This will hopefully work.
100 1147 - YouTube

Hopefully didn't ramble too much; way past the time I should be fast asleep... I am sure you are up late too, so thank you so very much!

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

the bracket that covers the bushing has to go on with the proper orientation, i couldnt really see in the video but verify it lines up.

for what its worth, i did a passenger side on a sedan two weeks ago and getting that bracket over the new bushing , it was as difficult as i saw in your video. you need to use all the strength you have to get the bracket down over the studs. once you can get a nut to hold on the stud you can use your wrench the rest of the way

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

Ok, I got distracted with the big font letters.

Just to be clear, it is normal for the inner diameter of the bushings is made a bit smaller than the outer diameter of the swaybar. This is made because the rubber has a give to it and so this smaller diameter firmly clamps the bar in place. The bushings will eventually stretch over time and the hole would be widened.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Along with the cap orientation brought up by sleepstar, the bushing does not sit at horizontal plane. The bushing is at bit of a downward tilt in order for it to be seated properly against the firewall. Looking at the side of the installed bushing, the slit (or the seam) is at just over an 8 o'clock position.


.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Please read my response!!!

Your 21mm sway bar bushings are for the rear sway bar.....

Technically that bar is not called a sway bar it is called a torsion bar.....you need part number 1233231285 as shown in this digram on this site...

TORSION BAR,FRONT. Fits: Mercedes | Mercedes-Benz of South Atlanta

People are getting these two bars mixed up, big time!!!!

Only the rear sway bar is different then the sedans, the front torsion bar is the same.....

Some people argue that the rear sway bar is not different on the 300td, it was only different on limo and euro taxi models....

Remember you have a torsion bar in the front....

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Hmm.. Not sure what you are talking about, but the rear swaybar is 13mm (limo swaybar is 15mm) and the part number 1233231285 you posted, has been posted earlier.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Thank you so very much!

Is the font too big? I want to have folks understand my posts, as apparently they were not, because I said multiple times the inner diameter was the issue, you never stated it was to be that way? Would have saved several people wasted time and money... Oh well!

The bracket orientation isn't the issue. The issue is the hump sitting right in the cap.

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

Well I am backing out of this.....I say they area they are the wrong bushings and that is why they aren't fitting.....chose your side buy these bushings or tighten the ones you have down and smash the hell out of them...

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Well as sleepstar stated, you need to just get the nuts started and then tighten them down. The bushing should smoosh into place. I basically did the same. Apologize if I have not been clear earlier.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

picture of the bushing after it was tightened down and smooshed into place.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I came across the same issue, the bushings not closing, and I thought I had the wrong part, so thanks guys for posting the photo of the installed bushing and the part numbers. I agree that the gap closes up nicely upon tightening. Couple other things to point out; it appears the caps are upside down in the video, they are not symmetrical. Also, I did install my driver side with the brake system intact, though only for my freakishly long and skinny arms and fingers. Putting syl-glide on the outside of the bushing probably would have helped them bushing roll into place, I didn't see that tidbit till after I was done.

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1980 240D 185k "Miss Las Cruces"
1990 300SE/SD 245k/175k
1991 560SEL 250k soon to be 300SD manual trans