I used a 5 lb sledge hammer and wedged the spindle carrier into a wood pile so I could hit it without hurting anyone or thing. Some people bury it in the ground. I used a large socket on top of the ball jt as a spacer to wail on.

I have done some really hard ball jt removals... but that one took the cake.

I notice this Thread is titled "Front Ball Joints". Are there rear Ball Joints? :confused: and where?

Just had to ask this. :rolleyes:



I assume you have the car setting (securely and safely) on Jack Stands, correct?
You have the wheel on the side you are working on, removed?

The suspension has to be hanging down to let the spring coils open up enough to get the Plates in between the coils.

You may have to remove the Shock.
Place a Floor jack under the lower Control Arm to hold it from dropping.
You might have to lower the FJ some to open up the coils.

Place the upper plate in between the coils. You might have to walk it around get it up high enough.
Place the lower plate in between the coils, and may have walk it down.

You need to compress at least 8 coils.

Drop the screw shaft assy. down through the center of the spring.
Lock the lower end (three fingers) into the lower plate detents.

(I just did this on my 240. I used a large flat screw driver under the lower plate to hold the rod fingers into the detents.
While holding the screw driver, I turned the upper end to compress the assy. to stay in position. Double check with a flash light to make sure the detents are securely locked into the plate.)

After you tighten down on the Spring Compressor, lift the springs out.

If you cannot take the springs out. You may have to remove the Nut holding the Steering Knuckle at the Control Arm (upper ball Joint).
Lower the Floor jack and you will be able to remove the spring.

Treat it like a bomb ready to go off, lots of stored up energy.
Set it on the floor, and release the Spring Compressor tension.

Charlie

Thanks, that is what I did, I unbolted the steering knuckle ball joint and dropped the suspension about another inch to pull the spring out. I am going to cut the front springs, maybe 1 coil to even the stance. After pulling the spring, it looks like you cut the bottom part because the top part of the spring has a taper at the end of the coil. Is this correct????

Yes that is correct.

So I fubared the w126 bushings, actually the end caps. It is almost impossible to seat the outermost metal ring with finding a cup tool to fit perfectly without distorting everything. I bought another pair of w126 bushing and bought the specific bushing press tool for it too. Best to do it right since it will probably won't be done again for the next 20 years.

Is this the tool you bought and used?

https://shop.ktcautotools.com/products/mercedes-w124-w126-lower-control-arm-bushing-press-tool

Here it is for you visualities that don`t click on links. :rolleyes:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/02...g?v=1363469263

Comes in a nice blow molded case

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/crYAAO...d~d/s-l400.jpg <!-- </span> -->
Showed this to my Indy when I was in Santa Cruz last Tues, and said this is the tool he uses and Works Great.

I picked up mine for $110, new, never used. :D Sure is a heavy dang thing.
Need tool when ya live miles out in the Boonies. ;)


Charlie