Right on !

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

In a pinch, I've used short bushings cut from suitable bits of rubber fuel-hose.
3/8 hose I think fits the hole in the rod and the pin the bushing goes round. Have this fix working on my 5-speed Euro TD for now until I get around to buying the OE parts.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

This is great! If I'm reading it right, there are four bushings to replace associated with the linkage?

Are there any bushings or rubber buffers specifically associated with the shifter handle? I'd like to do everything at once. I couldn't make out from 79mercy's image if there were.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
2008 ML320 CDI (199k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)

Yes, there are bushings in the handle mechanism too, and they wear out. You have to remove the center console to get at them. It's not difficult but you need to know the procedure or you can break a plastic pin that holds it in place.

Richard

Yes, there are bushings in the handle mechanism too, and they wear out. You have to remove the center console to get at them. It's not difficult but you need to know the procedure or you can break a plastic pin that holds it in place.

Richard

Well after around 50K miles and around 14 years, my trans linkage bushing was gone. Only the one that serves the linkage to trans armature connection. Not the bushing farther back nor the shift console bushings.
I did buy that bushing pressing plier (looks like long handle needle nose plier adaptation.) Got bushings from Pelican Parts plus other supplies for inventory.

It went fairly smooth. I did not remove the armature.

Most of the wasted time was me getting my mind sorted out as I threw myself into the task. Jacked up the car driver side and made it safe for grease monkey crawls underneath.
Also it is difficult working close quarters with lousy eyes despite reading glasses !! BLIND.

Now to figure out the starting problem of the '95 C280 !!

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

Good job. I just replaced the bushings in my 85 300d. The 722.4 trans doesn’t have an arm that comes off so it needs to be done in place. I trimmed some of the lip off my bushing and it went in a lot easier. I don’t think it is going to fall out. I changed both front and back. I also changed the tiny sleeve bushing in the gearshift console. It’s very tight.

Then I decided to check the bushings on my 1997 c280. One was gone. That one has almost no space to work in. I bought some press pliers and I couldn’t even fit them in. I managed to work the bushings in with long needle nose pliers and a screwdriver with tons of grease. The w202 has a slightly smaller bushing than the w123 and it is more compliant.

Hopefully I’m good till my cars die. I was driving in my SD today (I replaced bushings in 2010) and the shifter is still snug. I realized it’s a 43 year old car now. That is getting up there and it is still an amazing driver.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
97 C280 147k miles

Did you remember to soak the bushing in hot/boiling water before trying to insert it? Makes the job a lot easier.

Hey tyl604, this time around I did not soak the bushing in hot water. I just used silicone paste (non petroleum based).
I put paste onto the plier stem and then set the bushing into the goop in order to hold the bushing during the plier positioning process. The rest went quite easy. I was surprised. Some paste may have gotten onto the leading bushing end, who knows.
I pondered removing the selector armature but the nut was extremely tight. I did not want to test fate.

I have no clue how I managed the first time in 2011 with the gerry rigged 'press' set up.
So little space up there.

ykobayashi, excellent job! I did buy all those shift console bushings as well including the small ones set inside the springs, just in case, from Pelican.


Got the C280 running !!

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

What was wrong with it?

__________________
79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
97 C280 147k miles

Turned out that the battery was slightly low. 12.5 V after sitting overnight plus.

Would not turn over. Trickle Charged overnight back to 12.81V and car started. So I am monitoring it and later will test to rule out parasitic draw.

After overnight 24 hours the battery measure 12.67 V. Fairly new AGM Group 49 INterstate battery

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD