300E Ball Joints 1986

[Premji]

Please help.
I attempted to change a ball joint on the weekend an was not successful. I compressed the coil spring, took the bolt out holding the ball joint to the hub and the ball joint came out. I tried to remove the 2 bolts holding the control arm so that I could press the ball joint out. I managed to get one of the bolt out but the other bolt would not come out of the bushing. I socked it with penetrating fluid and tried hammering it out but it would not move. I didn't want to apply heat because of rubber bushing.
Am I doing this correctly? Any helpful hints will be appreciated.
Also, the bottom of the coil spring (last 3 inches of the material) is broken. Does this need to be replaced?

Premji

[r_p_ryan]

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W124BallJoint

[csnow]

I assume you mean the 'eccentric' bolts that secure the arm to the frame.

Been there!!!

What I did was take a sawsall, and cut right through the part of the rubber bushing that is exposed, then right through the bolt. Done carefully, you will not damage the arm or the frame. Once you cut through one side, odds are that you can knock the pieces free with a chisel (should not need to make 2 cuts). I did have to make 2 cuts on one of them though.

Then get new eccentric bolts and bushings. Get 'em for the other side too...

The cutting is a bit of a pain because the saw likes to bind on the rubber, and take you for a ride...

BTW, the reason this happens is because there is an aluminum sleeve that goes between the bushing and the bolt. As it corrodes, it fuses the bolt right in there. I suggest putting anti-seize on the length of the new bolt, since it cannot be properly aligned once seized.