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#1
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doing front shocks tomorrow - is my technique right?
Hi,
I am going to install my new bilstein HDs onto my 83 300D tomorrow am. I am excited... Everything has been sprayed down with pblaster so it should go smoothly I hope. I am writing down my technique so that I can verify it... so I dont have problems or have to redo anything. My plan is as follows: 1) Turn wheel all the way to the side of the car which is having the shock replaced 2) Jack car up, remove wheel 3) Loosen lower bolts with a 12(?) point socket 4) Loosen upper bolt, press shaft down as much as possible 5) remove shock by jimmying it slightly and pulling it downward 6) clean lower bolting area 7) Prepare new shock: for the lower side the order is the bump stop, the protective sleeve, cupped washer with cup upwards, rubber bushing 8) Bolt new shock at lower two points - torque correctly 9) Turn shock shaft so it will rise from the gas pressure. Lead it into the hole in the body. 10) Place rubber bushing then cupped washer face down, tighten nut onto shaft and torque correctly 11) re-torque everything, attach wheel, lower car, repeat for other side. Does this sound right? I am still a bit hazy about the order that the hardware parts go on... There is the 4" long bump stop that came on the shock, the protective sleeve, and then of course the two rubber bushings and cupped washers. Any comments on my method would be great. Can I get away with doing this without lifting the car or removing the tire? It almost looks as if I could... Thanks, JMH
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Current Diesels: 1981 240D (73K) 1982 300CD (169k) 1985 190D (169k) 1991 350SD (113k) 1991 350SD (206k) 1991 300D (228k) 1993 300SD (291k) 1993 300D 2.5T (338k) 1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k) 1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k) Past Diesels: 1983 300D (228K) 1985 300D (233K) |
#2
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I usually remove the top mount nuts and rubber, then remove the nuts (or bolts) from the bottom. A worn out shock will be easy to compress, just lift it up and swing it out, then pull down.
Match up the hardware from the old to new shock -- should be a diagram in the box anyway. Rears are even easier on those models -- the bolts go in from underneath. Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles 1988 300E 200,012 1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles 1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000 1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs! |
#3
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My new shocks came with new 6 pt cap screws for the bottom mount. The threads were the same, but the heads were larger--in fact, too large to fit and allow a socket room to go on the head. I had to reuse the original bolts.
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#4
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After I put new shocks on my '85 I took the car to a mechanic to get other work done to it. He told me I put the cup washers on upside down on the front shocks. He said they were supposed to face up, not down. Don't know which way is correct. That's just what I was told.
Scott
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Scott 1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000) 1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold) 1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold) 1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!) 1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold) 1995 Ducati 900SS (sold) 1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold) 1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.) 1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold) 1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold) |
#5
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Just make sure you don't let the shafts rotate while you torque the new shocks. You need a little wrench to go across the flat part at the base of the shaft to act as a counterhold. I think its a 7 mm wrench IIRC.
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Tjohn 82 300 SD 77 450 SL (gone) |
#6
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A spring in your step is beeter that a spring in your face
I think an important step is missing. Of course it mught be to late and you will find out the hard way. Hope I am not to late with my concerns.
The shock serves as a suspension stop. It is an active link on the 123 chasis cars as opposed to the 115 chasis which use the conventional double a-arm suspension. You need to support the lower a-arm while you are replacing the shock or the the spring will fully extend and fly out. This is a very bad thing and can ruin you day. Place a floor jack under the a-arm and pump it until you take up load, then remove he shock bolts and the shock absorber. Someone tell me if I am wrong on this. Henry
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63 190d (sold) 69 220D (sold) 69 280SL (sold) 76 BMW 2002 (sold) 86 190E-16v (Demised at Laguna Seca Turn 9) 87 300SDL (sold) 87 300SDL 135k 87 300TD 280k (sold) 95 E320W 211k 95 E320w 111k 05 C320 4matic 06 E320 CDI 90k (Totaled by a texting 19 year old girl in a nissan) 2013 GLK 250 Bluetek 4MATIC |
#7
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The bolts that hold down the bottom of the front shock is a 12pt 10mm. Its a tight fit and you might need a 12pt. open end if the socket combination you are using doesn't fit. It won't work with a 6pt. 10mm (if the shocks have those special bolts). I don't care for that bolt design.
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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000 84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary) 2002 Explorer EB (wife's) |
#8
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Re: A spring in your step is beeter that a spring in your face
Quote:
Scott
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Scott 1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000) 1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold) 1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold) 1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!) 1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold) 1995 Ducati 900SS (sold) 1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold) 1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.) 1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold) 1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold) |
#9
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By the way, JHZR2, do a search under my name. I posted the general procedure for doing this a few weeks ago after I replaced my shocks. Good luck.
Scott
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Scott 1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000) 1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold) 1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold) 1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!) 1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold) 1995 Ducati 900SS (sold) 1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold) 1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.) 1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold) 1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold) |
#10
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Scott, where do you put the jack stands? Under the frame rails or under the a-arm? I know that on the 124 chasis, you need to support the lower a-arm or the spring will come out.
Just curious. Have not owned a 123 chasis but did work on a friends. Henry
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63 190d (sold) 69 220D (sold) 69 280SL (sold) 76 BMW 2002 (sold) 86 190E-16v (Demised at Laguna Seca Turn 9) 87 300SDL (sold) 87 300SDL 135k 87 300TD 280k (sold) 95 E320W 211k 95 E320w 111k 05 C320 4matic 06 E320 CDI 90k (Totaled by a texting 19 year old girl in a nissan) 2013 GLK 250 Bluetek 4MATIC |
#11
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Re: A spring in your step is beeter that a spring in your face
Quote:
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Tjohn 82 300 SD 77 450 SL (gone) |
#12
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Quote:
Scott
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Scott 1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000) 1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold) 1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold) 1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!) 1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold) 1995 Ducati 900SS (sold) 1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold) 1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.) 1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold) 1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold) |
#13
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I'm doing front B'stein HD's on my 240D. The black parts book shows no donut bushing on the underside and when I took off the old Boges (originals?) that is how they were installed. The HD's come with plenty of hardware, does it all need to be installed or put it back like the book and Boges were?
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Rick Avid Benz watcher Previously owned 126's: 2 1981 300SD's, 1987 300SDL, 1991 350SDL, Previously owned 123's: 1978 300D, 1983 240D, 1985 300D Previously owned 124: 1994 320TE Currently: 2004 Toyota Sequoia SR5 206k 2010 Ford Edge 122k Always looking for the next MB diesel! |
#14
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I had a somewhat major problem... Although the shock length seemed to be the same as on the old ones, the new ones stuck much further through the hole. Turned out I had to use both rubber donuts, then the cupped washer, then the locknut.
I cant imagine I did something that wrong to mess it up... But it woprries me a bit, as the old ones had clearance on the right side so the shock post could sit under the AC hose that was going along that way. With the new ones, they touch slightly... JMH
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Current Diesels: 1981 240D (73K) 1982 300CD (169k) 1985 190D (169k) 1991 350SD (113k) 1991 350SD (206k) 1991 300D (228k) 1993 300SD (291k) 1993 300D 2.5T (338k) 1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k) 1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k) Past Diesels: 1983 300D (228K) 1985 300D (233K) |
#15
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If they are touching you might want to put a piece of tape around the AC hose so you don't wear a hole in it.
Scott
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Scott 1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000) 1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold) 1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold) 1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!) 1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold) 1995 Ducati 900SS (sold) 1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold) 1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.) 1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold) 1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold) |
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