USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Personal opinion; even I do not like doing guide rods, with a full auto shop and hoist.

Guide Rod replacement for Mercedes Benz 300SD.

Step #A. Raise and support front end.
Step #B. Remove front wheels.
Step #C. Loosen the clamp on #14 in picture.
Step #D. Remove the bracket that joins the Left and Right Bearing Bracket.
Step #E. Remove the bolts that hold the Bearing Bracket mounts to the body.
Step #F. Unscrew the guide rod sleeve from the guide rod.
Step #G. Unscrew the four bolts from the Bearing Bracket backing plate.
Step #H. Press the guide rod from the Bearing Bracket.
Step #I. Clean the guide rod pocket of the Bearing Bracket, the old steel sleeve must be removed to clean aluminum surface.
Step #J. Grease the guide rod pocket of the Bearing Bracket, axle grease is ok.
Step #K. Grease the guide rod sleeve, axle grease is ok.
Step #L. Press the guide rod by the sleeve; into the Bearing Bracket, stop when it is flush or roughly one mm above the surrounding surface.
Step #M. Install the rubber impact buffer pad and cover with four bolts.
Step #N. Tighten the four bolts in the Bearing Bracket backing plate.
Step #O. Screw the guide rod into the guide rod sleeve.
Step #P. Install and tighten the bolts that hold the Bearing Bracket mount to the body.
Step #Q. “Lose” install all the bolts that hold the bracket joining the Left and Right Bearing Bracket.
Step #R. Tighten all the bolts for the bracket joining the Left and Right Bearing Bracket.
Step #S. Tighten the clamp on #14 in picture.
Step #T. Install front wheels.
Step #U. Remove front end supports and lower car.
Step #V. Torque front wheel bolts.

If the Suspension Bearing Bracket is too corroded inside, don't repair/replace the guide rod, get NEW Suspension Bearing Bracket !!!
Vehicle: 1985 Mercedes Benz 300SD

MB# 126 330 12 43
Suspension Brng Brkt - Front - Left
http://catalog.peachparts.com/item.wws?sku=W0133-1597408


MB# 126 330 13 43
Suspension Brng Brkt - Front - Right
http://catalog.peachparts.com/item.wws?sku=W0133-1597432

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
https://whunter.carrd.co/

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Looks like this would work for a W123 as well.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

old parts 1

Attached Thumbnails

         

old parts 2

Attached Thumbnails

   

Whunter, you must have used a mighty big hammer to do all that!

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Mine had no rubber left hardly holding the threaded sleeve.

A couple of things I might add is that the drivers side can move far enough toward the engine to remove it and the passenger side can go into the fender well far enough to get it off.

Count the threads for reassembly so that you get the new one roughly where the old one was.

I also used a floor jack to lift the steering knuckle while I was pulling mine and if you adjust the jack heighth slightly up and down it will change the position of the mounts enough to get the bolts for the mounts to line back up for reassembly. I also found it easier to screw the new guide rods all the way in to reassemble as it gives that little bit of extra room you need to get them back into place.

__________________
'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

nice pics - mine looked very similar, even down to the one captive nut that broke apart in the process. I actually made a tool out of 1/4" cold roll plate with a squarish hole in it so that I could get it apart

Note to 123's, the part labeled guide rod mount is not on a 123 chassis. This is a 126 diagram as described.

__________________
84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

Those pix remind me of why I escaped from Livonia!!

My poor Brother is still a Tranny repairman in Redford.....things are pretty slow right now....which is surprising with all the rot the cars suffer there.

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

is not helping the shops.

Back on topic.
Correct part names will make locating the correct part easy.

Bearing Bracket Bushing = picture #1.
Guide Rod Mount Kit = picture #2.
Guide Rod Repair Kit = picture #3.
Suspension Brng Brkt = picture #4.
Guide Rod = picture #5.

Attached Thumbnails

         

Suspension Bearing Bracket guide rod mount replacement
on the 1985 300SD
by whunter
4/27/04


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Personal opinion; even I do not like doing guide rods, with a full auto shop and hoist.


*Bearing Bracket guide rod mount replacement for Mercedes Benz 300SD.*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Raise and support front end.
2) Remove front wheels.
3) Loosen the clamp on #14 in picture.

picture

4) Remove the bracket that joins the Left and Right Bearing Brackets.

picture

5) Remove the two bolts per side that hold the Bearing Bracket mounts to the body.
Note: this is where maximum difficulty is normal, due to the nut retaining tabs coming apart, please scroll down to Image-1 and Image-2.
Extreme precautions must be exercised if an oxygen acetylene torch is used.

picture

6) Unscrew the guide rod mount from the guide rod.

guide rod picture 6 and 15

7) Unscrew the four bolts from the Bearing Bracket backing plate.

picture 7 and 14

8) Press the guide rod mount from the Bearing Bracket.
9) Clean the guide rod mount pocket of the Bearing Bracket, the old steel sleeve must be removed to a clean aluminum surface.
10) Grease the Bearing Bracket pocket, axle grease is ok.
11) Grease the guide rod mount tension sleeve, axle grease is ok.

picture 11 and 12

12) Press the guide rod mount by the sleeve; into the Bearing Bracket, stop when it is flush or roughly one mm above the surrounding surface.

picture 11 and 12

13) Install the rubber impact buffer pad between the rear of the guide rod mount and the Bearing Bracket cover, finger tighten the four cover bolts.

picture

14) Tighten the four bolts in the Bearing Bracket backing plate.

picture 7 and 14

15) Screw the guide rod mount into the guide rod.

guide rod picture 6 and 15

16) Install and tighten the bolts that hold the Bearing Bracket to the body.
17) "Loose" install all the bolts that hold the bracket joining the guide rod mounts.
18) Tighten all the bolts for the bracket joining the Left and Right Bearing Bracket.
19) Tighten the clamp on #14 in picture.

picture

20) Install front wheels.
21) Remove front end supports and lower car.
22) Torque front wheel bolts.

If the Suspension Bearing Bracket is too corroded inside, don't repair or replace the guide rod mount, get a NEW Suspension Bearing Bracket !!!

Note: this part number is the same for all W126 chassis.

Here are pictures of the old parts:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Image-1


Image-2


Image-3


Image-4


Image-5


Image-6


Image-7

Attached Thumbnails

         

more pictures


Edit:
The picture for #13 did not load correctly, deleted it and reloaded.
It is correct now.

Attached Thumbnails

   

Some of the picture captions where confusing.

Here are edited pictures.

Picture step #3 and #19 is 1985_300sd_suspensionXYZ.GIF

Picture step #4 and #18 is bracket that joins the left and right bearing bracketsABC.JPG

Picture step #5 and #16 is 5 Remove the bolts to the body.JPG

Picture step #6 and #15 is guide rod.jpg

Picture step #7 and #14 is Bearing Bracket cover.jpg

go to the next post for remaining pictures.

Attached Thumbnails

         

Picture step #11 and #12 is 11 Grease the guide rod tension sleeve.JPG


One addition for the BAD old parts pictures.

Bad guide rod mount.jpg

Attached Thumbnails

   

Hi members. This is my first post. I am in the process of rebuilding the front end of my 87 300SDL. I am having a difficult time installing the new large rubber bushings into the bearing bracket. Tried install using a 1/2" hexhead bolt to pull (similar in design to the mercedes tool) and tried using a hyd. press. Only went so far, approx 1/2" away from being seated. Please advise. Thanks in advance,

Wayne