RF Spindle Assembly questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MB300Dave · #1 08-15-2013, 12:31 PM

Hi Comrads,

I have a few concerns here, I have an 84 300D. My threaded end cracked off the spindle while removing the bearing nut. I looked around a few MB sites & ended up finding a replacement from a 90 SDL from ebay, said it was compatible was the word I belived they used. I have it re-installed on the car the hub spun by hand before I put the caliper on it. So I have a 90SDL spindle, an 84 new rotor & the one that was on it caliper, will this work?

Or maybe I need an explanation on how to make sure the caliper pistons are backed out completely. I put a new caliper on the left side w no issues but again the pistons were in all the way like they should be.

Thanks,
Dave

Diesel911 · #2 08-15-2013, 03:09 PM

If there is room you can use a C-Clamp on each side push the pistons back in.

If you can mount or wedge the Caliper assembly between something You can stick a piece of wood in between and carefully use something to pry and push them back in.

JamesDean · #3 08-15-2013, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB300Dave

Hi Comrads,

I have a few concerns here, I have an 84 300D. My threaded end cracked off the spindle while removing the bearing nut. I looked around a few MB sites & ended up finding a replacement from a 90 SDL from ebay, said it was compatible was the word I belived they used. I have it re-installed on the car the hub spun by hand before I put the caliper on it. So I have a 90SDL spindle, an 84 new rotor & the one that was on it caliper, will this work?

Or maybe I need an explanation on how to make sure the caliper pistons are backed out completely. I put a new caliper on the left side w no issues but again the pistons were in all the way like they should be.

Thanks,
Dave

Leavittsburg? Like Labrae high school right? Thats pretty close to me actually.

I did a gig there a few week ago for that festival they had in the one parking lot.

Looks like the part IS compatible:

So you have it all bolted up on there?

I forget what style of piston that car has. If its the single piston style I would just use a big C-clamp to push the piston back in so you can get the pads installed.

If its the 2 piston I can usually compress them with a big screw driver.

MB300Dave · #4 08-15-2013, 03:25 PM

Hi 911,

I will try that first to see if my FrankenBenz spins like she should.

Dave

MB300Dave · #5 08-15-2013, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesDean

Leavittsburg? Like Labrae high school right? Thats pretty close to me actually.

I did a gig there a few week ago for that festival they had in the one parking lot.

Looks like the part IS compatible:

So you have it all bolted up on there?

I forget what style of piston that car has. If its the single piston style I would just use a big C-clamp to push the piston back in so you can get the pads installed.

If its the 2 piston I can usually compress them with a big screw driver.

Awesome, I like compatability. Thanks James! She's bolted together.

I'm a musician as well, sax player, teach at YSU. Boy, I missed the festival, I drive by there everyday. LaBrae used to have a good size car show w the band boosters in August every year. Sorry I missed you, would have liked to hear your band.

Of all the site's I'm on for different things, I've never had someone close, seems like they're all in California or something. Totally Cool!

Thanks,
Dave

JamesDean · #6 08-15-2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB300Dave

Awesome, I like compatability. Thanks James! She's bolted together.

I'm a musician as well, sax player, teach at YSU. Boy, I missed the festival, I drive by there everyday. LaBrae used to have a good size car show w the band boosters in August every year. Sorry I missed you, would have liked to hear your band.

Of all the site's I'm on for different things, I've never had someone close, seems like they're all in California or something. Totally Cool!

Thanks,
Dave

What do you teach at YSU?

Not a band, still played good music though! Just a small DJ business that my dad and I do on the side. We were helping out one of the teachers there.

Ha I think you're the first thats forum guy thats been close to me. I know there are a few guys up in Cleveland but most of the folks on here are pretty spread out.

MB300Dave · #7 08-15-2013, 04:35 PM

I'm in the Jazz Department. Teach combo's & Jazz Theory & History. It's different every semester.

My Brothers in Law & Father in law taught band at LaBrae for years, one is the current HS guy.

I was checking out your sig, you have a Ton of MB's, awesome! You run grease in any of them? That's what the musician guys I know do w then anyways. So I guess I can say that your the local MB guru?

I usually go down to Lester Carr's in Warren & talk w Frank when I'm in over my head. He told me my parts wouldn't work.

Thanks,
Dave

charmalu · #8 08-15-2013, 04:57 PM

I believe the W116 spindles will work and I know the W123 and W126 Spindle/Steering Knuckle will work either way.

I have a set off a 90 SEL on my 85 300D. there is a sensor I believe for the ABS. I cut off the wire and the pointy thing on the other side, just to fill the hole.

I use a large flat Srewdriver or Pry Par pushing against the brake pad to push the pistons back in.

Charlie

JamesDean · #9 08-15-2013, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB300Dave

I'm in the Jazz Department. Teach combo's & Jazz Theory & History. It's different every semester.

My Brothers in Law & Father in law taught band at LaBrae for years, one is the current HS guy.

I was checking out your sig, you have a Ton of MB's, awesome! You run grease in any of them? That's what the musician guys I know do w then anyways. So I guess I can say that your the local MB guru?

I usually go down to Lester Carr's in Warren & talk w Frank when I'm in over my head. He told me my parts wouldn't work.

Thanks,
Dave

I came out of the engineering department so I didnt spend much time over in Bliss. I did take a survey of jazz class once, its a pretty cool. Can't remember the instructor's name though, seemed like cool guy.

Nah no grease in em. When I was in high school a few of us were plotting to do it but we just didnt have the space to store anything. Actually we had intended on making some biodiesel but, again, space was limited. I think my tools occupy most of it! I had a guy who was driving back to Indiana stop over with his 300SD (for cruise control work) and he had was running some wvo though his. Pretty neat.

I'd say that's a fair bet, ha. I dont think anyone in our area, outside of Lester and Frank, have as much an interest in these old cars as my buddy Mike (he owns the a 560/420/300 listed in my sig) and I . Our family has been going to Lester since 83. Both Lester and Frank have always been good guys and fair priced. I still have no idea what Frank's last name is!

What parts did he say wouldn't work? The spindle from the 126 on your 123? I know that on your 123 the original part's part number was replaced by the one that came off the 126, at least, that's what the EPC tells me.

MB300Dave · #10 08-15-2013, 08:16 PM

Frank wasn't totally positive but thought, again off the top of his head, that an early 126 would maybe fit but not a later because of the ABS.

When I get out to my car again I will try to back off my calipers more. So I wasn't certain if I was about to waste my time by not knowing if my parts would all fit together. So the concensus here is that my 84 300D rotor & caliper will fit w the 90SDL part.

I would like to, at some point, meet you & your buddy Mike. When I first starting looking for parts back in Nov 2010, it would have been nice to have been able to get a better start on the FrankenBenz if I had you guys for Benz Buddies!

Thanks,
Dave

JamesDean · #11 08-15-2013, 09:56 PM

Hrmm I hadn't thought of the ABS hole. Suppose if you don't have it you just leave the spot empty.

So, if I'm understanding you correctly
-you've got the spindle mounted and in position
-rotor and hub in place
-caliper bolted on

And you're just having trouble get the pads in?

If your brake calipers look like the ones in this DIY guide
(PeachPartsWiki: Front Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement) what I normally do is open up the brake reservoir in the master cylinder. Then grab a big flat head screwdriver, placing the tip of the screwdriver on the rim of the piston, apply pressure and push the piston back inside the caliper. Install a pad, and then repeat for the other pad.

On my 91 300D it has single piston calipers, so its just one big piston that I have to use a C-clamp to compress.

Sounds like a good plan, I'll throw him a link to this thread. Neither of us have worked on a W123 before. W201, W124 and W126 sure but not a 123.

Do you ever hit up any local junkyards for parts?

You should post your build progress on here more, post up pictures and whatnot!

MB300Dave · #12 08-16-2013, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesDean

Hrmm I hadn't thought of the ABS hole. Suppose if you don't have it you just leave the spot empty.

So, if I'm understanding you correctly
-you've got the spindle mounted and in position
-rotor and hub in place
-caliper bolted on

And you're just having trouble get the pads in?

If your brake calipers look like the ones in this DIY guide
(PeachPartsWiki: Front Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement) what I normally do is open up the brake reservoir in the master cylinder. Then grab a big flat head screwdriver, placing the tip of the screwdriver on the rim of the piston, apply pressure and push the piston back inside the caliper. Install a pad, and then repeat for the other pad.

On my 91 300D it has single piston calipers, so its just one big piston that I have to use a C-clamp to compress.

Sounds like a good plan, I'll throw him a link to this thread. Neither of us have worked on a W123 before. W201, W124 and W126 sure but not a 123.

Do you ever hit up any local junkyards for parts?

You should post your build progress on here more, post up pictures and whatnot!

Great, thanks for the links, much appreciated. I hope to get to this on Sunday.

When I tried calling around for parts, they laughed at me saying we hadn't had a 300D around here for years. Even Frank told me that concerning W123 salvage parts locally.

My car came up from Fl in 05 & ended up being a parts car to a TD. So when I trailerd it home from the Barkyville, Pa area it wasn't running & was missing parts. I really could have used you guys then. Last year I did have it on the road & put 10K on her. She's been in my back garage since last Nov.

I found a guy that was going to sell me a RF spindle from a TD in Lexington, KY. 5 mins before I got there he sent me a text saying he couldn't sell me the part because the car had to remain mobile. So now that I can use my 90SDL part, that's a different story.

I am going to replace my Motor Mounts w the shocks, Trans mount & lower oil cooler line. I have a vibration at 55, hope it helps. Replaced the flex discs, center bearing, & rear axles. Frank helped w the vibration but the back flex disc is starting to show stress cracks. So the car does have some issues to straighten out.

My Wife has me off track because she brought home a vintage trailer & I've been working on that for her, so my projects have to wait. But I have other cars to drive.

Thanks for being so cool,
Dave

JamesDean · #13 08-16-2013, 08:35 AM

When I tried calling around for parts, they laughed at me saying we hadn't had a 300D around here for years. Even Frank told me that concerning W123 salvage parts locally.

Mike worked at a junkyard (Cleveland Auto Wrecking) a while back and we usually just go there as they give us pretty decent deals on Mercedes parts (they're primarily a domestic yard so they dont get too many people after the MB's). In the 4-5+ years that I've been going there I've only seen one 123 there. They did have a 560SEC that would have had front spindles for you. Lester used to have some parts cars out back that I would occasionally buy things off.

I did the motor mounts on the one 300SD. It was an OK job. Not horrible but not fun either, much easier than doing the same on a 560SEL. I think I replaced the shocks too.

I would definitely get on that flex disc. I've never had one go but I've seen/heard enough stories to get that checked/replaced before its too late.

Hope you aren't using any URO brand parts on the important bits! I learned quickly that they, as everyone says, do suck.

I've gotta get my 300D up to Frank for a transmission service and a general check over.

Oh! A word of caution. When you need to get an alignment, just take it to Fred Martin. I'd been using Hovis up on Rt5 a few times and every alignment they did for me was horrible. I took the 124 to Fred Martin and they did a great job. The price difference isnt that bad either, $30-40.

MB300Dave · #14 08-16-2013, 10:33 AM

Thanks JamesDean,

I've learned more about the ins & outs of the local W123 scene from you in the last few days than I've learned in the last 2 years. Thanks for sharing your experience w me. I will heed the advice.

Much appreciated,
Dave

JamesDean · #15 08-16-2013, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB300Dave

Thanks JamesDean,

I've learned more about the ins & outs of the local W123 scene from you in the last few days than I've learned in the last 2 years. Thanks for sharing your experience w me. I will heed the advice.

Much appreciated,
Dave

Hey no problem! Always glad to help. You ever need more info or get stuck on something, send me an email or PM.