Am I getting hosed?

About a week ago, I was coming around a turn and all of a sudden I heard a metallic spingy sound and my car started pulling hard to the left.

I pull over, I see my left front wheel is leaning twoards the top alot. I limp home at 20mph.

Next day I look in the wheel well and the bolt and bushings are missing from where the torsion bar connects to the upper control arm. So I buy these parts at the dealer, try to do it myself but I just can get these to align properly.

I take it to my german guy down the street today, He says I need a stabilzer bar ($200) and a upper control arm ($50) and $400 in labor to total out about $700. He says its a real nightmare to put a stabilzer bar in this car. I called around, the dealer said it was $400 in labor too. I just said OK.

What do you guys think? Here is a link to the pics I took the morning after it happened:

http://jtrsoft.hypermart.net/img/upper-balljoint/

Thanks,

John

[GR_Lou]

I haven't had any work like that on mine...but based on scoping out the suspension on my SD, it doesn't look too complicated.

The $700 doesn't sound TOO unreasonable...someone is going to have to spend the better part of a day reefing on assorted parts, trying to get the good ones off in one piece.

I would say maybe mildly sprinkled, light spray, but not full blast hosed...if the guy told you is actually what you need done.

The pictures were much help.

Why must the sway bar be replaced, are the threads stripped?

Good luck,

Forgive me Turbo, but I took the liberty of looking through your photos... I must say I enjoyed them. We have a lot in common, same car, same color, same NJ area. But I didn't know about the guy who made a grave of the w123. I'm going to have to check this out.

About your car... I've never heard of this happening. This is something you may just have to pay to have done properly. A w123 has a pretty complex suspension, between the bushings, rods and springs, its a dangerous job. Good luck...

BTW, you have Euro lights on your car... How do you like them???

Larry, he says the stabilizer bar needs to be replaced because it broke. He says it rusted thru in 1 spot. He said there is another 240D on his property with the same problem that the bar broke in the same place, the customer abandoned it.

Randall, thats what the pics are there for, for people to look. The 123 grave in in Linden, its a very awsome sight to see up close, it is a 1:1 scale replica of solid granite. Amazing in every detail. Euro lights are awsome, not only do they look great, but they work great, too.

John

[MBJOE]

Turbodiesel, I have a complete front swaybar setup from a 1982 240D if you need it. Its in great condition with no rust at all. Let me know, maybe this can help make your repairs a bit cheaper.

joeb@mebtel.net

Thanks for the offer, MBJOE, I got my car back today.. $925.00 later..

$220 for swaybar
$65 for left upper control arm
I Supplied new bushings for torsion bar
Installed 2 motor mounts (I supplied parts)
$570 in labor
+ Tax

I do belive I got HOSED. He said the motor mounts were a real bastard. By the looks of things, i'm glad I didn't tackle that job, or the torsion bar job myself. My front end and motor mounts should be good for a loooong time now.

John