best price on front end rebuild kit
 

looks like I either have to rebuild the front end or part with the beast. Does anyone sell a kit of parts or does someone have a part list they can share for a shade tree mechanic rebuild? s there any special tools required besides a spring compressor and a press?

Thanx

Scott

some tools and techniques
 

This might be helpful...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/179284-write-up-ball-joints-lower-control-arm-bushings-tool-review-pics.html?highlight=tools

Shop around. Usually people replace the entire UCA, and replace the lower ball joint and bushings. I have seen "kits" but they tend to be the inferior kind found on e-bay.

Talk to Roy or Phil at Fastlane (this site). They may beable to put a kit together that will have good parts in it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-MERCEDES-123-W123-Control-Arms-Arm-Rods-Links-Kit_W0QQitemZ250153128887QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33583QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohost ing

I bought this one 2 years ago for my last car and never installed. It is going into my new car weekend after next along with my vogtland springs. Parts are made in germany, not OEM but I am guessing the company buys all the old machinery from the OEMs and continues to produce the same product. There have been some favorable reviews from others (which is why I bought it), some with as much as 20k miles on them. Take it for what it is worth. I'll be happy to reply about my experience.

33k+ sales and 99.9% rating..... On fleabay that is outstanding.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-MERCEDES-123-W123-Control-Arms-Arm-Rods-Links-Kit_W0QQitemZ250174673390QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33583QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

looks like the same seller has it on sale..... now its decision time

In most cases, you won't need to rebuild everything in the front end. You should have a good MB Indy look at it and tell you what's actually wrong - ball joints, control arms, bushings, steering dampner, etc.
If you haven't replaced your shocks in the last 100K you should replace them at the same time - Bilstein Comforts and replace the steering dampner - those are the parts that absorb the shocks and protect your front end parts for a slow death.
Phil can probably get you the best prices on your parts and may be able to help you with diagrams of your front end. If he doesn't have diagrams, you can find exploded diagrams of the front end and the names of the parts by logging onto Performance Products.

great link, thanks

I suggest Bilstein HD's. I haven't had the chance to compare them to new Comforts but the HDs have made for a very smooth ride in my car.

the guy pulled me into the shop to show me.... it is truly toast, the upper bushings were gone, the ball joints were moving sideways 1/4 inch and all the other bushings had rubber "c"s hanging out and not much left inside. My guess is all of these components have endured the same number of miles and neglect. myself included in my 8K miles of ownership and low budget drive it till it breaks treatment of the car..... my most likely course of action is to put it out front with a sign and let the next guy part it out or fix it. I cant see $300 in parts and anoth $100 in tools, then $75 alignment and $75 tire. This was meant to be a low budget DD but its breaking the bank now...

Yup
 

It has been said that there are Good Mercedes and Cheap Mercedes. There just aren't many Good, Cheap Mercedes. Sometimes you just have to pull the pin on them. Sorry!

yeh, the car has been ok to me, but it looks to be beginning a death spiral. If the interior was better and the hood hinge wasnt broken off of the body, the rest of the car would be fixable with some reward. I just hate to put money in the front and then next month the rear suspension and so on. now that I knopw more I think the better path is to cut my losses on this one and try to find a better starting point....

once you've gotten that far....
 

I was going to say that if the car is pretty far gone, you might as well do as much as you can at one time (though $$$) and pay for the alignment once. Kinda weird financial logic now that I think about it.... but that helps me justify parts! :)

Though it is a pay for site, pindelski.com has a great pictorial step-by-step on MB front end work. That is what I used before I tackled the job myself.

I bet you can find plenty of places to put those dollars into its replacement.

How's it run otherwise? Why not just rebuild the FE and keep driving it.

Ya. I don't know what you were thinking about. 20 year old cars are always going to need new bushings. joints etc. It is one of the major components that I check out when doing a PPI. I figure it just comes with the territory. Think of it this way, imagine how smooth it will be with a new front end! It will be like new! I got my tires from discounttire direct on ebay for $268 for all 4 shipped. A pretty good deal for Falken Ziex 235/60/15. I got them locally installed and balanced and still paid less than I would have out the door from their retail stores on some crappy kumhos.

I don't know. 600.00 is not much to pay to have a MAGNIFICENT riding vehicle. if the car runs well, and drives well (front end work not withstanding) the beast you know is usually better than the one you don't.
most you are going to get for a beater needing that amount of work is around 500.00, so 1100.00 is not much to get a cherry MB or toyota for that matter,
I vote spend the money and enjoy your NEW ride! of course, I do not know the overall condition of the car... you do.