Rear Suspension Woes--Shop Said to Scrap it... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bmeares · #16 07-15-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarisrmk

not too hard .... if you know what you are doing ..... is this a real 5 speed( meaning 5 forward gears + reverse) just curious.

Yep, 1st-5th and reverse, a real 5 speed. When I bought the car the lady selling it had it listed as an automatic. When I called she said the listing was wrong and it was actually a 5 speed. I bought the car that night

bmeares · #17 07-15-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmeares

Make me an offer I can't refuse and it is yours!
I keep telling my wife it is a rare gem, but she prefers cars with A/C, radios and working windows...

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarisrmk

oh wow none of that works

? What have you done to the poor thing!!!!

The little gem came to me with the odo stopped on 227k with no A/C, two non-working windows, a non working sunroof and a heater valve stuck in the open position--and I commute everyday on the interstate in North Carolina. I'll leave most of it to your imagination, but let's just say they should have made the slip and slide out of mbtex vinyl......

bmeares · #18 07-15-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Technically these cars are "worth" much more than a new car....in the fact that they can be kept on the road reliably and for an overall much lower cost than a new or newer car....compare the costs between your car and a 2009 of pretty much anything, and it becomes clear how much the car is really "worth". I've spent well over blue book rated value on my cars....but, I have no car payment, and can go months at a time paying only for fuel and insurance (which is super cheap, since its old).....try that with a new car. Between payments and insurance and fuel....a new car costs a fortune.

If the suspension is so bad that it is scary to drive, I'd get the bushing kit and go at it....if it drives ok, I'd leave it alone. My 300SD has a pretty worn suspension, but it tracks straight and drives fine....so I'm not complaining.

I'm with you--I could spend $1000 to keep it going, or spend $1000 to get something nice like a...wait....there is nothing else I can get for $1000, or probably $10,000 that wouldn't require the same time, money and effort to keep up with the 20k miles I drive each year. When you start talking about interest wasted on a loan and depreciation on a new or newer car, you can spend $1000 just by signing the paperwork.

polarisrmk · #19 07-15-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmeares

Yep, 1st-5th and reverse, a real 5 speed. When I bought the car the lady selling it had it listed as an automatic. When I called she said the listing was wrong and it was actually a 5 speed. I bought the car that night

I want your transmission lol i am so jeleous!

bob_98sr5 · #20 07-15-2009, 04:18 PM

I replaced every single bushing that can be replaced on the rear subframe (some call it "rear axle" on the forum). i also fab'd my own tools to change out certain bushings. look in my blog and you can read about it and what i did. if I look back on it, it looked ominous. but in retrospect, its not that bad, just time consuming, requires purchasing alot of parts, and you need a good space to work on it.

High level order of operation (iirc):

- unbolt driveshaft/flex disc from front of differential
- unbolt brake lines from subframe
- unbolt subframe
- remove bushings and arms
- Install new bushing and arms
- reinstall everything
- get an alignment

all the info I got was from this forum. also, check this link here: http://www.w124performance.com/service/Main.html

find your vehicle and look under "suspension". all the tech documents you'll need are there.

bmeares · #21 07-20-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob_98sr5

I replaced every single bushing that can be replaced on the rear subframe (some call it "rear axle" on the forum). i also fab'd my own tools to change out certain bushings. look in my blog and you can read about it and what i did.

What are the dates for the posts to your blog covering your work on the rear suspension?