There are braces added to the rear of the frame when the hitch is installed, make sure they are undamaged and get transferred to the "new-used" frame, unless the new-used frame vehicle had the hitch also, sounds like it didn't.

Gilly

__________________
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Gilley:

They are installing a new MB hitch on the old frame. Should have the braces as part of the package.

After a classic case of over promising and underdelvering on the body shop's behalf we finally picked up my wife's ml on Thursday. What was orginally scheduled for a 5 day $3200 repair became a full seven week ordeal with a total of $10,850 in repairs.

It looks as good as new. It may be the halo effect but it seems to be tighter than before. No rattles, track straight, looks good.

Ended up with a new muffler and tailpipe, flushed brake system, flushed radiator, recharged air conditoner, new hitch (with the brackets), new rear lift gate, new rear bumper skin, used frame, change to long style fuel filter and the former rattle from the left front wheel/ brake dust shield is gone.

Plan to drive it this weekend to check it out.

Gilly -- anything in particular I should be worried about?

On the bill they said that they added oil. I doubt it was mobil 1. Should I be concerned? I checked it and it was full and clean. I had just changed it 2000 miles ago and plan to change it in 3000 miles.

Well, weekend is half-gone. SORRY had a wedding to go to. I can't think of anything specific to worry about, just in general be cautious and curious about anything out of the ordinary.
I wouldn't sweat the oil situation. Y'know there IS oil in it, etc etc, this oil fetish people have can be taken just a little too far, IMHO. Y'want something to worry about?RANT ALERT< RANT ALERT!!!, how about crooked politicians, street crimes, starving kids, world ecology going to heck, world politics, terrorism.........
NO, we're going to worry about the oil in out engines maybe making the engine wear out 15 miles before it's time....... (sorry, didn't mean to come down on you personally, I'm sure you sleep well at night whether you need an oil change or not)

Gilly

__________________
Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

The truck went back into the shop today. During the repair process the inner rear axle boot developed a small hole. It is being replaced and repacked.

My final concern deals with the steering response.

(I have not driving this truck for 8 weeks and have instead been dividing my driving between a miata and a saab 9-3 and the post reassembled ML steering doesn't feel right.)

The ML steering now seems to have a drag or is loose when I turn it sharply from left to right and back. It is as though the steering wheel is turning through an elipse instead of a circle. It seems almost to have slack in it. Is this possible? Could the steering geometry be off. The body shop realigned it and seems to track fine on the highway.

Gilly or any one else with an opinion, your thoughts?