Hello All,

Trying to solve a mystery. MB lists P/N 126 330 05 03 as the left tie rod assembly and 126 330 06 03 for the right. However, most of the aftermarket parts suppliers list one part number for both tie rod assemblies.

Based on the geometry of the steering system I assume one is longer than the other. Any comments? I'd like to know as I need to replace mine again (Meyle or MB brand).

BTW and I am sure this is old news to many of you; I made the mistake of using URO items for both tie rod assemblies (this is before I knew better), and after less than 6 months with minimal road use the rubber boots have started to crack (numerous and large). Car is stored indoors to. As the famous Fram oil filter commercial, "you can pay me now or pay me later'. So, lesson learned - you have been warned.

Are you unable to find just the tie rod ends? There is RH and LH threaded units and unless the center piece is bent, should be all that is needed.

W0133-1633841
W0133-1634062

(Made by Lemfoerder)

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

While you are in there, replace the idler arm bushing unless you have done it recently. It is inexpensive enough and easy to do... yet easily overlooked. Ask how I know.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Not longer. Most late Mercedes have a minor offset in one tie rod end.

"Based on the geometry of the steering system I assume one is longer than the other. Any comments? I'd like to know as I need to replace mine again"

If doing just the ends, you need to get under the car and look to see if your tie rod ends are same length or different length. There are two types. One has different length ends, so different part numbers. Don

The two numbers you list are "handed" tie rods.

On left hand drive (LHD) cars one number is used on one side of the car (sorry can't remember which) but that same number is used on the other side of the car if it is a RHD vehicle.

The "handed" tie rods are of this type =>



They have fixings for the screw threads that clamp the inner hollow rod on each end

The non handed tie rods look like this



There is a clamp on one end like the "handed" type but the other end has a lock nut system.

Hope this helps

Attached Thumbnails

   

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Hello All,

Really appreciate all the feedback. I unfortunately chucked out the original tie rod assemblies and my point of reference now is the Uro ones on the car (yes, big mistake).

Stretch - your feedback makes the most sense. The Uro ones I have on the car are 'handed'. Can't recall what the originals were.

I'll go check out a few OEM suppliers to see what is out there.

I'll let you know what my detective work unearths.

The hole tie rod assembly can be flipped making the inner tie rod install in the outer position and vice versa. That means that when you go buy either tie rod, it may not thread on because the threads are reversed. Buy a set so you have both and install them in the correct position based on part number. Examine the parts before leaving the store to confirm that you do indeed have t distinct parts. I buy tie rods locally for this reason.

edit: Note that "Febi" Bilstein is of a lesser quality than "Bilstein".

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Every tie rod has one left hand thread and one right hand thread. A tie rod can be used on either side as long as the offsets of the rod ends are correct and the lengths of the tube are equal. You can even install them end for end backwards. If all the rod ends are the same, the very worst that would happen by mixing them up is that the alignment tech would have 30 seconds of confusion when setting toe. The illustrations are rod ends for a 190d. The one with the "bend" is the right inner, and should always be installed in the correct position. The other three rod ends are all straight. More and more aftermarket tie rods are coming with four straight rod ends. There doesn't seem to be any obvious affect to steering or handling, and I've probably inadvertantly swapped left and right many times.

Perhaps I am mixing terminology. On a 126, the entire tie rod assembly on 1 side of the car (passenger or driver) can be flipped so the inner tie rod becomes the outer. The inner and outer tie rods have different threads. One is right handed, the other left handed. You may end up getting the wrong part when for example, you order the outer tie rod and the assembly has been flipped. Working from memory, the FSM says that there is no ill effect in regards to being able to adjust the toe.

I buy mine locally unless I'm buying the entire assembly to avoid shipping the wrong part back and having to wait on delivery time. Last time I bought Moog and haven't had to change them but haven't checked records to know how many miles have rolled by. Tie rods are one of the easier suspension jobs.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.