Thank you Loren. So you're saying that allowing the axles to hang (shocks disconnected) does indeed give enough travel to put the compensating spring in uncompressed... this is what I wasn't sure of. The service instructions talk about using a spring compressor, but they also don't mention disconnecting the shocks. In fact, even for replacing the main suspension springs, the instructions say to leave the shocks connected, but to disconnect the trailing arm at the front bushing! I'm not quite sure why, although perhaps the arm would have to come off anyway for access.
I was worried, even with the shocks disconnected and the two axle halves hanging as low as they can (being careful of brake lines), that there might still be a need to compress the spring in order the get the end bracket bolted on. I guess I should do the trailing arm bushings etc while I'm under there... D. PS: Andrew - yes, I'd prefer to keep the levelling device, and if I had a W111 3.5 coupe like you I'd probably sink the $1500 into it for a new one, but at THIS point for THIS car, that would be going overboard. A used one is just a time bomb, because eventually the gas charge will leak out of any of these, no matter the mileage. I'm hoping to dismantle (or at least inspect) the levelling device from my car once it is removed. I simply can't believe that the nitrogen charge in these devices can't be replenished somehow. At 3:47 PM +0000 2/8/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >From: Loren Faeth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [MBZ] W108 hydraulic compensator to spring swap - spring > compressor needed? > >You need to unbolt the shocks on both sides and let the axles >drop. you don't want to mess with a spring compressor for that. > >Loren > >>Gang, >> >>I'm getting ready to swap out the hydraulic compensator for a spring >>on my W108. Wondering how tricky it will be to fit the spring. >> >>To those who have made this conversion: what sort of spring >>compressor did you use, and was it something you were able to find/rent >>easily? >> >>D. >> _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
