Broken sway bar on my 300SD
 

Gentlemen, does anybody have any experience with replacing the stabilizer bar/sway bar on a W126?? The CD manual says to remove everything inside the inner firewall. I was hoping there was an easier way!! Mine snapped the end off the other day. Sure could use some advice. Thanks.

Bill Rokaitis Homewood, IL 1985 300SD 152,00 miles

In Minnesota, land of heavy road salt usage, we have many 123 bodies with broken stabilizer bar ends. I had an end snap off on my 83 300D with (at the time) about 280k miles - all of it's life spent in Minnesota.

My local German auto repair shop, realizing the age and mileage of my vehicle, offered me the alternative of letting him weld on a new end. He had so many of these failing that he had a machine shop make up some "ends" that he welds onto the stub of the stabilizer bar then re-attaches to the suspension. The repair worked great and it saved me a lot of labor expense.

Just did one on a 126 last week. No, there is no shortcut. Shortcuts have been tried before, ultimately you waste alot of time trying to devise a shortcut and waste even more time, because whatever they say needs to come off, needs to come off.
Better off and time ahead to resign yourself to the fact this work all needs to get done and just do it.
Gilly

Bill, you did not say exactly how far from the end it broke...... but most of the twisting force should happen along the straight section of the sway bar... so if you can find someone to weld it, and perhaps blacksmith a brace around the weld.... I would try that first.... you don't have much to lose... you should know pretty soon if it is going to work... and you can still do it the old fashioned way....if you have the brace put on it.. with a wrap... or cover... I would suggest putting a matching one on the other side....pics for the FAQ page which ever you do will be appreciated by everyong..... :) Greg

Bill sent me a pic , which I marked up, but it was high quality and thus file size was too large to post here...to see it use this info:

url site photoisland.com
user name leathermang
password mercedes

it is in the ' sway bar album' .... :) when you get there double click on the right picture then click on menu at left on ' show original size'...

My 83 300D's sway bar end also snapped, I had it replaced for $200 plus another $500 in labor. What a nightmare.

Well Mr. Turbodiesel you got a terrific deal. My dealer in Orland Park, IL quoted my $2,200 for just labor on the job in my 300SD. Needless to say, I'll be doing the job myself and putting a couple grand in my pocket!

Sway bar job complete!!
 

Gentlemen. Although it was one of the most difficult tasks I have personally ever undertaken, I have officially completed the tast of replacing the broken sway bar on my W126. I will be posting some pictures on Photoisland as soon as I can. Not for the faint of heart, the project took the better part of 13 to 15 hours of wrenching. No real snags, just the vacuum lines were a major hassle. I appreciate everyones help with the project especially Leathermang.

"Pros....or Cons"-----hahaha!!! :D

OK, I'm easily amused.

Mike

Bill - you deserve to be called "The Rock" - great accomplishment and one that had to give you a ton of satisfaction to complete. In my unit measurement, this sounds like a 4 six-pack job!!!

126 Chassis Sway Bar replacement
 

Gentlemen, I have posted some pics of the sway bar replacement job I recently completed on photoisland.com. (Special thanks to Leathermang) The user name: 'billrok' The password is: 'diesel'. I hope its the only pics of a 126 with all the firewalls removed you'll ever have to see. After doing that job, replacing the timing chain should be a breeze!!

good job
 

don't it make you feel good!!

Billrok,

incredible job! Looking at those pix scared me:eek: I'd prolly end up paying the 2 grand to have it done after seeing those.

You're a lot braver than this amateur grease monkey!

Sway bar stud
 

Wayne, Is there a way to contact this guy to purchase a stud?