I am a heavy truck mechanic and have heard from many other mechanics that a springbrake could take your head off if removed the wrong way. I have also been told they store as much energy as two sticks of tnt. The older style had two clamps that would allow you to by mistake take it apart on the wrong side and release the spring but the newer ones have only one. You still have to apply air or cage the spring to take it off safly. Just for people who do not know what a springbrake is. It is part of the braking system in a truck that if it loses air pressure applies the rear brakes via a large coil spring.
Thanks, Tom Owens