I've owned this car for about a month. I took it to a reputable shop (Marx Mercedes in Costa Mesa) for a 'go over' and report.

The shop reports the front suspension control arm bushings (upper and lower) are crumbling away.

The motor mounts are in the same condition and need to be replaced.

Is this a $1k job at a repair shop?
Is this a job a DIY should attempt?

Can someone point me to an archived thread on the forum where either of these two jobs were done outside of a pro garage?

I own an old ('73) Z car and do a lot of the maintenance - but do not have any MBZ experience and have not done a bushing replacement on a front end like these cars.

Do either the Haynes or Chilton manuals cover these procedures?

Thanks

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MJMoon
'83 300SD 460,000 miles (+ 3 years w/odo not working)

Lower bushings are difficult due to spring compression, must be careful, can be dangerous. Others, when properly done, pretty easy.

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83 SD

84 CD

Motor mounts are relatively easy. At $20 a pop, pretty inexpensive as well. Replace the engine shocks and tranny mount as well. Parts are around $170 total for all mounts and shocks for the engine and tranny.

It's easier to just replace the UCA cause you get a new ball joint as well.

Do a search for lower control arm replacement and upper control arm replacement. Diesel Giant has an good pictorial on the UCA replacement on a w123. The w126 could be similiar, but I am not familiar with the 126 suspension.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

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