replacing 83 sel guide rod mounts
 

The guide rod mounts/caster ball joints on my 83 380 sel are shot. By some of the links I've read I though it was a straight forward job of removing them. Some of the links I've read recently have me wondering. Guys are talking about a special tool and one link said an arbor press! I think the writer got confused with control arm bushings. Fact is I have a donor car a guy will sell me parts from for dirt and I'd like to remove the bushing and rod as one piece because they are newer. Is this even possible? If there is a link that shows this procedure please lead me to it as all I'm finding is verbage on entire front end jobs that barely touch on the guide rod mounts. Thanks in advance for your help, Andy

You can't remove the little subframe (which contains the guide rod mount) together with the guide rod unless you remove the front spring becuase the front of the guide rod attaches underneath the spring.

Just unbolt the little subframe from the body and unbolt the mount from the guide rod.

I've always used large hammer to replace the guide rod mount and subframe bushing once the subfame is removed.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/92874-diy-bearing-bracket-guide-rod-mount-replacement-mercedes-benz-300sd.html

if it's like the ones on the SD, you can unscrew the guide rod stud out of the adjustment rod (without having to turn the whole assembly over and over) Then you "just" have to unbolt them. This is not too bad unless the captive nuts want to break off inside the slots in the body. I see you live in PA, so start applying a good penetrant like PB blaster, starting yesterday.