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  #1  
Old 12-20-2011, 11:50 PM
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Location: Northwest Ohio
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A Little Help with Front Suspension-w110

I lowered the front subframe to replace the subframe mounts after removing the brackets that hold the torsion bar and then the leaf springs themselves. After replacing the mounts, the holes in the leaf spring are way out of alignment to the mounting bolts for the bracket and leaf spring (at least one inch to the rear). Should I just loosen the rear engine mount carrier bracket and hoist the subframe forward to align the holes to the bolts (the eccentrics are pretty much already to the rear as far as they will go)? Any other techniques? The body is sitting on a lift and the subframe is on jack stands. The mounts are left loose although there isn't a lot of play. I've left weight on the subframe for a couple of days to let the mounts settle. Still way out of alignment.

I'm kinda sorry I did this job now as the mounts were only half-collapsed and the car tracked well. Now I'm probably looking at an alignment as the caster is most likely compromised. Any down and dirty way to set the caster without going to an alignment shop?

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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"
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  #2  
Old 12-21-2011, 07:10 PM
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Location: brisbane,Qld.Australia
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Not a major problem. loosen the trans mount crossmember .
get a big lever in one of the lower control arms and move the axle assembly back or forth to line the leaf springs up with the bolts. As long as you can see where your leaf springs were originally you can bolt them up using the marks .
Redo the trans crossmember bolts and you will be fine.

The W110 uses a mount bush which is pretty stiff so be prepared for some wrestling.

i have used a small comealong to pull them into line too.
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  #3  
Old 12-21-2011, 10:21 PM
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The come-a-long did the trick. Thanks!
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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"
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  #4  
Old 12-22-2011, 03:19 AM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 38,604
Before jumping to the conclusion you need an alignment just for caster, I would probably assume for starters that last time it was set you had decent subframe rubber and this will return it to that situation and just drive it first and see if it has that excellent MB tracking or not.
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  #5  
Old 12-22-2011, 09:33 AM
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That makes sense. We'll see what happens when I get the finny back on the road.
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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"
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  #6  
Old 12-24-2011, 08:54 PM
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I checked your profile, was hoping to see a few picts...good luck w/ the repairs
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  #7  
Old 12-25-2011, 10:21 AM
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Here's a few pictures of the car from my first post.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes/287180-new-w110-owner-initial-questions.html
Sorry, no pictures of the repair. My significant other would kill me if I got grease on our camera. Need to buy a shop camera.

The finny is back on the road and thankfully the tracking is as perfect as it was before dropping the subframe. The vibration I had around 60mph is gone. I believe the collapsed transmission mount was causing the flex disc to distort and wobble. New carrier bushing rubber and bearing also helped, I'm sure. I also aligned the rear axle using a jig I made out of copper tubing after replacing the cross brace rubber and trailing arm bushings. Rebuilt calipers and new hoses all round.

I have to say that the finny rides better than the w123. And that's saying something for a 45 year old car.

The last problem I need to solve is some stubborn grease pivots in the front suspension. I can't get three of them to accept grease. I've tried heat and also a tool I bought that drives penetrating oil into the joint. Anyone have any ideas? The joints are still tight and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm hoping I don't have to dissemble the joints to clean them out.
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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"
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  #8  
Old 12-25-2011, 01:57 PM
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Use a heat gun to liquify the old grease. Pump in the new.
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Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

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  #9  
Old 12-25-2011, 02:44 PM
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I've tried heat to the point where I was afraid of melting the rubber boots. I also removed the zerks to be sure they are clear. I'm thinking there must be rust or road debris in there.
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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"
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  #10  
Old 12-26-2011, 03:25 AM
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I have found that removing them is the best way to cure that.
On the knuckles trunnions I support the axe under the lower arm and pull the top bolt out ( mark it first to show where it must go when reinstalling it).Tip the knuckle out and unscrew the threaded sleeve. Give it a good clean and grease it before reinstalling it . It must have clearance so it will feel loose. You can only check these by putting a straight edge on the threads. Any low spots indicates wear.
You can do the bottom sleeve at the same time but in both cases you remember that the sleeves are the fine adjustment for the caster so count the number of times you turn them when removing them.

If you are worried about spring tension, do as I do it, put a spring compressor on the bottom arm lip and the other end on the top arms lip and use it to keep the spring compressed. It makes it easier to pull the king pins etc.
I do this when I am assembling a front end on the bench or in a car with no engine.
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  #11  
Old 12-26-2011, 11:04 AM
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[QUOTE=mercmad6.3;2853335]I have found that removing them is the best way to cure that.

Yea, I was afraid of that. The way you describe the procedure it doesn't seem that difficult. I've never had a front suspension apart before.

Damn! just when I had her back on the road and was enjoying the new rubber.

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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"
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