... finished the job today. I put the arm in the freezer for a few hours this morning, put it back in the vice and pushed the bushings in real good. It still didn't want to fit, but I crammed away and finally was able to get a screwdriver in the hole of the frame, thus pulling the arm into place ... then slid the bolt in and tapped it through lightly with a rubber hammer. I put a PVC pipe on the floor jack and used it to push up the torsion bar (photo to come) so the bushings would fit onto the UCA right ... tightened that bolt. So close ... then I went to put the steering knuckle on and, just to torture me, it decided it was going to spin with the nut. I couldn't push the joint together enough and turn the nut at the same time, so I put a C-clamp on the knuckle/arm to hold it together while I tightened the bolt a smidge. From there it went on perfectly. Torqued everything to spec, put the wheel on and put it back on the ground.

And for good measure afterward, I installed one euro headlight ... one of the screws on the other sealed beam won't come out for anything. I guess it's paying tribute to the late, great UCA bolt. Easy out, here we come.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Perfect.
Time to take a break.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

If only ... I'm at work (the work I do to make money, that is) until midnight now. Sunday nights aren't so bad, though ... plus I'm on a "high" from finishing the UCA project.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Bushings should be torqued with the weight of the vehicle on the suspension at normal ride height. So, put it on the ground first, torque second.

Otherwise, the "neutral" position (no deformation) of the bushing will not coincide with the "normal" stance of the suspension.

Oh ... not sure why I didn't know that ... is this repairable by loosening the bolt and retorquing with the car on ground?

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Sure. Bounce the car a few times after loosening things up.

Whew. Thanks for catching that.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

good job.........

Ahhhh, sweet victory!!!!
Nice job C.........

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Hey Bodhibenze I just went through your ordeal yesterday with the passenger side UCA. We started at 4 pm thinking it would be done in an hour and a half but the damn bolt was frozen to the bushing!!! I thought I wasn't gonna drive away from my friend's place but luckily got it done by 9 pm. Wish I had an Oxy Acetylene torch to cut the bolt out. A combination of a propane torch, Dremel and a drill got it out. I don't ever want to run into this again. I applaud you for being able to finish this not so fun job.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked