Hi there;

I have a 1983 300D Turbodiesel and it has the normal, "rusted out rear trailing arms" issue.

I ordered a set of replacement ones from a West Coast Benz scrapper and received the package recently.

It turns out that they sent a part that is different than what my car has, but they insist that it's interchangable.

The best of my research leads me to believe that it seems to be.

Can someone please confirm this? The part that they sent me is marked with the numbers 126 352 04 04.

I looked that number up and don't find much. There is a set on eBay now, and they identify it as being off of an w107 car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380074381472&fromMakeTrack=true

I compared the two, and see that the new one is aluminum, which would be great as it won't rust out, and this car is definitely a keeper for me.

I get the feeling that some w126's used steel ones and others used aluminum parts, but just can't confirm.

ANYTHING to help clarify things for me would be most appreciated.

I'm getting a local shop to do this work and can't afford to be rear-wheel-less for too long with them so I really need to confirm that this is possible.

I noticed that the brake calipers seem to mount 180 degrees off from where they do with the parts I have installed. Aside from that though, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Of course, if it would work, I'd expect to be able to find others talking about this upgrade.

Anyway - fingers crossed. Thanks for any help in advance...




nsantolick

1983 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel
1971 Mercedes 280S

I recall reading somewhere that they were that same. But don't have that link.

But according to ADSITCO (my favorite parts store... Yeah right!..... But I am sure their info is correct) the "Lower Control Arm- Rear" have the same part number.

W123

W126



And if you do a search on the Fastlane site, the trailing arms are the same part number.


So my guess it will fit and the Aluminum part is a nice discovery replacement for the rust belt folks.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

The only aluminium trailing arm I have see when crawling under PNP cars, looking for a few treasures. Is a W126 SEC. they do look different than the W123 as I remember. but who knows?

Here is a thread with some charts with what crosses over to what.

www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=229825

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I think you may have found a nice upgrade...

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I had an sec and always assumed they are interchangible. I don't know for sure, but I would take the yards word for it. A nice upgrade, IMHO, too.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

No rust and less weight flying around-good deal!

__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

The cast units are found on the 500SE/L and the 560SEL.
And maybe on the equivalent SECs...

And.... are they not magnesium?

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Looking at the factory manual, it looks like the AL arms were an option for the w123 and w126. They have an anti-squat function too. I was thinking about this a few month back while I was under a 450slc, it would be a nice upgrade.

__________________
1998 Mercedes E300TD

1983 Mercedes 240D Turbo, 131bar injectors, Cosworth intercooler and 63' Ford Falcon radiator, Ardic Parking heater, Headlight wipers, Best 38.6mpg.

1973 Saab 96 Rally Car, 1.8l V4 with all the race bits

I would look up the specs for both but they cant be the same seeing that W126 is a much wider car than a W123.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

...and so are the mouting points on the rear subframe

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I believe the first/second gen 126 arms are different no?

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Oh, oh. Now I'm getting worried...

I dont have much to contribute to this thread, but If I get a chance Ill go and measure the ones I have behind my garage, I have both the steel and aluminium W126 trailing arms as well as the W123 trailing arms.

I suppose I could measure the first gen and second gen arms as well,

If i get a chance ill do it for the benifit of the board.

__________________
1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

Well, still looks like we're going to try. The problem is though, since I don't have the "original type" on hand, if the shop takes everything off, including the subframe as we're replacing those rubber parts too, they'll be stuck with a car that can't be moved (with what they have available to them, anyway) for two weeks or so, so labor could add up if they needed to reassemble everything temporarily, and then take it all apart again later.

I'm convinced that the arms "will fit on..." I'm convinced that the brake calipers will be just fine, if they are reversed from side to side in the rear, to make up for the 180 degree off from original caliper mounting points... I think the sway bar will fit too, although it may be distorted slightly by "forcing" it to fit. (I sense that there is an ever so minor change in the length of the sway-bar mount points, and assume that there was a whole different sway bar used on cars that came with these aluminum arms. The latter is just speculation and "guestimating" by studying the arms, side by side, as best I could with them still on the car...

I don't know the terminology - aside from the main bushings, that the arms hinge on, what are the other three rubber/plastic bushings called? Spindle something or others? Anyway, although it would seem to be a good practice to change these out too, whilst rebuilding the rear suspension of these cars, why is it that it just doesn't seem like anyone bothers? I've heard that you need a special "push-pull press" to remove them, and that the same system is also used on some Volvos?

I don't know much about this stuff, but, "what's the story" with "whatever those parts are???"

Thanks so much. I'll document things as best I can.













Nick - Hazleton, PA

1971 280S
1983 300D Turbodiesel

Why don't you have the shop put the car up on a lift and compare the new ones to the old steel ones. It should only take a few measurements to confirm they will fit.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine