Replacing left side lower control arm bushings on 1998 MB E300D with abs. In the days before abs, you could just remove the caliper and hang it to the side so that you did not have to mess with brake line, brake fluid, etc. With ABS, it appears that the caliper and ABS unit are integrated and may not be easily seperated (from each other or from the backing plate). If possible, I would like to remove the caliper/abs as a unit from the axle carrier and hang it aside - is this possible? A 2nd alternative would be to seperate the caliper from the abs unit -hang the caliper and remove the abs sensor with the axle carrier/control arm. If neither are possible, it appears you would have to disconnect the brake line from the caliper and to also disconnect the abs sensor lines. Shop Manual says to disconnect front axle distributor connector (X62/6 or X62/7). I believe this connection is located where the abs sensor lines go through the wheel well into the engine compartment. The shop manual does not go into more detail. It appears that there is a clip holding this connection together (in the wheel well) to make it secure and it is not obvious how to remove the clip so the abs lines can be disconnected. Any help that can be provided on these aspects would be appreciated as I don't have any ABS problems now and I don't want any to occur after replacing the control arm.

Thanks

Mike D.

When I started the job of removing the lowewr control arm on my 1998 Mercedes E300D, I found out that you can remove the entire wheel spindle (including the caliper and abs sensor) as a unit from the lower control arm by disconnecting the lower ball joint. Fortunately, on the Mercedes E300 design, that is no more difficult than removing a tie rod end. Then the wheel can be set asside without having to worry about disconnnecting the brake lines, etc.

Regards,
Mike D.