Change tie rods in pairs or not? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pawoSD · #16 10-21-2010, 01:41 AM

The car should always be properly aligned after doing anything involving steering components, and often even suspension components. Calling it "good enough" is very redneck.

t walgamuth · #17 10-21-2010, 06:18 AM

This is a tough call. Good arguements on both sides. Only the OP can look at his parts with his own eyes, so I say do what seems sensible to you. I have done the redneck thing too of counting threads and matching the new with the old and it worked ok. If the toe is out you can feel it in how the car drives. darty. too much toe in and you can see feathering on the tires in short order, but an alignment is only 70 so that is not a bad deal either.

Sorry not to give any good guidance.

babymog · #18 10-21-2010, 10:33 AM

If you understand alignment and the signs of excessive toe-in and of toe-out, I see no issue with measuring the distance between a mark on the tie-rod and the center of the stud, matching that. I've done it many times, and I usually do my own alignments much like pretty much any serious racer, because the factory specs are for regular driving and regular handling with stock tire/wheel sizes and offsets.

One bad ball-joint or one bad tie-rod end does not predict another, any more than a bad wheel bearing on one side predicts failure of the other (example: my '91 300TE 4matic had a bad rear-wheel bearing at 45,000 miles, never another sold at 119,000, ... my '85 Audi quattro had one bad rear wheel bearing at ~60,000 miles, never another in over 200,000 miles). Check with two people, rocking the steering with weight on the front wheels, watch for any play. If no play and the boots are supple, you're fine.

vstech · #19 10-21-2010, 10:41 AM

OK, you've got two mechanic experts agreeing, that only changing the bad one, if the good one is supple and not worn at all. one of which has even actually seen the tie rod ends in person...
lemme know when you wanna do the LCA"s, I'll bring my stuff. or you can bring it to my yard, and we'll press and go!

babymog · #20 10-21-2010, 10:44 AM

I'm ready for LCAs John, ... come on over!

I'd like to use '94 A-arms if I could, but haven't yet found out why they are different from the '87 or whether they change anything (have a new pair collecting dust).

vstech · #21 10-21-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

I'm ready for LCAs John, ... come on over!

I'd like to use '94 A-arms if I could, but haven't yet found out why they are different from the '87 or whether they change anything (have a new pair collecting dust).

... I was talking to byron, but you are indeed welcome to come to my yard, and use my compressor, and press, torches, tools of all kinds.

can you measure all the dimensions of the 94 arms and see if there is any dimensions that don't jibe?

I'll have the 93 in my yard control arm free soon, and would be happy to measure them for comparison...

babymog · #22 10-21-2010, 10:52 AM

I know you were.

I need to take proper measurements, will have to remove an '87 arm to compare properly (or get one from my Michigan stash this weekend).