my tie rod center part on my 83 w126 300sd is shot
I guess over the years the outer parts were changed
as they are still tight but the middle bit is very sloppy
and very bad shake on the passenger wheel after a high speed bump
pointed to the center bit after the other parts were found to be tight

are any special tools or tricks needed to R&R this part?
looks like the two end bolts and the link to the steering shock/damper
and thats it
but things are seldom as simple as they look esp on a w126!!!!

btw are my 16 wheels with unknown offset [aftermarket 5 spokes]
they have a blank space on the offset
fit but clear the outer tierod ends by a 1/8 inch [no room for wheel rim weights]
yes they are balanced by stick on weights
a factor in the failure of the center tie rods?????

Pickle fork is the only special needed tool to remove center link. A big hammer and upper body strength helps quite a bit too. Wheels should not be causing a problem. FWIW. New ones (center link) run from $35 to $55 at http://*************** or try above at Buy Parts. Any trick installing, would come from trying to torque nuts, and the ball joint spins before you get properly tightened. When I replaced a tie rod on my 123, I used an open end wrench 6mm thick as a spacer, torqued to specs to "set" ball joint, loosened a bit, to remove wrench, tighten to specs again. That tip is from the SM.

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83 SD

84 CD