Oh man, some of you guys out there are KILLING me. I read a few posts about changing out the struts and shocks. "Sure, it's easy. Just a few bolts".

Oh man. Here I am 2 hours later, still trying to get the first one off.

I guess we need something on the forum for "easy if you're a mechanic". Us lightweights buy into this stuff, then whammo! Any little problem, and we're stumped. At least I am. But I did manage through a number of repairs before, and I probably have 5 posts now up on the DIY resource area. Maybe this will be number 6. It will read "don't do this!".

MAN, these things are on there. It's the loctite keeping them in. I used a breaker bar with a scissors jack underneath it to push it up, to loosen it; there's not enough room if you're just jacking your car up from the ground. If you had a lift and a 4 foot breaker bar, yes, then it would be easy.

Ok guys, I'm headin' back out again. Pray for me. Hard.

(Updated another hour later.... I got the one strut off, semi-put the new one on, but still working with that to line it up and get it into the hole. If I turn the shock to the right or left, does it make it get bigger so I have enough length? I need about another 1/2" to get it into the hole).

jeff 1991 300d

Hang in there!

Got a propane torch or similar? Might help with the loctite...


I'm probably going to be doing mine in the spring, so, I'm soon to follow.

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Car you're working on? Front or rear? Penetrating oil is the most useful tool in your box. I very rarely have to use heat. No rust to speak of up here, though.

Jay

__________________
On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

This is on your 1982 300D, right? Please give a few more details on the nature of the problem. Be very specific.

You have a complication that many of us have seen before. It can be done.

I don't think he has a specific problem. He just needs to vent. I have been doing this for years and have 7 cars in my stable and I swear off working on them after a tough job and two days later I'm screwing with them again. It's a hobby. Good luck. Thanks

__________________
83 300D 227,xxx miles, sold
86 300 SDL 130,000 miles, sold

I use a product call Aero Kroil
from Kano Lab. It works great
on very stubborn bolts.
I have never used it on Loctite, though.

Jeff

you'll get through it man!

just think, you just saved yourself labor cost and now you'll have a huge sense of accomplishment!

__________________
Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

Awww, c'mon. It's easy! Just a few bolts!

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Ive said the same thing at least once a day for the past 25 years !!! Take a deep breath hold your tongue a different way you'll get through it. When your washing the grease off your hands and preparing to test drive it the satisfaction will start to set in. Then comes the memory loss until the next time.

__________________


Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

looks like I closed the myth thread too soon. 'Mercedes suspensions are so easy to work on' could be another.

When it doesnt want to cooperate and come undone, give it a hurry up with a Hot Spanner (propane torch or oxy) works every time.

I often wonder what the design engineers were thinking when they designed some of these components>> "if we do it this way, the poor b#@*$#d working on it will surely skin his knuckles" !!
You know it does feel good when you finish though, a bit like hitting your head against a brick wall for a few hours and then stopping!!!!

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I concur with the heating method of removal - FWIW.

Good luck!

Oh man...... You had me rolling on the floor! I'm still chuckling over the title of this post! I know the feeling!

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

I've actually paid a shop (2 of them) to work on my Dodge Ram. The 1st was to do ball joints. A couple pf weeks earlier the brake caliper was loose - they had not torqued the caliper bolt. The 2nd time was to install a steering box (Dodge boxes are a known weak spot & I was tired of changing it & shop offered lifetime parts and labor.) Unfortunately, they either stripped or failed to repair a previously stripped bolt hole & the sway bar let loose on 1 side. Both shops have good reputations however, 'm back to doing my own work.

Hang in there. It becomes easier AND you get to the point where you fix more than you tear up. You'll even fix it the 1st time (usually) AND won't change the wrong part.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I'm still laughing about the brick wall analogy ! You couldnt have painted a better picture Layback

__________________


Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

Beware of any response that starts with "all ya gotta do"

When you hear that, make a sign of the cross (or whatever you worship) and slowly back away.

__________________
Hanno
'79 6.9 Sold (after 27 years)
'83 280SL, 5 spd.
'94 E320 Sdn. 5 spd conversion
'02 E320 Sdn.(on loan to mom!)
'87 300E (5 spd. conversion) Sold
'05 E500 Wagon