I am interested in replacing my rocker arms on a 1989 420 SEL. I have found 2 brands, Febi and Laso. Which one is better? Is there a better brand than either of these two? if there is a better brand, where can I find them?

Does anyone have any experience with either one of these brands?

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1989 420 SEL

hello

yes i just replace my rockers on my 88 420sel due to low oil scored the cam so i had to replace all 8 on the right bank.

i believe mine were febi. frankly they are same inre quality. just make sure when you install them that there are no burrs and use an assembly grease on both the cam lobe and the rocker on both ends. spring side and lobe side.

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Thanks Much!
Craig

1972 350sl Red/Blk 117k
1988 420sel charcoal/Blk 140k
1987 420sel gold/tan 128k
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Both Febi & Laso are aftermarket quality!

Only way to get better quality is to buy OE from dealer.

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Why are you interested in replacing them? If they are making noise, you may have a problem with the ball studs.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Basically, when idling, there is clacking sound coming from under the valve covers. I took it to an independent MB mechanic. He recommended replacing the rockers. When I saw the price, I asked him if there were alternatives. He said he had a some used rockers he could put on, that were in good shape. The used rockers were put on, but there is still this clacking noise, so now he is recommending new rockers and new cam shafts. He said the cam shafts have flattened a little, but I could probably continue driving it for another year before making the changes recommended.

Why are you recommending?

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1989 420 SEL

It is making a noise because the ball stud - aka hydraulic lash compensator - is not holding the rocker against the cam. The ball studs are pre-loaded and there are a shims that come in various thicknesses that control the pre-load. The thicker the shim, the greater the pre-load. You can have good ball studs that need thicker shims, or you can have worn out ball studs that need to be replaced. Either condition can cause valve noise.

MB makes a special tool to adjust the pre-load.

My point about the rockers was that unless the cam lobe was worn, I did not find them to be worn as I worked my way through valve problems on the Wayward Woman (380SL).

If you want too much information on this, try a search on "hockey puck" or "ball stud."

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Chuck,
Thank you very much for your recommendation. I sincerely appreciate it and on Monday, Charlie (the mechanic) and me are going to have a discussion. Your advice is most helpful. I will perform the searches too.

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1989 420 SEL

Chuck:

I have searched and read the items you recommended.

It seems possible, since the clacking from the valve covers is louder with the new used rockers than with the old rockers, that maybe my mechanic failed to adjust the hydraulic lash compensator with shims.

Comments?

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1989 420 SEL