Rear struts--560 SEL
 

I recently read a post on replacing the upper stops on the rear struts of a 560sel. Ready to do mine, and can't find the post to read it again. Seems like it will be simple, i just want to review and i've spent half my "work day" searching. Thanks.

I remember the post Earl, it was about a 560SEC. I have the part numbers written dwon around here somewhere...I have to do them too as I'm starting to get the "thump" on certain bumps.

Here is the link you seek.

I seem to recall the rear struts are the same as on a 6.9. They have ball jointsa on the top. Is that what you want to replace? On my 6.9 only the front struts have replaceable ball joints, on the rears you have to replace the strut.

That's the one!!
 

Thanks Mike, i looked for hours (my secretary was getting cranky!!) and didn't see it yesterday. Got the front end done over the weekend--upper control arms, shocks, center link, steering shock, idler arm bushings. Lower ball joints were good, looked fresher than the rest of the suspension too. The steering is MUCH tighter now, alignment scheduled for tomorrow along with a new set of Khumo H4's to try. Time to get the winter tires off. I had the idler arm kit for 2 years, dreaded installing it from reading posts. Really was easy, plenty of clearance for the bolt and was able to access both ends from underneath. Even had room to use a 12" quick release bar clamp to press the new bushings most of the way in. My alignment isn't even close, but the front Graspics had seen their last winter anyway. Now for the rear....

Done!!
 

Took longer than i thought, but worth the time. The old rubber was hard, and the bump stop was very compressed. Ride is noticably smoother, an improvement almost equal to the new front shocks and upper control arms.
After a quick test drive, i was headed in to shower and volunteer fire pager went off. I was amazed to look at the speedometer and see 85 mph--ride was smooth as silk.

I'll ask you what I have asked many others... What did you use to get the first (probably top) idler bushing out? I can't get anything to catch in the small gap between the upper and the lower bushings.
Thanks
David

P.S.
You probably already know this, or you may not need it, but you can adjust the steering box to eliminate steering slop since you have everything alse in the front end done. Like I said, I don't know if your steering has any more play, but just incase...

One more question for you two, would you personally recommend a 560SEL? Even over a 420SEL? The car wouldn't be for me, but my dad wants one. The thing is though, he wouldn't spend much on one so he'd get one of those that needs everything replaced right when we buy it.
Thanks Again
David

David,
Idler arm bushings--the lower bushing just pulled right out which enabled me to use a screwdriver to pop the upper one out. Had that not been the case, seems like channel locks or vise grips would have been functional for pulling the lower. There was plenty of clearance to do the full job from underneath, but having a second person on the torque wrench helped.
Steering box--There is a little slop, was planning to do some searching and reading today on the adjustment. Thanks for the encouragement.
560 SEL--I like mine a lot. The hydropneumatic suspension adds a different dimension to the car versus the 420, but as long as the nitrogen spheres are not allowed to go bad or the fluid run dry, the struts are not prone to failure. A client of mine has a pair of 420's and is happy with them. After 2 and a half years and a lot of labor and parts, it's finally time to start on my interior. Recommendation to buy either would be with the caution to make sure you are willing to learn the car and work with her.