Hi,
Thanks for the thread & pics!

Did you order and install a new idler arm? It looks brand new what your are putting up there..

Would you share a list of the parts ordered? If you have ´m with the numbers.

I am researching for the parts to tighten up the steering of my 1984 300td.
I´ll do all the other work before touching the steering house, or what it is called in english.

ta very much,


J.

I'll try. It was easy - just a rebuild kit and the tie rods and drag link.

My car was a ca car and pretty clean besides the typical oil drips. The idler is original.

I bought complete tie rods, but mine were serviceable had I just swapped the ends... It's the rubber that were bad on mine. Sometimes they are seized, mine weren't. The OE mb ones were much thicker/heavier than the replacements. I dont think it's cheaper to just swap ends, it's just that the OE part seems better.

__________________
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)

Thanks, I have two new tie rods now.
I will order a new idler and the bearings you changed there.

J.

Possibly stupid question: If I'm only replacing the idler arm bushings, is it necessary to disconnect the tie rod and track rod from the idler arm, or can it be moved out of the way to drive the bushings out with them still connected?

__________________
1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png

If I remember correctly it is a bit awkward pulling the idler arm out of its hole. I think you'll save more skin on your knuckles by disconnecting. (Exhaust / body was in the way - there was summit like that...)

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Okay, sounds like it's worth my trouble to rent the ball joint separators for this one, then. Thanks!

__________________
1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png

You might find that the bolt comes out easily - mine was a pain in the arse it was all rusted together. Unless you have a tool storage problem I'd buy the tool - probably cheaper when you factor in the hassle and fuel costs(!) to take back the one you've rented.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Wow, stuck in there so bad that the bushings wouldn't hammer out? Must have really been in there hard. Sil glide was the right stuff to use, IMO.

__________________
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)

There is a relative height limit between the idler arm and the Pitman arm - I forget what it is - I used the W126 limit 'cos that section is missing from the W123 CD; later on I got confirmation from the dealer that this was the correct limit. So if anyone is unsure about the integrity of their (bent!!!) idler arm they could check that dimension.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!