Damn, just cost me $500 to have my indy work my front suspension!

[edge]

I wish I knew more about how to decipher and fix the front end suspension but when I look underneath, I can't visually see if the problem is the tie rods, UCA, LCA, shocks, bearings or springs, etc.! He replaced the tie rod assemblies on both sides, the center link, the steering dampener and sent it to an alignment shop. Said the right front was dangerous. It was wobbling at 75mph on the highway on my drive to Philly last weekend and I backed off to 60mph to quiet it. It was noticeably faulty for the last year but more acute the last couple of months. I know, I'm cheap and irresponsible but these cars are so robust. Recommends that I replace the front 2 tires. Will pick up 2 Michelin X Radials (Harmony) at Costco this weekend. Probably could have saved $250-$300 if I knew what I was doing, huh? 83 300D rides great now.

[Nate]

It's easy to check out the front suspension. Shocks are tested with a bounce test (and by road mannors) If it feels floaty, they need replacement.

Steering componants are tested with the wheels on the ground, and an assistant in the vehicle turning the steering wheel about 45 degrees in either direction with the engine running. Feel every joint for slop (grab the boot, and feel for side to side movement)

With the front tires raised about an inch off the ground, place a prybar under them, and lift the tire straight up (feeling the ball joints for up and down movement)


$500 sounds slightly high, but I usually do domestics at work (unsure of part costs)


~Nate

[leathermang]

Originally Posted by edge

I know, I'm cheap and irresponsible but.....

No buts about that.....

It takes some studying to learn how to check and fix front ends... no one is born with that knowledge.

It is not easy to diagnose front ends ALONE....

[Skid Row Joe]

Doesn't sound like a bad price for hiring it done to me.

[TylerH860]

Yes, I paid triple that to have mine gone through on the SL. Dang those pesky sub frame mounts.

[Diesel911]

Right after I first got my Car I had to do several degreasing of the Engine, Front End and Transmission form accumulated crud.

I removed the Steering Dampener to Clean it because hosing it off was not working. In the mean time I had to drive the Car without it.

What I found out is absolutely nothing bad happen from not having the Steering Dampener on. And, in fact not having it one makes for easier steering when you car is making tight slow turns; like backing out of my Drive Way when our narrow Street is packed with Cars.

So, I never put my Steering Dampener back on, not sure where in my Garage it is and I have never missed it.

[Orv]

$500 is really not bad. I had to pay more than that just to get the idler arm and tie rod ends done on an American car, once.

[leathermang]

The "Steering Dampener " , as the name implies .... only comes into use when your steering or tires start to get worn and have some play ... which might produce vibrations which would show up in the steering wheel... but small amounts can be dampened out with that shock absorber..

[layback40]

Originally Posted by edge

I wish I knew more about how to decipher and fix the front end suspension but when I look underneath, I can't visually see if the problem is the tie rods, UCA, LCA, shocks, bearings or springs, etc.! He replaced the tie rod assemblies on both sides, the center link, the steering dampener and sent it to an alignment shop. Said the right front was dangerous. It was wobbling at 75mph on the highway on my drive to Philly last weekend and I backed off to 60mph to quiet it. It was noticeably faulty for the last year but more acute the last couple of months. I know, I'm cheap and irresponsible but these cars are so robust. Recommends that I replace the front 2 tires. Will pick up 2 Michelin X Radials (Harmony) at Costco this weekend. Probably could have saved $250-$300 if I knew what I was doing, huh? 83 300D rides great now.

Lets look at what this indy did.
1/ sent car out for alignment ~ $100 or more.
2/ Parts; tie rods, center link, & steering damper. ~ $150
This leaves $250 for labor, I think you got off lightly !!

I see you have some other German cars, try having this type of work done to them!!!
You will see what expensive parts & repairs are !!

[Yak]

Originally Posted by edge

I wish I knew more about how to decipher and fix the front end suspension but when I look underneath, I can't visually see if the problem is the tie rods, UCA, LCA, shocks, bearings or springs, etc.! He replaced the tie rod assemblies on both sides, the center link, the steering dampener and sent it to an alignment shop. Said the right front was dangerous. It was wobbling at 75mph on the highway on my drive to Philly last weekend and I backed off to 60mph to quiet it. It was noticeably faulty for the last year but more acute the last couple of months. I know, I'm cheap and irresponsible but these cars are so robust. Recommends that I replace the front 2 tires. Will pick up 2 Michelin X Radials (Harmony) at Costco this weekend. Probably could have saved $250-$300 if I knew what I was doing, huh? 83 300D rides great now.

Resources button, upper right corner. There's a lot of good info even just to have a knowledgeable conversation with the mechanic. Example: http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123Steering

JHZR2 has put together a few good threads on these repairs lately. It's helpful to search for the thread and read up on the Q&A and the troubleshooting that went into building the DIY, too. Lots of questions about how to diagnose, what tools might work, etc...

$500 doesn't seem too bad.

I presume he meant "it was dangerous but now it's not" not "even after I fixed it, it's dangerous..."

Since you're about to buy two new tires, you're not so cheap and irresponsible to not check out your spare tire, right? Put your best 4 on the road, and maybe cycle the 5th one into the trunk.

[babymog]

I believe that the steering dampner, at least as installed on my car, also serves to absorb jolts in the steering such as you'd get from hitting a pothole etc.

[gastropodus]

Sounds way more reasonable that what I paid to have major work done on my 240D front end....

Kurt

[edge]

Yeah, my indy has been great to me with reasonable pricing and shows me the dead parts after the job. I've had him work on my MB's for the last 9 years and I have referred many clients to him in return. It has been been a great mutual relationship. I do brakes, rotors, ignition locks, radiators and he does the heavy stuff, suspensions and trannys. The spare doesn't have much life to it. I may try to rotate the front tires to the rears to forestall buying new tires until the fall. I could have done the work but I wasn't comfortable deciding which parts to replace in the front suspension conundrum. I'm good to go for awhile.

[10fords]

Originally Posted by Diesel911

Right after I first got my Car I had to do several degreasing of the Engine, Front End and Transmission form accumulated crud.

I removed the Steering Dampener to Clean it because hosing it off was not working. In the mean time I had to drive the Car without it.

What I found out is absolutely nothing bad happen from not having the Steering Dampener on. And, in fact not having it one makes for easier steering when you car is making tight slow turns; like backing out of my Drive Way when our narrow Street is packed with Cars.

So, I never put my Steering Dampener back on, not sure where in my Garage it is and I have never missed it.

Agree 100%= I have taken the steering dampener off of everything from 240D's to F350's and had no ill effects. On my F350 it actually improved the steering as the dampener was damaged and made the steering bind. Excess baggage as far as I'm concerned.

[edge]

Just rotated my Michelin Hamonys (looks like they will last forever) and crossed the Coopers to the rear. I'll be good until late fall.