll be removing the upper mounts tonight and will then release the spring pressure with that removed to separate the spring completely so I can clean it, give a quick rub down and refresh them with TechniQ Spring coil paint before reassembly. :-)
Where is the chain that secure the spring to the post? This is not safe. The spring will pop out. You should not be posting this video. This will kill someone.
I don’t think the tool was used correctly. Just my common sense says that the spring should not have had such a bow to it when compressed. I believe if you match the contour of the spring to the coil brackets, the you should be able to compress while keeping the spring vertical without it curving outward ready to jump away. Also, if you really believed in safety, where was the safety chain? Did you sacrifice safety due to a perceived rush to get the video done? How would you have felt if someone watched, used this video and like you did not use the safety chain, and had a fatal or catastrophic accident? Yea I know best intentions and all, but we really should all strive to think, and act safely. I’m not suggesting paralyzing safety constraints just safety constraints to prevent actual paralysis.
hi thanks for your video, it is quite helpful. do you have an update on this tool; there is another guy that used it 2 times and the main square tube spine started to bend. Is it the same situation for you? thanks again!
@@jaandel1 i used it three times. First time on the Mercedes, shown on this video demo. These were heavy duty springs. Second time on Honda civic. Third time on Honda Odyssey. I think if you used this tool many times on heavy duty springs, it may bend with in time. Again Mercedes Benz are some of the more heavier duty type of springs.
great video! were the forks capturing the spring flexing or were they made to make the spring look like it's going jump out if the fixture...very scary!
It looks scary, however, the spring coupler adapters have a cup shape to them which secures and hugs the coil spring. This tool is way safer than coil spring clamp compressor. Those are truly scary to use. Thank you for the feedback.
Yes. This spring compressor has to different size of couplers, ( the black adaptors that squeezes the coil spring). This spring compressor will work on most vehicle models. In my experience, the mercedes springs are the most difficult ones to compress.
thumbs down for me, he never showed him using it, could have taken him all day trying to just get it to compress, we never got to see how much easier or harder it is vs other presses. Disappointing.
I just bought on of these and its lethal if used with springs any heavier than say for a Supra or Civic spring. Its rated at 6600 lbs and I used it for a stock spring on a FJ Cruiser which is a 600 lb/in spring and the column started to collapse and buckle. Could have been deadly if I wasnt paying attention. I had to rebuild it with 5mm wall thickness tubing to replace the garbage 2 mm wall tube its made with. Ive now used it with 800 lb springs and it works but I would not go to a 1000 lb spring for fear of the cheap weld at the base letting go. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS CHEAP TOOL....IT CAN KILL YOU
@@MrWeaponlord Forks broke with an 800 lb spring on the next attempt, Nearly killed me! Just too dangerous with any SUV or larger size spring. I can have a look tonight if you want to pursue it?
@@1Coolbanana no that's okay. Dang that's scary, any thoughts of getting some claws cut from thick mild steel? You could weld tabs on to keep it secure on the springs.
I've just bought the exact same compressor and although I was pretty sure how it's operated, I did a quick search and this was the first hydraulic instructions I found, so thanks for the refresher. I can go ahead and sort my struts out now 😊👌