Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-02-2013, 02:23 AM
BodhiBenz1987's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 3,005
w124 front torsion bar bushings ... car up or down?

I'm going to replace the front torsion bar bushings on my w124 at some point soon. It looks like an easy enough job, but I'm confused by one thing in the FSM. The job is described as doing everything with car raised and a wheel off, but then there's a note that says "Mount and tighten torsion bar on wishbone and holders only in position coinciding with ready-to-drive state." Maybe I'm too tired to comprehend a sentence right now, but doesn't that imply it should be put back in place with the car on the ground (or wheels supported)? The steps listed suggest otherwise though (wheel on and lower car are listed after tightening everything down). I've seen DIYs online where the person did it with wheels supported or unsupported. Does it make any difference? I was going to put it on jackstands and take each wheel off for better access/room.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-02-2013, 07:07 AM
jay_bob's Avatar
Control Freak
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 3,941
I think the FSM warning is for the workshop. If someone tries to change the sway bar with the car on a hoist, the suspension will be unloaded and the bar will be under tension.

I did mine a few months ago.

When both wheels are sitting on the ground the torsion bar is neutral and not under any tension.

If you raise one side and put it up on stands that causes the bar to twist. That would make it difficult, if not dangerous, to loosen the brackets.

I believe we used ramps for better access and to keep the front suspension in the neutral state. The bar is not under any load when both wheels are at the same level on the ramps as this puts the LCAs in the same relative position and in the "ready to drive state".

I loosened all 4 brackets, dropped the bar out, changed the rubber donuts, and bolted everything back in.

Just don't confuse the "inners" and the "outers", they are different.
__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-02-2013, 11:18 AM
BodhiBenz1987's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 3,005
Thanks! I'll probably try it on the ground and if I don't have space, put it on ramps.
__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-02-2013, 12:13 PM
Jeremy5848's Avatar
Registered Biodiesel User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sonoma Wine Country
Posts: 8,402
I pulled larger sway bars from a junkyard car that was, as usual, up on blocks and with no wheels, so all of the participles were dangling. I don't recall any problems with tension. Installing the "new" front sway bar on my '95 E300, I jacked up both sides and removed the wheels. There were no tension problems here either -- I think because both sides of the car were lifted. The sway bar would be under tension if the front wheels were at different levels, one off the ground and one not. Tightening the claps with the suspension extended may not have been FSM spec but that's how I did it and there don't seem to be any problems six months later. Putting the car on ramps before doing the final tightening does sound like a good idea, though. I'd still remove the wheels for R&R, things are a lot easier to access.

Jeremy
__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-02-2013, 12:38 PM
jay_bob's Avatar
Control Freak
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 3,941
You're right, if the car is raised evenly the bar is neutral and is rotating evenly up and down in the mounts.

If the wheel suspensions are compressed to different amounts side to side, the bar is in tension.

So the important thing to remember is that the suspension should be compressed to the same amount on each side to keep the bar neutral. Whether that is in the air or on ramps or normally parked you will be in that condition. If one wheel is in the air, and one wheel is on the ground, that will not be true.

Now I'm not about to question the wizards of Stuttgart, so if they say have the wheels on the ground (i.e. suspension compressed to the normal driving position) that is how I would do it. That can be achieved either by the wheels on ramps or normally parked.
__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-02-2013, 01:32 PM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
Posts: 20,841
I can't see how it matters to the outboard bushings since the sway bar ends aren't parallel with the axle. It might matter to the inboard bushings if new bushings are a tight fit around the sway bar. If they are, then tighten them on ramps so the LCAs are level. Otherwise there might be some tension in the inboard bushings pushing the body up. That's a heck of a stretch though.

Sixto
87 300D
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-02-2013, 01:39 PM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
Jay...
when we put the bushings in, we left them loose, and set the car on the ground before tightening them...
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-02-2013, 02:12 PM
winmutt's Avatar
85 300D 4spd+tow+h4
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Atl Gawga
Posts: 9,346
All suspension and drive train bits should be torque on the ground.
__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-24-2013, 07:46 PM
BodhiBenz1987's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 3,005
Ended up doing this with the car on the ground. Bit of a struggle getting the bar back into position but it worked.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page