Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171) 200 Kompressor (171.445), MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171) 350 (171.458), MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171) 280 (171.454), MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171) 350 (171.456), MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171) 200 Kompressor (171.442) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle

Alternative products

Coil spring

Replacement: coil springs – MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171). Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #19
                    
                      Drive socket # 10 
                    
                      Drive socket # 19 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171). Tip from AUTODOC:

Both coil springs of the rear suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right coil springs of the rear suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171) – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 2

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 3

Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.

Step 4

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171)
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

Unscrew the fasteners of the control arm cover. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 7

Remove the control arm cover.
Step 8

Clean the control arm fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 9

Loosen the fastener connecting the control arm to the rear subframe. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a tap wrench.
Step 10

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 11

Install the coil spring compressor on the coil spring.

Replacement: coil springs – MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171). Professionals recommend:
Use adapters and jaws of the appropriate size. The sping coils should be securely fixed with the coil spring compressor. Use high quality coil spring compressors.
Step 12

Compress the spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Compress the coil spring compressor until there is enough room to remove the spring. Do not compress the tool to the full: the spring coils must not touch each other. Be careful. The compressed spring is powerful and in case of disrupting ties, straightening, it can cause injury.
Step 13

Unscrew the fastener connecting the control arm to the rear subframe. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 14

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 15

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 16

Pull down the suspension control arm. Remove the coil spring together with the coil spring compressor.

AUTODOC recommends:
While the spring is compressed, do not do any operations on it.
Step 17

Release the coil spring. Remove the spring.
Step 18

Remove the rubber spring spacer.
Step 19

Install the rubber spacer on the new coil spring.
Step 20

Install a new coil spring on the coil spring compressor.

Replacement: coil springs – MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171). AUTODOC experts recommend:
Use adapters and jaws of the appropriate size.
Step 21

Compress the spring.

Step 22

Pull down the suspension control arm. Install the spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Make sure that the coil spring is correctly positioned in its mounting seats.
Step 23

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 24

Install the fastening bolt. Use a crowbar.
Step 25

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171) – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 26

Screw in the fastener connecting the control arm to the rear subframe. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19.
Step 27

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 28

Tighten the fastener connecting the control arm to the rear subframe. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 90 nm torque.
Step 29

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 30

Remove the coil spring compressor.
Step 31

Install the control arm cover.
Step 32

Screw in the fasteners of the control arm cover. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 33

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 34

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. MERCEDES-BENZ SLK (R171)
Step 35

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 36

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 112 Nm torque.
Step 37

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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