E300 w210 Upper Control Arm (passenger side) R&R

[michakaveli]

I've removed the airbox and have access to the bolt from the upper control arm but am unable to find the nut on the rear of this bolt so that I can replace the upper control arm. I've also removed the computer cover but don't see the rear nut from the bolt.

Any hints?

[shoe]

Try using the left side as a reference I just looked at my right side and cannot see anything without major disassembly

[nhdoc]

The WIS says after removing the air cleaner to "remove the plastic cover in wheel house"...have you found that?

[michakaveli]

Originally Posted by nhdoc

The WIS says after removing the air cleaner to "remove the plastic cover in wheel house"...have you found that?

I will look further into this wheel house you speak of....

[nhdoc]

I believe they are speaking about the plastic liner inside the wheel housing if my interpretation is correct.

[michakaveli]

Originally Posted by nhdoc

I believe they are speaking about the plastic liner inside the wheel housing if my interpretation is correct.

I'm on the same page.... I'll poke around there this afternoon....

[michakaveli]

figured it out... It was a PITA!!!!

Process... found a body plug inside the wheel well. Using a box cutter I slide the knife along the outer edges of the rubberized lining, just enough to break the lining so that I could access the plug without going through the plug. I did that to both sides and kept working my fingers, flexing the body plug and finally working it until removed. Next I used a 16mm open ended wrench to locate the nut and secure it while rotating the head of the bolt with a ratchet.

How do I put it back together you may ask? That's where the fun (PITA) begin. Reading my WIS and AllData references, (they both state the same) is that for the passenger side you need to remove the airbox. Nothing is stated/mentioned how to secure the nut once it is off of the bolt threads for re-installation. The only approach I saw possible was to remove the computer assembly and attempt to reach it that way. Disconnecting the computers wasn't as much the issue as there was handling all of the wires running everywhere. As you will see in the pictures, the computer enclosure is composed of three partitions. The upper portion which can be completely removed, the midsection (moved and visible in photos below) and the base.

The point in removing the computers/enclosure was to be able to get your hand/finger(s) access to grab the nut and to at least hold it in place during re-installation. The rear most module (N10) proved to be the most challenging. The gray plug needs to be removed first. prior to pivoting the metal lever to release the module from it's connector. Once removed there are 4 or so bolts holding down the mid-section of the enclosure. Once removed you gain increased access to the base of the enclosure. Some may stop at this point if you have small hands or can get your wife/significant sweetness involved. I used my dash removal tool to fish the bolt out through the body plug in the fender well.

IF, you can't access this bolt to be able to hold the nut in place during re-installation, then read on. The older I get the more I seek for the simplest solution(s) toward resolving a conflict. In this case my hands were too big and my significant others were just a smidge too tight for her to squeeze them in. So, I proceeded with completely loosening the visible screws that hold the base of the enclosure to the vehicle, there are 2 closely visible on the firewall and then 2 towards the drivers side. The upper on the driver's side is accessible, while the lower is not. But, this did give me enough room and play of the enclosure base to lift it up slightly (beads of sweat were dripping off of forehead) while I involved my significant other in securing the nut onto the end of the bolt.

*ENTERTAINMENT* - the easiest and most secure way to secure this bolt while re-installation is to fit the nut in between significant other OR assistant's index and middle fingers. Using, in this case masking tape, taping the top of the fingers together and the bottom of the fingers together so that they DO NOT move (loosing the bolt), during this crucial procedure. Our success was on the first try, so it's possible but odd looking. (wish I took a photo :-) ) Nevertheless, I was able to install my 16mm wrench (using the closed ended side) approaching the nut from the top, where the computers are housed to secure the nut while tightening the bolt with a ratchet.


I recommend using an assistant during dis-assembly of the mid-section of the enclosure as it may slide down off of the climate air intake assembly, (unable to completely remove due to one main harness connector). It will keep the process enjoyable and reduce/elliminate swearing during this ordeal. Also, take frequent breaks :-)


Hope I was able to help. I don't thing anyone else on this forum has attempted the upper control arm replacement. At least couldn't find any threads performing the such....

Enjoy the photos!

[michakaveli]

View of the computers prior to dis-assembly...

[nhdoc]

You couldn't have used a strong magnetic probe to put the nut up through that same access hole and get it started on the bolt? I have a very strong flexible magnetic probe that I think would have done that. Either that or try and get it to stick in a box wrench by greasing the edges and use that to position it. Did you try anything like that just to go up through the access hole with a tool to hold the nut in place?

[michakaveli]

Originally Posted by nhdoc

You couldn't have used a strong magnetic probe to put the nut up through that same access hole and get it started on the bolt? I have a very strong flexible magnetic probe that I think would have done that. Either that or try and get it to stick in a box wrench by greasing the edges and use that to position it. Did you try anything like that just to go up through the access hole with a tool to hold the nut in place?

That access hole wouldn't allow for anything else to get in through there. I don't have a magnetic probe. I tried to see if my screwdriver with a magnetic tip would attract it but no go. Just holding it with a magnet, even if you could get it in there without bending it in there to fit wouldn't help as you need to make sure it got onto the bolt, the bolt and nut didn't couple together like butter. That access hole in my opinion is a waste of time. I have to angle my wrench at an odd angle just to even reach and secure the nut during dis-assembly.

[nhdoc]

The next time you are out shopping look for a magnetic probe on a flexible (gooseneck type) arm. They are invaluable for many tasks. The one I have is super strong, it can hold a nut so you could swing it around your head and it would not come off. I can use it to retrieve tools (even a ratchet handle) that I drop when I work. It has saved my buns many times. Once I dropped a cap screw that held my distributor down in the space behind the crankshaft pulley and I could not even see in there, but the probe grabbed it and I was able to finish the work in seconds. You will find hundreds of uses for it once you have one...it can go where your fingers are too large to go.

[michakaveli]

Thanks! Any recommendation(s) on where to find a good magnetic probe?

[pat201]

Michakaveli,
How did you reach the driver side nut? I have a hard time reaching it.
Thanks, Pat

[michakaveli]

Originally Posted by pat201

Michakaveli,
How did you reach the driver side nut? I have a hard time reaching it.
Thanks, Pat

The nut on the driver-side is accessible underneath the DBW (Drive-By-Wire) potentiometer. The bolt head is accessible behind the washer bottle. Remove the washer bottle of move it to the side...

[pat201]

Thanks a lot.