I just recieved my Febi tie rod for my 82 380SL and I have a question. The old tie rod I removed from the car had grease packed in the rubber boot at each pivot end. Quite a bit oozed out when I pried if off with the tie rod fork. The new tie rod does not seem to have any grease packed in this boot (but I'm not sure it is hard to tell). Do I need the add any grease to this joint - inside or outside the boot?

Thanks

Lee

No, they are sealed & greased from factory.

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
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Retired Moderator

I have installed it and it seems to have solved the clunking noise I had before. I think I just tore the boots on the old rod prying it out and the new one just didn't seem like it had any grease in it but like I said it was hard to tell.

When I installed the new one I adjusted the ends to the same position as my old one and it drives great - no pulling to either side. But I think I will still take it in for an alignment.

That was a pretty easy job for anyone out there that hasn't done it before like me. Just make sure that you get the tie rod pry fork (it only cost me $6.99 for a set of three different sized ones at Harbor Freight Tools here in Florida) and a good 3 pound sledge hammer and don't be shy about wailing on that pry fork to get the old rod out.

Thanks for the info!

Lee

If you need to save the boots from tearing when removing the tie rods, use something like this:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000219190/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000219190/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000219190

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Ford told us that, too, back in the day when most everything had grease fittings. Fords also had some of the shortest service life in the industry, with their " Perma Lube " suspension pieces. I added grease fittings to all my new Lemforder tie rods. This allows me to use my choice of grease. Mobil28 full synthetic, the standard in aviation. As always, YMMV.

Al- how did you add the grease fittings. I want to do the same thing. I've replaced upper Lemforder ball joints- the one piece unit and would like someway to lubricate them.

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1999 C280 Sport, 1967 911s Porsche

Well the old tie rod lasted 25 years without the grease fittings. What more can you ask of a $10 suspension part?

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

True, but I'm not putting the old one back on, nor a new one from Mercedes Benz.
I can assure you the aftermarket parts are not near the original quality. Mercedes forum members operate under the misconception, that if a company( ex. Febi, Lemforder, etc) is the manufacturer for parts that Mercedes uses when building the cars, then the parts they sell aftermarket are identicle. Grapes, drill the proper size hole, depending on what grease fitting size you choose, that will allow the first thread to start, and self tap them in. A six point socket and 1/4" ratchet make this happen easily. Adding fittings to parts already installed will complicate the process some, but still do-able.

I installed the drivers side tie rod on my 450sl 73, and ran into a few problems. The part was OEM in the Mercedes bag ,from Performance products.
1st. I noticed they did not have castle nuts with cotter key, they used a nylon lock nut and cross treaded ( both ends).
2nd. the adjusting center barrel was too long, I could not make the unit short enough.
I contacted Performance products and the gentlemen on the line went and pulled one from his shelf. They confirmed that the nuts were nylon lockers and his to were cross treaded. We measured the barrel length and it was the same as the one I got. He confirmed the part #, it too was correct.
So I used the old barrel over. I must say that the people at Performance Products were quite nice and very helpful. Just my story

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Stable:
1973 450sl
1978 red diamond ice vette
1975 steel blue convertable vette
2002 steel blue dakota quad.

Yes, my new tie rod used the nylon nut, too, but the length was the same as the OEM; at least I suspect the tie rod was the original; it did use the castle nut with the cotter pin.