Repair Tips, Short-Cuts

The MB manual calls for the the removal of the door panel to replace the outside weatherstrip. No need to remove the door panel. The weatherstrip just pulls out. If part of the rubber gets stuck in the grove just use a small object to clean out the grove. I used a wet soap to lubricate the part that fits into the grove.Takes 5min to replace the weatherstrip.

[schumi]

I'm not sure you realize this, but there is a tool in the toolkit that screws into a wheel bolt hole that is used to hang the wheel from when changing tires. It is made of aluminum with threads at one end.

Originally Posted by haasman

Here's another one:

Mounting a wheel: I always try to move the bolt hole on the wheel hub to the 12 o'clock position. I then make sure the wheel bolt hole is the same. With driveway repairs aligning the lug bolt holes while holding up a wheel and tire can be maddening.

Also try using a large phillips screw driver to help align the lug bolt and the hub hole.

Haasman

[lyonstexas]

When working on front fan, tensioner, water pump, etc. cut a piece of cardboard to place against the radiator fins to prevent damaging them.
Tim

[Randy]

Get the leaves out of the double firewall! Now!
You don't want to go where you are going if you have an accumulation of flammables in the double firewall.

[Randy]

Check for rust periodically; moisture accumulates underneath and behind the weatherstrip, and the steel flange which helps hold the weatherstrip will be corroded away before you find it.
If found rusty, carefully remove weatherstrip, clean and remove rust; use rust converter then paint; allow paint to dry before replacing weatherstrip.

[haasman]

Check the drains under the hood in the fuse box and battery areas regularly. Use a gentle stream of water to verify they are emptying properly. If need be use a plastic probe or even a chopstick to clean them out.

Try vacuuming with a nozzle that is narrow to suck out all the crap.

Tail light area, sunroof drains and trunk seals are also important areas to keep clean.

Haasman

[lee polowczuk]

I have just cut and pasted 90% of these posts into a Word Document.

I am now going to clean them up a bit, print them, and put them in a binder.

periodically I will update the Word file.

thanks.

[haasman]

To select 40 of these posts at a time, go to the top of the page and click down Thread Tools, then Show Printable Version. From there you can display 40 and then select and paste into a word document.....

....Or save to your computer.

Haasman

[Kyle Blackmore]

- wrap electrical tape or rubber tubing around a u-joint socket to stiffen it.
- when washing the engine bay or doing touch-up painting cover/mask with tin foil , it conforms to any shape and usually doesn't need to be taped.
I'm sure I'll come up with a few more....

[A264172]

First…
Do this only if you must.
Position the car so the side you want raised is on the low side of the slope.
I use ramps… (Just don’t trust jack stands on a slope.) Once the car is driven up onto the ramps… I chalk the rear wheels and place two of my spare wheels with tires mounted (one on top of the other) under the rear differential or the front cross-member, depending on which side your working under. They slide up under there with a minimal clearance or actually slightly wedge up into the car… making a potential death trap as safe as fort Knox.

PS I hope no one needs this tip.

[fj bertrand]

when laying down on the job I use a slab of insulation board to keep me off the cold floor.

when freezing races, cones or shafts WATCH OUT FOR CONDENSATION!!

coat the part being froze with wd-40 to keep moisture off.

[richard28]

To hand thread this hard to reach bolt, I taped the top with black friction tape used on hockey sticks (its sticky on both sides and thick); adhesive tape might work too. This gave me something to grip so I could turn it after I aligned it with the hole. Finally, after turning the bolt until it was flush against the base, I pulled off the tape and finished the job with the short end of the allen wrench, which I could now insert into the limited space.

[tvpierce]

Just bought a new tool chest/storage unit?

The best liner I've ever found for the drawers is rubber walk-off floor matting.

It comes in rolls at Home Depot or most other hardware stores and is sold by the foot. Cut it fit so that the ribs are sideways (keeps things from sliding when you open the drawer. I prefer the brown color over the black because it allows for better visibility of dark tools.

Jeff Pierce

[haasman]

From psfred at: Re-installing 300TD Suspension

Bad bushings in the rear suspension links (and bad subframe mounts!) will cause the car to handle terribly, lots of "darting about" on turns, serious instability on wet or icy pavement, etc, all due to rear wheel steering under load.

Haasman

[haasman]

When testing a fuel injection potentiometer here is a good easy test:

The potentiometer has three leads, use an analog volt/ohm meter and connect the upper two leads, using the ohms setting.

Move the potentiometer slowly and the needle should swing smoothly and evenly. If rough or jerking readings are display it is bad.

Haasman