So, after changing my wheel carrier bushings, rear shocks and sway bar links, it feels like I am swaying quite a bit on the highway. I also get somewhat of a right steer under high-load acceleration..all signs pointing to the torque arms. Plus, the g/f complained about it when we took a trip this weekend (she offered to drive!)

I have some waiting to be put in, but it looks like it is going to be a tight job.

I know some of you 124 guys have done it before, so do you have any recommendations for me? Certain wrenches needed, or a super long breaker bar? I have heard horror stories of impact wrenches being needed, but I don't have one, nor do I plan on getting one any time soon

I'd like to avoid dropping the subframe; the FSM also states that it can be done with the subframe in place.

Thanks in advance!

__________________
Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

I found it to be about 1hr/side job.

The most "special" tool I needed was a 12-point box-end wrench for the chassis-side bolt. IIRC, the bottom of the brake dust-shield needs to be sprung just a bit to get the wheel-end bolt out.

Be sure you get the new/updated bolt kit with the arm.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

haha must of read my post...good luck sans the air comp, mine needed 140 psi to spin. Maybe mine is old or something, they didnt want to give up. just dont strip them out, the flats are really thin and soft. strip them and its subframe removal time.

yeah what he said about bolt kit, the old bolts dont fit the new arms. the new bolts have a circular head too, which makes no sense as you will be gripping them with channel locks to prevent spinning with nut while tightening (unless you can access the internal hex somehow)

it does make a nice difference when you fix it, ass end not doing the sine wave down the highway and all. you will need alignment afterwards.

the fsm has some good general pics, check it out before hand.

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Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

Ah yes, a$$ end wiggle!! It must have been that one.

I do have the updated bolt kit, as well as two sleeves? But I don't know if I need those because the new bolts won't go into them.

My plan is to do a nice PB Blast soak, and then get the longest extension I can and apply like 100 ft-lbs to that thing! The FSM says to tighten to 70 Nm, IIRC, so theoretically, they shouldn't be too hard to get out..at least, I hope!

Alignment, eh? More money to spend...sigh. But yeah, I could probably use one. The car actually tracks pretty straight though, assuming I am not giving it any throttle and it's under 50 mph- otherwise, it's a$$ end wiggle!

__________________
Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

the alignment totally changed when i replaced. talk about sudden lane change. they were towed out like 2 deg. and with the play in steering wheel it really made it challanging to maintain 80mph and keep it in 1 and a half lanes. good luck, it took at least 300 lb-ft to remove them on mine, and there isnt much to grip. hopefully yours will be easier.

__________________
Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

Well, I got the links changed out over the weekend. Soaking them in PB blaster overnight was required...and actually made it pretty simple. But without the PB, they were damn tight.

18" extension was a big help, as well as the box-end wrenches that Jeff recommended. The old bolts are 19mm, and the new ones are 18mm, with one end being a 12-point star key. I ended up using a very large Torx bit, and lots of blue threadlocker

Luckily (well, in most cases I would be angry about it), we had a sustained wind of 35 with gusts up to 45 yesterday, and the car was hardly affected by it I do still need an alignment though; things aren't perfect. Already have an appointment set up for today!! What a great suspension design these cars have!

Jeff, I think we might have been thinking of different links here..I did the one that is the upper diagonal. I only ask because you mentioned the bottom of the dust shield.

__________________
Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

My bad. I was thinking of the same arms, but for some reason I said bottom. Glad the job went well.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff