I'm going to change my motor mounts and front shocks today, and even though I have a set of allen wrenches (many sets), I'd like to go buy a socket type that I can use on my ratchet to make the job easier. I'm getting ready to head to the store. Can anyone tell me what size\ type that the bolts are on those? (allen or torx & metric size??) Yep, I can get under there and try one of mine, then do the math and find one, but since I'm on here, I thought I'd ask if anybody knows. That way I'll have what I need when I get it up in the air and not have to stop mid-stream to go shopping. thanks!

__________________
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do." Goethe

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1951 Chevy 3100

2003 Indian Chief Roadmaster

1983 GMC 1 ton Dually

1982 Chevy 1 ton Dually, service body (sold)

'90 GMC Suburban 6.2 "SS Veg-Burban"
(single tank WVO\diesel conversion) SOLD

'81 300D ~ Mama's car...my job (now my car)(but still my job) SOLD

'83 300sd ~ rescue car SOLD

2005 Ford Taurus (Mama's new car)(NOT my job!)

Just buy a set of metric allen socket bits. You will come out ahead over buying the individual pieces.

I agree buy a set. You should be able to find a set that has 5mm through 10mm pretty easy. For the motor mounts you'll need a 6mm and an 8mm.

5mm are also common, oil pan, trans pan, and vac pump bolts are all 5mm.

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Also worth noting is that you should buy a decent set.

I have found that the sets from HF/NT tend to round easier than others.

Of course this is not a reason to not clean the allen head well before applying torque.

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----Adam

1985 300SD 322,000

Thanks, guys. I was going to buy a set, but seems like I run across "sets" that have odd ones missing for some reason. I've looked at sets at the local Sears store, and for some reason they skip a size in the set. If I'm buying a set, I'd like to get the whole set. But just in case, I was wondering exactly what I'd need. It would be my luck I'd get home, get everything ready and the one that wasn't included would be the one they leave out, and the cussing would begin. To be honest, after reading some posts on the subject of changing these out, I may wait till spring. It sure doesn't look like there's anything in the way, but I've read some horror stories on here today that makes it sound like a real PITA. I'm going to do the front shocks, I guess, and wait till I order engine shocks and the steering damper shock and make sure I don't create a secondary problem by changing out the motor mounts with the weather getting ready to turn cold. The mounts aren't really a problem, (even though I can visually see how bad they look), it's just that I've had them and I thought I'd change them while the weather is good and I had it up to do the front shocks. Thanks for the replies, though. Now I know! Lee

__________________
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do." Goethe

***********************************


1951 Chevy 3100

2003 Indian Chief Roadmaster

1983 GMC 1 ton Dually

1982 Chevy 1 ton Dually, service body (sold)

'90 GMC Suburban 6.2 "SS Veg-Burban"
(single tank WVO\diesel conversion) SOLD

'81 300D ~ Mama's car...my job (now my car)(but still my job) SOLD

'83 300sd ~ rescue car SOLD

2005 Ford Taurus (Mama's new car)(NOT my job!)

99% of the time the only size allen bit sockets you'll need on these old MB's is 5, 6, 8, 10, and 14mm. You'll never find a 7 or a 9mm allen bolt, at least I've never needed one.

Motor mount swaps aren't that bad in my experience. You just have to make sure to disconnect the engine shocks from the engine shock mounts, or you will destroy the shock mounts. And also make sure not to cross thread the 8mm bolt that comes up from the bottom of the mount.

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$22 got me a set at Lowe's. Kobalt brand so the exact same as Crafstman. Not that I like Crapsman much anyway. I only need an 8 and 10mm but now I am glad I have the entire set.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

Like the Torx sets that are always missing the T-35? Sometimes, there is a good reason that certain sizes are not included.

No need to wa$te money buying set of bit you'll never ever need .

One 6MM will do .

I have never , EVER stripped or broken a Craftsman Allen bit and I'm a Journeyman Mechanics who's been using the same tools since the 1960's...

ALWAYS take the time to scrape the crud out of hex or torx fasteners before inserting the bit else it's YOUR FAULT when it strips out , not the cars nor the tools .

Don't forget : when the motor mounts are off the the only time you can change the oil cooler lines so consider them now too ! .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

That's a great theory. It's just completely invalid for someone working on a W123.

How well is that 6mm going to work in a transmission drain plug or a differential plug? Or a motor mount to carrier bolt? Or a spindle nut?

Like tango said, a 6mm is great and a very commonly use one on the old MBs, but it won't fit into the 5mm pan bolts, or the 8mm motor mount bolts, or the 10mm head bolts. My set has a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10mm. I've use all of them on my 123 except the 4 and 7mm. Not a waste of money in my book.

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But , there's a difference between the average DIY'er and the Profssional Mechanic .

yes , I love tools too and have three rollaways full plus the cabinets but I work 99 % out of a three drawer box I can drag 'round the shop to the cars rather than having to move & shuffle then each time to my best work place .

If we tell each Noobie to load up on tools , it soon becomes work nstead of fun and they'll loose interest.....

That's my theory anyways , backed up by 40 + years of being a Technical Advisor and I'll stick with it .

Of course , if you , like me , just love tools , well then , have at it ! .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Yo're entirely correct about my specifying the wrong size allen bit 6MM is handy but not for the Motor Mounts , oops , mea culpa .

That's why these forums are so great ~ they allow the rapic research of various methods & ideas , & the correction of mistakes before you go screw up you own car .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

It's better to have 'em and not need 'em than to need 'em and not have 'em!

__________________
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do." Goethe

***********************************


1951 Chevy 3100

2003 Indian Chief Roadmaster

1983 GMC 1 ton Dually

1982 Chevy 1 ton Dually, service body (sold)

'90 GMC Suburban 6.2 "SS Veg-Burban"
(single tank WVO\diesel conversion) SOLD

'81 300D ~ Mama's car...my job (now my car)(but still my job) SOLD

'83 300sd ~ rescue car SOLD

2005 Ford Taurus (Mama's new car)(NOT my job!)

also, I'd get a set of short allen flat ends, as well as a set of long flat ends, and a set of long ball ends. they each have their purpose, and are very handy to have doing the motor mounts!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!