!!! Front end failure, nelp asap W126
 

That 560 I just picked up had something snap in thefront end. To me it looks like a torsion bar, but its up high and to the back of the driver's side wheel well. Connects to what I would call an upper control arm.

Obvioulsly its drivable, but not safe since breaking is compromised by a hard pull.

What is this part?
Can I replace it on my own?
Can I pick it up at most part places?
Is it a torsion bar and if so does it go all the way to the passenger side?
And how hard is it to replace!

Would love some help on this asap. I am at a restaraunt for lunch using thier computer! :) Need to decide if I take the car straight home or if I can manage to get to work, then home.

Thanks much!

torsion bar bracket on the drivers side tend to break..... i've lost a couple on different cars.... now i keep a spare in the trunk.

very easy to replace... you can get them on line for about 18 dollars... i suspect 40-45 at the stealer

Good to know! How does one replace them? I will probably do both sides. But at this time, being new to teh car, I have no clue as to how to replace one. I am VERY mechanical, so just some basic instructions would be great to give me an idea.

The torsion bar arrangement on an E class vehicle is not even close to what is on the S class. If the torsion bar is broken you are in for a lot of work to replace it.

I called around, no one has the part so I called the Euro repair place. They say its the sway bar, which makes sense, and it does connect to both sides. He will get back to me with a price, but said its very labor intensive and requires removal of teh fuse box and a lot of wiring due to its location. Which makes sense.

I am going to see how much the part is and go from there. Not happy.

I may have a spare if you are interested.

$314 from dealer just for the bar. They also will get back to me on total install price.

I may take you up on your offer. I would rather install myself, but of course I would rather have th epart NOW! lol

What is the compatability of this bar. Car-part shows the SL and SEL use the same. What about year range. Would it be the same for all W126 SEL? I found one for $33 40 minutes away.

And this is also called a Stabalizer bar, right?

On a 126 as well as a 123 there is a regular failure where the end of the torsion bar breaks off where it connects to the upper control arm, the repair is a $125 repair part which needes to be welded in place.

Well thats what happened. Is the repair part some sort of connecting sleve that gioes over the remainder of teh bar?

Let face it. I want to be able to be as cost effective as possible and get it done as quick as possible. But right now, its about getting the parts either way. Mercedes can get a new one quick. Non of the parts stores, as expected, have anything. Unless someone knows for sure which parts store may have one - of the repair kit.

Thanks for the help thus far.

You should call Phil or Roy here at FastLane you can probably have the repair part tommorrow or Wednesday!

QP1000 Torsion Bar Saver W123, W126 S-Class

Here is a link to the part, the labor involved will probably be 1/10th! Good Luck!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-parts-reference-library/178104-qp1000-torsion-bar-saver-w123-w126-s-class.html

Well I alread ordered the part from Napa. I wonder if it requires welding too. It came with a bunch of nuts and such. I was expecting something more like what you linked above but with securing bolt similar to what is used for the tie rod end links (minus threads).

The kit will be here Friday. Also I have no way of welding, but maybe I will look into getting this kit since I know 100% for sure it works and see if I can get a welder to stop by.

What a headache and I have only had the car two days!

I have done a couple complete swaybars back in the day on 123's and 126's. The job on that link above describes it as a 20 hour job, which is way overkill, I could do 2 or 2 and a half in 20 hours, this is an all-day job, even in a MB work shop, but no way is it a 20 hour job. I hope this kits works for you, but I don't think I'd do it, sounds pretty hokey.
Gilly

Usually there will be a couple washers and a bolt, you'll need to get a look at things and see if your need the rubber bushings that fit alongside the upper control arm. They may have gotten loose and lost when things came apart!

As far as welding I cant imagine anything attaching secure and strong enough by other methods, the good thing is you should call around to the welders in your area, most will have a mobile welding truck/trailer setup and you can probably get the repair part stuck into place in about 20 minutes for less than $100 bill!