Rear Torque Struts '86 300E, Help me Steve, or Anyone
 

Greetings All,


What a way to spend a weeks vacation, working on the Benz's and lovin every minute of it. So help me out here on my next project. The wifes 300E is in need of replacement torque struts, and I have them in hand as well as the nifty new brass looking sleeves. The rubber bushings are shot on the old struts and from my understanding this is the new and improved strut. Looking at this strut as compared to the old they are somewhat different in design, the new one has a cut out on one end where the old didn't, plus the new kit has two bolts, one longer than the other and a three sided washer. This is not to mention the new brass looking squash sleeve. Where does this all go and how does this affect a Benz that was made back on 12/85 . I am sure my 300E rear end would appreciate the new struts, but how do they go on and where do all the pieces go? Does this improved strut replace the old design and supercede the need to use the eccentric bolt as a toe-in adjustment?
I'd like to do this tommorrow Wed, if you could respond.

Help,

Charles

Come on Guys, lend me a hand
 

Greetings,

My vacation is down to only a couple of days and I'd like to get this job completed. If you know the story on the improved strut and can post, please do so.


Charles

I did mine...
 

with a press. However, if they don't go straight, they will deform. I ended up opening one with a punch after they were in. Not the best way to do it but, it worked for me.
Make sure you have all the wrenches, tools, etc. needed BEFORE you start this job. Other than that, pretty straight forward but very thigh spaces to work with. BTW, Check you lower control arm outer bushing while you are at it. Mine are bad.
I did mine less than 6 months ago but, I cannot remember all the parts involved. Once you took out the olld ones I was able to figured out. :confused:

Greetings J.H.


Are you saying you did or didn't use the old eccentric bolt. The new torque struts I got do not allow room for this thin walled sleeve to go anywhere, and the rubber bushing and metal sleeve are a perfect fit for the bolt supplied. Am I suppose to be using the old bolt (eccentric) with the sleeve?


Charles

Use the bolts that fit...
 

the point is, the new struts are going to do the job. The bolts just keep them in place, new or old. The old ones lasted this long, I do not think they would do any damage. Mine looked pretty good.
I can not remember if I used new bolts or the old ones but, I did use the sleeves.

You are missing my point
 

Are you sure it was the torque stuts that you replaced on your car? The torque strut is the upper most strut on the rear wheel assembly that faces toward the front of the car. The bolt that is in the front part of the strut is different than a regular bolt. The front bolt has a concentric shaped piece on it that adjusts the toe in of the rear wheel. Can't just use any ole bolt that fits unless the new designed strut has been redesigned to accomodate the difference in toe in adjustment.


Charles

Torque Strut Mod.

Job 35-111

Eccentric adjustment Deleted- Accurate Manufacture
length.

Toe set with Tie rod Eccentric.

* footnote- 124 CD

Footnote number 1.
 

Greetings,

The footnote you refer to states On vehicles up to 03/86, the position of the eccentric bolt (3i) to the rear axle bracket (1) must be marked.
So my question was this. If total replacement of the strut is going to take place, is the eccentric bolt and marked position still necessary for models prior to the cut off date? I understand they didn't put it on cars after the date, but what else if anything did they change to offset the need for toe in adjustment in the rear end?


Charles

The bolt kit you have is to eliminate the eccentric.
It was found to be not needed as toe adjust from tie-rod is
all that is needed.
It is my understanding that the torque adjuster was more for inclination than toe and they found that if they were uniformally manufactured to exact length specs., the adjuster was not needed.

Parts shop may have more info on it..

This question should go to whoever sold you the parts. I think the pros may need to get in on this one. Since they do it more often than a DIY'er like me. Like I said before, I did change the rear torque struts but, I do not remember specifics about the bolts. However, I do remember it was not a big deal.:confused:
Sorry I could help you any more.
Good luck!

This Job Put To Bed
 

Greetings All,

Just to let you know how things turned out and what I finally ended up doing. Seeing as the manual isn't clear on whether or not owners of pre 04/86 300E models are suppose to continue the use of the eccentric bolt on the torque strut I opted to use it. Seeing as the manual made to many notes on marking this item, I did just that and used the same bolt over and replaced the locking nut. The ride seems totally firm in the rear end now with no give at all, as it should be. If you do decide to replace your torque struts job 35-111 on your cd manual, do not buy the retrofit sleeves, they are not needed for this job. You will however need a new lower bolt, washer and nut as well as a new nut for the eccentric bolt. If your 300E is made prior to 04/86 you will need to still use the eccentric bolt for rear toe adjustment as the housing it fits into is oblong and requires this adjustment to be make. The new strut has firmer rubber installed on it, but the holes line up exactly to the old model, so the eccentric bolt is thus still required.


Charles