failed mass. vehicle inspection - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

84300DT · #1 12-15-2003, 05:58 PM

oh the embarrassment of it all- the blue bomb failed mass. inspection for a "right outer tie rod end" -

this means i need to have this ''defect'' repaired within 60 days or else!!

ya right. i looked at both sides and the left side was even worse than the right side

figures. even so, both sides are in operable safe condition even though i admit they could use replacing to be perfect ( like everything in the front end..lol)

oh well just venting here -

ordered 2 new ''entire'' tie rod assemblies as my indy says it's easier to replace the whole tie rod assembly instead of just the end part. comments ?

gotta get the car reinspected prior to 2004 to avoid emissions as well here in Ma$$.

Toblin · #2 12-15-2003, 06:46 PM

Tie-rods are easy and cheap to replace.

But voting for those MA$$ dem's takes a true CHOWDERHEAD!!!

DieselHead · #3 12-15-2003, 06:54 PM

Hey Bob, when did you move to Massachusetts? Sorry to hear about the car

I'm glad they do real inspections up there. In NY, they just look at the lights, checks to see if the car has seatbelts, sometimes looks at the tires, and then prints out the certification sticker. They hardly safeguard us from unsafe cars.

84300DT · #4 12-15-2003, 06:56 PM

since i can't vote i wouldn't know about that but my interest was the fact that they failed the 'good' side - anyhow i will be replacing both sides with full tie rods so hopefully that will make 'em happy and give me the silly sticker..

300SDog · #5 12-15-2003, 08:14 PM

Wanna do the tie-rods yerself?

All you need is $8.00 ball joint separator, a forked cat's paw/ claw hammer kinda pry bar that fits between tie rod ends and where they attach to suspension ...... smack the separator with hammer after unbolting 17 or 19mm nuts that hold tie rods in place; this will trash the rubber boots - so dont even think about using the old tie rod ends ever again..... then eyeball length of new tie-rods to match the old ones and bolt them tightly in place..... if allignment sucks, take the car to shop with Hunter allignment machine to make adjustments.

lietuviai · #6 12-15-2003, 08:34 PM

This method won't trash your boots but your new tie rods will have new ones anyway. You don't even need one of those "fancy" tools to remove your tie rods. Undo the tie rod nuts. Then, get two good sized hammers, place one on one side of the steering knuckle arm and use the other to hit the knuckle on the other side of where you put the other hammer. The tie rod should just drop out after a few good whacks. Do the same on the center link where the other part of the tie rod attaches. You might want to start with the center link first. I wrote this out of sequence but you may get the idea about what I'm talking about. I've used this method on many different cars and it always worked as long as you have enough room to get your hammers in where you need them.

psfred · #7 12-15-2003, 09:10 PM

No kidding it's easier to change the whole tie rod than an end! Just relearned that this summer on the TE.

To adjust the length of the new ones, just measure between the "points" on the back of the old rod to some reference point (you may be able to measure from one end to the other) so that the new one is the same length as the old. Unscrew the lock nut and adjust.

This will get you close -- an alignment is requried. All that will be off is the toe, but it's very difficult to set that without a rack.

Peter

84300DT · #8 12-20-2003, 07:41 PM

thanks for all the advice-

replaced both tie rods and got an alignment -
hope now it rates a''pass'' sticker ..:p

anyhow the front end is a lot tighter now. i'm quite sure the old ones were the originals so it just goes to show how long parts last on our diesels!

mechmagcn · #9 12-20-2003, 07:56 PM

Sometimes state inspections are a good thing, but they can also be a pain. We do not have an inspection in AR, there are many vehicles on the road which shouldn't be.

lietuviai · #10 12-20-2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mechmagcn
Sometimes state inspections are a good thing, but they can also be a pain. We do not have an inspection in AR, there are many vehicles on the road which shouldn't be.

I agree that they may good be but as you said it would be a pain to those of us who keep on top of things.
Some vehicle inspectors remind me of a cartoon I've seen with the caption,"Not all inspectors are a**holes."
The cartoon somewhat resembles a character from the movie MIB-2, the "ballchinian".

slowmoe · #11 12-20-2003, 10:24 PM

If you think it handles better after doing the tie rods, try doing the sway bar bushings if they have not been replaced yet. This is a very easy job and parts are cheap. If you really want it to handle well put some bilstein HDs on all four corners

dreamliner77 · #12 12-21-2003, 12:54 PM

84300DT,

Where in MA are you? If you failed and the tierod's really weren't that bad, I would've just taken it to another shop to get inspected. My 240 usually gets glanced at for inspection. I haven't had a "properly" working ebrake for four years. Also, the diesels have no emission inspection in MA.

84300DT · #13 12-22-2003, 12:00 PM

dreamliner , i am on the north shore.
unfortunately they just put one of the R stickers on it when
it failed.

anyhow final result .. passed! so good for another year

84300DT · #14 12-30-2003, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DieselHead
Hey Bob, when did you move to Massachusetts? Sorry to hear about the car I'm glad they do real inspections up there. In NY, they just look at the lights, checks to see if the car has seatbelts, sometimes looks at the tires, and then prints out the certification sticker. They hardly safeguard us from unsafe cars.

sorry did not reply b4 alex, i moved up here at the end of september.

if you can make it see other post new england gtg - looks like to be in sturbridge - a little ways past hartford.

84300DT · #15 12-30-2003, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dreamliner77
84300DT,

I haven't had a "properly" working ebrake for four years. Also, the diesels have no emission inspection in MA.

yeah i had the e-brake adjusted cause i always used to be failed for that here back in the day

i am so glad they don't have emissions tests for diesel cars here yet.

bangin the drum for the new england gtg (see other post) looks like sturbridge mass on the 11th of jan. hope you can make it