Can you patch/ weld....
 

I noticed one of my trailing arms has a rust spot in it and I was wondering if any one has welded/patched one of these.? This is on the 126 300SD. I will be replacing bushings, mounts etc so will have an oppourtunity to take it off and patch it up. Thanks, any feedback is apprecieated!!

Weld maybe, it would be simpler to just find a solid used one. Get a cheap spray gun from Autozone and spray it yourself with some hard epoxy based paint for that detailed undercarrage look.

i agree. this is one place i wouldnt patch. if it is thru in one place there are probably many that are thin.

you can prob find a good used one for from 100 to 200. i think my indie charged me about 200 to 300 to install.

i have done at least two. one that was bent by my lovely #2 daughter sliding the 240 into a curb on ice, and the other rusted out.

tom w

i had to weld one up this spring- i was stranded with a broken rusted out a arm, so i used some 3/16 plate steel and beat it into a nice shape and welded the f*(^& out of it. just to get home on. of course i ran it until i went thru 3 used tires, as the arm was bent.

I would not recommend doing this to anyone.

if you are dropping it to do bushings anyway, it is not too much more work to replace it. i got 2 used ones from Arkansas shipped for about $200. they were in really good shape. i cleaned them up, coated them with penetrol, and rattle canned about 10 coats of paint on them- i had lots of time while i was collecting the other parts.

one thing about used- the scrap yard i got mine from decided that they were going to pull the hubs- but theydidnt have a clue about how to do it, or the right tools, all they ended up doing was ruining a seal on one side.so i had to R&R the bearings, which meant i had to buy some more tools, etc. but you may luck out and get good bearings, etc.

this website will have junkyards competeing for your business- i haggled with them to get the best price- some places wanted $400 each, plus shipping:eek:

http://www.uneedapart.com/

Tech question..
 

Thanks for the feedback. Do all W126 chassis use the same trailing arms etc? Or do I stay with 81-85 SD's? Thanks.