Klann Spring Compressor

[JHZR2]

Klann is the correct spring compressor for MB applications. Those are the top quality and safest compressors to use. I didn't buy one of those, because as much as I love my diesels, I don't think Ill ever get enough use. Struts are another story, so I bought the Klann KL-0005 to do my strut job on my Saab. What a nice tool! Very smooth operation, nice metal.

Came right from the vendor:

European paper box:

Here they are:

Handling them made a big mess on the hands:

Apparently they are coated in MoS2.

 

[Trav]

Those are the best of the best. In the instructions IIRC they want you to coat the threads often with Moly paste. I use MolyKote GN.

 

[Sawdusted]

Sorry, I beg to differ. I don't think those are the safest compressors to use. They do not have any pins or what not to secure the coil to the compressor itself. If the spring slips for any reason, it's gonna hurt someone.

I have the OEM branded spring compressors which has the securing pins. Personally, I think I feel safer with those.

 

[Sawdusted]

If you don't mind me asking, all the Klann spring compressors I have seen covers at least half the circumference of a coil. is yours a new design?

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
If you don't mind me asking, all the Klann spring compressors I have seen covers at least half the circumference of a coil. is yours a new design?


You're right. For example the Mercedes units for 26000N springs have that. These are a more universal design for struts. Klann makes a lot of variants, and the ones that you speak of cost into the thousands of dollars... And are overkill for struts.

As for coverage, the jaws are good for about 1/4 of the spring I'd say. So with two you've covered about half the spring. The other units with much more coverage generally use only one compression screw, not two opposing ones like this.

I imagine that the safety loops are something that could be compensated for with some clamps or metal wire. I'll have a look at the OEM ones.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
Sorry, I beg to differ. I don't think those are the safest compressors to use. They do not have any pins or what not to secure the coil to the compressor itself. If the spring slips for any reason, it's gonna hurt someone.

I have the OEM branded spring compressors which has the securing pins. Personally, I think I feel safer with those.


The less expensive brands don't grab much of the spring and really need a pin or hooks, these grab more than twice as much and deeper than most.
No way are these going to slip off.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
Sorry, I beg to differ. I don't think those are the safest compressors to use. They do not have any pins or what not to secure the coil to the compressor itself. If the spring slips for any reason, it's gonna hurt someone.

I have the OEM branded spring compressors which has the securing pins. Personally, I think I feel safer with those.


The less expensive brands don't grab much of the spring and really need a pin or hooks, these grab more than twice as much and deeper than most.
No way are these going to slip off.


Oh I'm sure there is a way... I don't care to find out though!

 

[Trav]

Thats right. I should have said in normal use there is little chance.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
Sorry, I beg to differ. I don't think those are the safest compressors to use. They do not have any pins or what not to secure the coil to the compressor itself. If the spring slips for any reason, it's gonna hurt someone.

I have the OEM branded spring compressors which has the securing pins. Personally, I think I feel safer with those.


The less expensive brands don't grab much of the spring and really need a pin or hooks, these grab more than twice as much and deeper than most.
No way are these going to slip off.


In watching some YouTube videos, I noted a lot of use of the OTC ones with the pins. They sure need pins because the interface area is really small. While the many thousand $$$ klann units use clamshells, the units I got cover a lot more spring, and I think I like two versus the clamshell where if the metal on the ears fatigues, it will bend and the spring will bow out.

OT: Is the Factory MB one clamshell or internal? I thought internal and this is why the w123 and others have a hole in the spring tower spot on the inner fender area.

 

[Trav]

The OEM compressor is an internal type with plates, Klann (Gedore) is the manufacturer. The rear can be done with the smaller external Klann with the adjuster in the middle of the threads.
Never use a Klann clone on these springs, they can be deadly!

I wont get into the front springs on a W123 or W124 and how they can be done with external, it is beyond dangerous.
The Klann clones for the front springs many times have upper plates that are too big forcing you to either make the hole larger or grind the plates smaller, neither is acceptable IMO.

The KL-0025-1 is the one to use on these cars. It is expensive (about $1K) but consider the Klann external has a max load of 8,000N and the KL-0025-1 has a max Load of 26,000N with a breaking point of 120,000N!
Cheap externals have a max of 2,000-4,000N and many clones of the KL-0025-1 less than 10,000N.

Sure strut springs and rear coils on many cars can be done with cheap ones, some old VW Golf for example could almost be done by hand but not on these cars.
I cant emphasize enough just how dangerous the springs are on these MB cars are, they are strong enough when compressed to shear the threaded rod/bolt of a cheap compressor or break the hooks and when it does the consequences can be deadly if you are eye to eye with it.

Klann compressors use special cut threads and very strong steel plates. Never buy them on ebay there are lots of knock offs on the market.
IMHO if you don't have these tools take it the dealer or specialist.

 

[artificialist]

I only use this kind of tool where I can't take an assembly off the car, and put in in one of those wall-mounted compressors that you find in auto repair shops.

Maybe they are safe, but I am too afraid to try.

 

[Trav]

These MB don't use struts. the springs sit in deep pockets so they need an enormous amount of compression, combine that with a very strong spring makes you a candidate for Grecian formula.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Trav
These MB don't use struts. the springs sit in deep pockets so they need an enormous amount of compression, combine that with a very strong spring makes you a candidate for Grecian formula.

That is the situation I was mentioning where I use such tools.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I only use this kind of tool where I can't take an assembly off the car, and put in in one of those wall-mounted compressors that you find in auto repair shops.

Maybe they are safe, but I am too afraid to try.



Don't scare me!!!

I remember when I put bilstein inserts into the front struts on my 91 318i. I watched the guy and didn't think there was much to it, but I don't recall if he had it mounted to the wall or used something else.

Strut springs aren't as strong as coils, but I'm sure they can still kill so don't take that as me being careless. Still when you think about it, there is only one nut and some end of the piston inside the strut compressing the spring when it is off the car...

Should I put a chain through the spring or something to add another level of safety? Like do it outside on a movable workbench and chain the spring to a tree with no slack in the chain?

Kind of serious...

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I only use this kind of tool where I can't take an assembly off the car, and put in in one of those wall-mounted compressors that you find in auto repair shops.

Maybe they are safe, but I am too afraid to try.



Don't scare me!!!

I remember when I put bilstein inserts into the front struts on my 91 318i. I watched the guy and didn't think there was much to it, but I don't recall if he had it mounted to the wall or used something else.

Strut springs aren't as strong as coils, but I'm sure they can still kill so don't take that as me being careless. Still when you think about it, there is only one nut and some end of the piston inside the strut compressing the spring when it is off the car...

Should I put a chain through the spring or something to add another level of safety? Like do it outside on a movable workbench and chain the spring to a tree with no slack in the chain?

Kind of serious...

I once saw a TV show ages ago where some guy used a seat belt around the spring as a second line of defense. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the show and how this was done. Maybe an archive of it exists on the internet.

 

[JHZR2]

I saw a YouTube where someone compresse the spring with a jack and held it with zip ties...

Lots out there like this...

 

[Trav]

Holy God! Struts are not bad, i get them right on the bench, they don’t need a whole lot of compression.
Only two things that scare me, big springs like in the W123 and split rims. I knew a guy that was killed with one of those god forsaken things.

For sure i use chains on this sort of stuff as a backup.
Don't sweat the struts, you have good tools and are safety conscious.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I saw a YouTube where someone compresse the spring with a jack and held it with zip ties...

Lots out there like this...

Tough to fix cheap and stupid I guess.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Trav
For sure i use chains on this sort of stuff as a backup.
Don't sweat the struts, you have good tools and are safety conscious.


I do have good tools and safety is #1, but where would you put a chain and how would you attach it for safety? It seems that the only thing you can do is attach it to a tight chain so if the spring bows and releases, it is restrained from flying at you (assuming youre working at extended arm's length or something...

Thanks, just trying to learn.

 

[Trav]

On struts you want to get the compressor with as many coils in between the hooks as possible and compress the whole spring, not just a few coils on the bottom like the guy in the picture did.

Most will not need a lot of compression so no you don't need to mess around with a chain. On something like a Honda Odyssey front where the spring does need a lot of compression and is very strong once the spring is compressed just put the chain through on a coil and loosely around the threads of the compressor

I put it over the compressor threads loosely in case the compressor lets go it wont fly off.
Next time i am doing one i will post pics.
I just use a nut and bolt with a couple of washers finger tight to join the chain. I very rarely need to use it on struts.

On split rims (thank God they are few and far between these days) I use 2 heavy chains and a clamp on air chuck then stand well clear of it. I don't have a cage for them, most tire places don't either today.
The last one i did was on a 70 Chevy pickup camper special with 8'6" bed and 16" split rims.

Nothing wrong with safety. Being afraid of this stuff and over cautious is what kept me from getting seriously hurt for 4 decades.