Drag Link Question W123
 

Posted at the diesel forum too. I need to know before Monday.

Car's an 83 300D W123
I went for inspection and flunked because there's play at one of the draglink ends. I was thinking of letting them fix it. Now, they tell me the car will need an alignment after this is replaced, I don't think it will. Isn't the draglink a fixed length? How difficult is getting this off? I think if it doesn't need alignment, I may as well fix it myself since the part is only about 50 bucks. The tie-rods look and feel fine (have two of them too if needed). I'm pretty sure I'm looking at the drag link, straight bar, two ends like tie-rod ends, both face up right? As far as the existing alignment, the car never pulls and wears it's tires evenly. Only after having them show me the play did I realize that yeah, there is some slop in the steering. The inspection was good, I just don't want to fork out 70 for an alignment it probably does not need.

Thanks all.

I know that this thread is ancient, but in case someone else sees it and is wondering the same thing... the drag link is fixed length, you shouldn't need an alignment.