|
|
|
#16
|
|||
|
|||
I had the same issue. Wandering at highway speeds, especially in a wind. I just replaced all of the busings, ball joints (upper and lower) and complete tie rods (the old ones were so corroded I doubt that they would have loosened up enough for an adjustment). I cannot believe the difference it made. my '85 300d now tracks straight and true, and there is no longer a vibration in the steering wheel. I did all of the work myself, except for the alignment, and it was fairly easy. I had 340K on the original supsension components. It was the best $250.00 I have spent on the Benz. FYI.
|
#17
|
||||
|
||||
hatteras is prolly right at that mileage it is all worn and I agree with Walganuth too a GOOD shop for alignment will spell it all out for you My 126 hugs the road in all conditions but I have the reciepts to prove it
__________________
commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968 1986 300 SDL 427654 1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423 1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's 1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance) |
#18
|
||||
|
||||
I've been thinking about the subframe bushings...the kit for replacing them is $128....are they difficult to do yourself? isn't it...risky undoing those huge bolts that hold up the subframe? I don't want to do my tie rods myself because I live a good distance away from the dealer and by the time I got there for an alignment by brand new Michelin's would probably be destroyed, and I got the deal of the century on them, so I want to keep them preserved.
Are the upper control arms that hard to replace? I think I could tackle the guide rods myself...and may order some soon. My suspension (even the shocks I believe) is all original at 250k...so just about everything could stand replacing.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go" 1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif |
#20
|
||||
|
||||
So what exactly is the process for replacing the upper control arms and rear subframe bushings....? I was looking at the explanation of it in the shop cd and it looks mighty complicated....I couldn't even understand parts of it....
I think I might be able to pull off replacing the guide rod bushing assemblies....but the rest of it I am not sure.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Upper control arms are pretty simple. Make sure you hose down the UCA bolt w/ penetrating oil a every day for a few days before the job (it makes it a whole lot easier). It just bolts right on. Normally the UCA rest against a suspension stop to limit the travel so make sure the jack is not gonna slip, if it does, the spring will come flying out. I jacked the wheel off the ground with the jack under the lower control arm. Then everything else is straight forward. There might be a little downforce on the UCA from the sway bar, but nothing you can't muscle out of the way. Make sure you order 4 sway bar bushings too. Torque all three bolts to spec too, it's pretty important up there. It's really an straight forward job, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Good Luck!
__________________
"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go" 1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif |
#22
|
||||
|
||||
Well, today I was going to head out for 75 miles on the freeway, so I checked my tire pressures and one was about 4lbs low...so I put them all up at 39psi, went on my drive...and it handled like it was on rails! Very cool indeed. So I guess I will leave my suspension alone for the time being....
I may still get an alignment sometime in the next few months....just because it has been over 20k since my last one.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Well, I had to drive back to GR, MI today from Lansing MI, (74 miles) and it was very windy....needless to say, the issue I thought was gone, is BACK, and its BAD. I could barely keep the car in a straight line with tons of counter steering when wind gusts hit me! It was swerving all over the place.
SO, I brought it right into the dealer, and low and behold, inspection was FREE! They took my car for 3 hours and had their top MB tech inspect everything to figure out the problems. He says: Replace left ball joint, its in bad shape with lots of play, right is fine (left front makes a thump now when turning, so I am getting it replaced ASAP) Also found: bushings tight and ok, steering ok, steeringbox had never been adjusted/tightened, so he tightened it up, eliminated almost all play in the wheel! Mind you, they did this free! He says I should replace the rear springs and shocks, which they told me before (my car sits low), and to have it realigned. So I ordered all the parts, two springs, two shocks, two spring bushings (14mm), and a ball joint for $337 They want $300 for the ball joint labor, and about $200-250 for the rear springs/shocks. Sounds fairly reasonable....I am going to talk to an INDY I know in Lansing tomorrow, if his price isn't much better, off to the dealer it goes. Considering they did 3 hours of free analysis and inspection + adjusted my steering, for FREE, I think I may just give them my business. I was amazed! Also taking place tomorrow morning, Valve adjustment, by me!
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#25
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
Bookmarks |
|
|