Help Needed Reattaching 107 Front Shock

[mbboy]

I just finished replacing the subframe mounts on my 380sl using a variation of the method described in another thread; i.e., 1) I drove the car onto ramps, 2) loosened the subframe mounting bolts on each side, 3) undid the outer tie rods, 4) supported the engine 5) loosened the engine mounting bolts, 6) loosened the engine shocks 7) undid the sway bar connecting links, 8) removed the nuts connecting the shock absorber to the control arm, and 9) I then lifted the frame one side at a time.

Replacing the bushings went pretty much as expected, except for two things:

1) The problems with the Meyle torsion bar repair kit I mentioned in another thread, and

2) I can't reconnect the shocks on both sides, evidently because they contracted when I disconnected them, and I can't pull them out enough to get the two bolts back on the bottom of the shocks back into the holes on the control arm.

I was therefore wondering if anybody could suggest the best way to reattach the shocks, ideally without my having to remove the top nuts in the engine compartment. If I drive the car off the ramps, and used a jack to lift each control arm, would that allow me to safely reinsert the 2 bolts on the bottom of the shock into the control arm, or should I try something else first?

Thanks in advance for any help, as I need to have the car back on the road by Monday.

[mbboy]

Never mind my last post. I'm a moron!

Problem was that I also had the car on jack stands that were preventing the shocks from lowering enough for me to reattach the bottom bolts to the control arms. And when I did lower the car, the bolts weren't aligned with the holes in the control arms. So, the control arms pushed the pivotable head on the bottom of the shock up and away from the holes.

I solved the problem by using a jack to lift the car, then lowering it very slightly a few times, so I could keep the bolts aligned with the holes until they ended up slipping in.

Took me about 15 minutes to do both sides which, thankfully, was a lot less than having to undo the shocks in the engine compartment.

[RadioTek]

Sometimes we get so close to the trees we can't see the forest. A little time away, and we get the 'Doh moment. Been there too may times to count. Just remember it's not a dumb mistake unless you repeat it.

[mbboy]

You're right, Radiotek. If I had a dime for every time I walked away from one of these problems and realized later or the next day how to solve it -- often with the help of forum members -- I'd have a bunch of dimes.

Take care.