Hey everyone, I am about to start rebuilding the front suspension on my 1984 300TD (springs, shocks, UCAs, LCA bushings, tie rods, track rods, the whole bit) and I am wondering if anyone has the applicable shop manual PDF files and a fast internet connection and would be willing to email them to me. This would be greatly appreciated... I'll even paypal $10 for the trouble... Seriously, I would really like to have these documents for reference. Thanks to everyone who helps out on this great forum.

You can get the Shop Manual for $20 on ebay, and from MB-USA. Then you'll have the whole thing.

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$19.95 plus shipping from MBUSA. It has automatic climate control too. You gotta get the FSM. I just print out the section I need for the job I am doing, punch it and put it in the big binder I have. Hard to look at the computer when I am working on the car.

Do you have the spring compressor and ball joint press? The FSM is easy compared to the special tools needed. Best of luck on the job. If I may ask, how much did all the parts cost you?

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

Is the FSM just an .exe file or is the hard data (pdf files or whatever) actually on the CD itself? I have a mac so if it is a .exe file or requires me to run a PC program, no CD for me... I had been using the braingears site until recently...

I am a bit broke right now so I think I am just gonna replace the LCA bushings, skip the alignment, and save the rest until a later date when I have more money and the weather is warmer. I was thinking about buying the #1801 spring compressor from Konik Tools.. as I have seen it referenced elsewhere on the forum... I am also gonna get a harbor freight ball joint press and make adapters where needed as described elsewhere on this forum...

I calculated that overall, with new springs, shocks, steering components, and all the rubber bushings, it would come to about $700 in parts + $400 in tools, which is more than I can do right now.. I figure I save money by doing everything at once because I only have to get one alignment done, but I don't have the cash right now to go ahead and do that.

So.. the really bad components, despite the torn boots on most of the lower ball joints (they are all tight, however), are the LCA bushings, which look like they are about to fragment and fall out of the LCA casting . I believe they are the cause of the terrible side-to-side shimmy that occurs above 60mph. All of the UCA rubber looks aged, yet sturdy, and I think it can last a couple more months (probably years, actually), at least until the weather warms up and my bank account grows. Right now, I just want to kill that shimmy and not constantly worry about losing those bushings every time I hit a bump.

If you do the LCA's I think you have to pull the LCA... Then an alignment since the excentric bolts were removed

The W123 requires a special press for the ball joints on the spindle. I know for a fact that it must be done with the proper tool or you will fubar the ball joint

It's just a dumb little Flash application that runs in your web browser. It works on any computer, but there's a few Windows-specific things that will get in the way a little bit. On a Mac, I just copied all the files to my computer (2 CDs) and then I just load up the start page in my browser. No need for the CDs anymore.

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-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

You can do the LCA bushings but you will require an alignment since your LCA's have moved out due to the new bushings. Anytime you do front end work it is a good idea to do an alignment.
Check with Firestone. The alignment guy here is great and does all the cars. 300TD, 240D and 65 Mustang. $140 LIFETIME. So you can do it once a week if you need. But check your local Firesotne, not all will do a Mercedes or 65 Mustang.
The CD is a PDF file setup with .exe files to get you to each PDF file. But you can find the files in the CD by job number. I do it this way sometimes after I copied the CD to my hard drive.
I can send the PDF files if you want. Need an e-mail address.

Your job. Your numbers are right. I did an entire suspension rebuild and bought the Sir Tool compressor. About $700 for the parts and more for the tools.
You can modify a Harbor Freight ball joint press to install the lower ball joints. It worked fine in my 300TD.

Dave

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

SWEET I'm all over it.

dmorrison- Thanks for the tip. I have one local and I'll call them tomorrow. As for the eccentric pins, can they be re-used or do I need new ones?

The pin is re-used, unless damaged.

Mark the location of the ecentric pin washer to the mount section so once reassembling, your placing the LCA in the position that the last alignment provided. Now due to the wear of the bushings, the last postition may not, and more than likely will not be the correct postiion, but it gives you a starting point.
I did this by using a punch. One on the frame mount and the aligning one on the round washer. The washer is welded to the mounting bolt.


Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car