PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

layback40 · #3 02-11-2011, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biopete

On my ex W124 300D when i put a tie rod end on , one of the nuts at the center link wouldn't get any tighter after a while. I was holding the the end with an allen and it just kept spinning and spinning. I didn't overtorque it. Looking at it its about the same place on the shaft as the other tight nuts on the tie rods . But i'm a little worried about it since they don't have cotter pins in these.

Do you think that nut could come off and the tie rod pop out? Thanks

The tie rod is subjected to all sorts of shock loads. It will come out in time, probably cause the car to veer to one side in an uncontrollable manner, maybe roll. Steering components are as important to the cars safety as the brakes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by biopete

I thought there was a slight chance it could so i took some precautions. It was late sunday and cold and i was ready to be done and take it to the alignment and didn't want to get a new tierod end just for this. So i boogered up the remaining threads under the nut so it couldn't back off. I drove car for a couple weeks like that and checked and nut hadn't backed off any.

This is totally irresponsible & should never be done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by biopete

This weekend when i sold the car i told the owner about it and said we may need to do more to keep it from coming off. I also put silicone RTV all over it to hopefully hold it.

So how would you ensure that thing doesn't come off? A little weld? Would JB Weld do it? Or do you think its fine?

Thanks

The silicone is nothing but concealment.
Unless you have the proper authority you should never weld steering components.
This bit of DIY is easily the worst case of dangerous inappropriate repair I have read about on this forum. Should there have been a failure as a result of this, I would expect the perpetrator to at least be dealt with by the courts for this negligent action. I would recommend any one considering purchasing a car from some one who would contemplate such a repair should seriously reconsider their purchase.

This sort of thing is just down right DUMB & DANGEROUS.
For the sake of a 20c lock nut, some one would risk a serious accident.