Removal of drive shaft guide bushing
 

Anyone have any tips on how to remove this easily. Trying the hammer and chisel (flat head screw driver) but it's tough.

I have found that the FSM way is the best.

you drill into this bushing from the side. Once you are in, use the body of a chisel and hammer on that, it will force it to pull out.

Make sure to pack some nice grease (long life) in its cavity when you install it on the car

Removal of drive shaft bushing resolved
 

I was following the fsm to remove the bushing, but I wasn't using the proper tools. Went and purchased a BFH and chisel/punch set and I was able to get the bushing out rather quickly by bracing the shaft and holding the chisel on the bushing at an angle and hammering it out. Installation was a bit different where the fsm specifies hammering the bushing back in by using a piece of wood as a buffer. I had difficulty hammering it in squarely and didn't want to risk damaging the bushing. So what you could use is a 30mm inverted triple square (same as used to remove the rear wheel hub...on a w201 at least). Also you need a 3 jaw puller. Get the bushing centered in the shaft and at least be sure it's somewhat secured. Then put the 30mm over the bushing, it is a perfect fit. Next use the 3 jaw puller centered on the back of the 30mm cap and the 3 hooks on the 3 flanges of the shaft and begin pressing in the bushing.

that hammer is not a BFH when working on benz, you need one larger than that to categorize it as BFH

:)

...oh here we go! Mine's bigger than yours!

the tiny 1/2 inch hammer I got in my hobby stone carver set is a BFH for an old 80s Alfa Romeo.. well I might as well scream at it and it will fall to pieces.

its perspective :D

...and what you do with it!

Figured I would add to this since I just went through it.

I looked at the corrosion in the area and decided the MB method of drilling a hole in it, sticking a rod through it and prying was not going to work. So I made a sleeve out of a piece of pipe with two slots so I can press it out with a bearing splitter.

The sleeve needs to be cut square so if you don't have a lathe then just use a stock 6" nipple. I doesn't mater if there are threads on it. Drill a 1/2" hole through the pipe about 2.5" from one end. and slot with a hack saw or sawzal.

I drilled a 25/64" drill with 3/8" SS rod I had lying around. Not surprising the SS rod bent on removal but that's OK it still came out. I also found that drilling the hole close to the flange left little room for the bearing splitter. On the second one I cut a 3/8" grade 8 bolt which to my supersize also bent but it got the job done.

The bearing splitter I used was a little too small and consequently the crude shimming I had to do and the totally inappropriate use of an bearing splitter shown in the pictures.

Unfortunately today the system wont let me upload pictures so I will have to try another day.