I bought One Lot of Mercedes Tools at and Auction. In the lot was a real Mercedes Lower Ball Joint Separator 116589093300.
The Mercedes Lower Ball Joint Separator rarely comes up for sale and the cost quite a bit if you buy a new one.
Another thing is once you have it what else can you do with it?

I was curious as to what other Tool had similar design features and would cost less and be used for other projects besides Mercedes Lower Ball Joints.

I did a lot of internet searching and found the OTC 8149 (supposed to fit Cars and Light Trucks) and OTC 8150 (heavier Trucks) Pitman Arm Separators had similar construction.

I found that the various Sellers and even OTC references to the size that either of Pitman Arm Tools would handle was very Vague.
I emailed OTC and they only partially answered question.

In the Mean time I bought a OTC 8150 on eBay. But, this turned out to be too large to fit as a Lower Ball Joint Press.

I found one of the Sellers on Amazon had the OTC 8149 for $19.99+$6.83 Shipping (Tradervar). And I ordered it.

So today I overcame My initial problem of not being able to separate the upper Ball Joint without damaging the Boot and was able to move onto the separating the lower Ball Joint from the Lower Control Arm.

The OTC 8149 Pitman Arm Press was a tighter squeeze to get it in position than the Mercedes Ball Joint Separator was but I got it into a good position and it quickly popped the Ball Joint out of the LCA.
One of the differences between the 2 tools that could cause an issue with some Ball Joints is that the OTC Tool has a pointed piece on the End of the Screws; the Mercedes Tool is flat.

In My Case the shaft of the Lower Ball Joint was center drilled so the point of the OTC 8149 fit right in. (only back off the Shaft Nut enough so the Nut is loose but leave it on the Shaft so the shaft will not swell when it is pressed off).

About 4 years ago when I replaced the Lower Control Arm Bushings the Ball Joint had been removed so it was in no way rusted in place.
When I am done with my Ball Joint Boot replacement issue I am going to see if the OTC will fit the Pitman Arm

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

OTC 8149 dimensions

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Good find! So the OTC 8149 fits in the knuckle recess well to pop the taper off the lower control arm? If so I am ordering one. $19.99 is a super price.

A few weeks ago, I went to replace the squeaky lower ball joint in my 83. I had another knuckle with a new Lemforder ball joint already installed to swap out. Got everything disconnected except for the taper on the lower ball joint. Nothing I tried worked, which included the 2 hammer trick (can't really get a good swing), banging on the stud/nut while supporting the knuckle from below. I didn't have a torch so couldn't try heat. If I only had the OTC 8149, I wouldn't have had to give up.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Only that tradervar on Amazone place had the tool for the $19.99. If you search Amazon for OTC 8149 it directs you to more expensive ones. You need to find the little letters "More buying choices"
Amazon.com: Used and New: OTC 8149 Conical Pitman Arm Puller
They put it towards the bottom of the list.

If you go to the Tradeersvar website this tool does not show up there.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The described Tool is made in China. On amazon there is some customer reviews on the tool. The reviews are for the intended use of the Tool as a Pitman Arm Puller.

Snap-on makes both the larger and smaller version of the Tool and a Seller on eBay said that Snap-on one he was selling was USA made.

Oddly the eBay prices on the OTC 8149 were not so good.
The larger version the OTC 8150 I bought at Tooltopia.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I just checked and tradervar now has it on eBay for the same price you paid: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/350587081703?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

That will benefit Canucks, as many items on amazon.com cannot ship to Canada and aren't available through amazon.ca.

Many thanks, Diesel911, for this excellent research -- very helpful.

Just out of curiosity, how much does the actual Mercedes tool go for? I once tried to find it online and couldn't... only the version for the w124.

Edit: I ought to have said, could not find in North America... I know it's available in Europe for about $350-400.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

If you disconnect the upper BJ, you can orient the spindle so you can get a clean shot with a hammer on the lower BJ.

That is what I did before I had the Tools.

If you are going to beat off the joint be sure you have source of another Nut for the Ball Joint.

I could also see Myself at the Junk Yard and not being able to pull a Steering Knuckle off because they prop the Cars up randomly and do not allow you to bring in a Jack.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I would not buy from the eBay site look at the shipping!!!!
Shipping:US $30.90 (approx. C $30.45) USPS Priority Mail

I have shipped small Tools to Canada and the cose is comparable to the US shipping. But, you cannot get a Delivery Confirmation on a First Class Parcel.
I have never shipped anything heavier than a Valve Wrench Set.

You can check the prices on Fastlane as they have a special tool section.
http://www.peachparts.com/diy/mb_tools/mb_tools.php
Pelican I think also sells some special Tools

There is one that works on Mercedes and looks almost exactly as the Mrecedes one I have pictured but the Screw is longer listed as BMW3030 for about $110+shipping and the same place has a sale on the Klann made one for $98 (Was $291.76 and has the short screw as mine does but mine is not plated)+shipping.

Even (for a W123) if you do not get as the $20+shipping price; prices seeem to be in the $37-$55 range; on the OTC 8149 there is the advantage that it could be used to pull a Pitman Arm and maybe some other things.
Where as the Mercedes Tool has a smaller opening to it and can less likely be used on something else.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I used this tool to seperate the BJ from the lower control arm. worked good.



Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

The Tradervar company seems rather Odd.

I bought mine for $19.99+$6.83 Shipping on Amazon

I just saw Tradervar on US eBay
Conical Pittman Arm Puller OTC 8149 New | eBay
They want $19.99+$16.70 shipping.

Then there was the Tradervar Canadian eBay Ad mentioned in the previous post with the awful Shipping:US $30.90 (approx. C $30.45) USPS Priority Mail

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

It could be a good idea to try the Tool you suggest first because I believe Autozone and other Chain Parts Stores may have that Tool as a Free Rental.
But, I don't think it is the strogest possible Tool for the Job.
By the way I have one of them but it is the Powerbuilt Version from what was Kragens Auto Perts.


I have noticed that the OEM Compay (made in Taiwan) Tools that Autozone sells and rents are a better quality than the China Harbor Freight ones.

I am more of a Tool Junky than a Mercedes Junky. I think the pic shows all of the Tools I have aquired for Suspension.
HF= Harbor Freight The very shiny Pitman Arm Puller when I bought it there was a bunch hanging on the shelf that had cracked ends on them. Don't know how the ended up there but they appeard to be a brittle casting. I have not tried using it for anything stressfull but it was really cheap on sale.

I have used the Power Built one on Tie Rods and I used the large dark colored HF one on this particular job to pop off the Tire Rod Jont.
I thought this Tool would also work in the Upper Control arm Ball Joint and I could not get it in without ripping the Boot.
I might have been able to grind the opening wider and made it work but decided not to as one of our members had his break so I wanted to get at least $17 dollars that a paid for it use out of it before I did anything to weaken it.

I don't really have any particular use for the larger OTC Tool and that one is too big for use on the Mercedes lower Ball Joint.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

If you click on "other services" in the shipping section on the tradervar listing, they also offer regular USPS for about $15.

Actually a lot of US sellers on eBay list only USPS Priority for shipping to Canada, as I suspect they want the delivery confirmation.

For larger or heavier packages, there is actually no choice anymore. Regular parcel post only carries light packages... and that is true on both sides of the border. And the cross-border rates have shot up in the last two years, for both Canada Post and USPS.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

For years I have used 2- 4#hammers. Loosen the nut, put one hammer on the back side of the tappered hole to back it and beat on the other side with the other hammer. This flexes the hole and will in most cases pop the joint out. At least thats the way us old upstate NY hillbillies did it when we couldn't afford all these new fangled fancy tools.

I used the 2 hammer technique at the upper BJ and the taper shaft poped right out. It does work, I haven`t tried it at the lower BJ. I first tried to use the BJ Pickle Fork, but it is too long and hit the inside cupped area of the knuckle.

I then used the seperater tool I posted up above, and it seperated with very little effort. I relly didn`t think it was going to work, with a little pressure it would slip off, but surprised me.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works