Need some help/information or replacing front ball joints on 1973 220. Has 4 cylinder gas engine and automatic. Any suggestions,
hints, etc.. appreciated.

Hint.......

When taking the nuts off the ball joint the whole ball can spin, causing unending frustration.

On your Mercedes (I have no idea about other cars) at the end of the threaded part there should be a hexagonal hole where you can insert an allen key to stop it spinning.

Oh, and count how many threads there are visible where the ball joint winds into the rod, or measure it, it is important to wind the new one in the same distance for the alignment.

__________________
306D 1975 (camper) - rusting away
W116 450 SEL 1975 - sold
W114 long wheelbase ambulance, 3 litre diesel 1974

VW Golf 1 convertable - midlife crisis item
VW T4 van - support vehicle

Skalie is talking about the "tie rod ends".

when americans refer to "ball joints", it means the upper and lower joints for the suspension. "tie rod ends" are for the steering.

This is where English, American, and Dutch languages collide.

BTW Skalie, your english is excellent!

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

Thanks for the compliment 240 Ed, but I lived the first 20 years of my life in New Zealand, so my English should be at a somewhat understandable level.

Thanks for clearing up my bad advice as well, as far as balls joints go, I've only ever done them on my 306D which is front wheel drive, so I doubt if I can be very helpfull. I remember it involved needing a small bottle jack.

__________________
306D 1975 (camper) - rusting away
W116 450 SEL 1975 - sold
W114 long wheelbase ambulance, 3 litre diesel 1974

VW Golf 1 convertable - midlife crisis item
VW T4 van - support vehicle

A special tool is required, it can be shop fabricated. They are, I think, pressed in, so must therefore be pressed out, and the tool has a threaded bolt in it to apply the appropriate force to the ball joints. Chiltons manual has the diagram, so does the shop manual.

You may wish to have someone do this for you, after you remove the steering knuckle.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks for the help and information. Sounds like a job for a shop to handle. Was hoping to avoid that as long as I could.