Most of the notes I have read refer to using a press and/or liberal amounts of PB-Blaster, all-thread rod, washers, and nuts to press the bushings out. One guy spoke about removing them, but I am not in favor of disturbing the axles, bearings, and hubs. If one speck of dirt gets in the hub bearings or differential gears you can have major problems.

My mechanic pointed out when I changed the brake calipers that the diff looked like it was leaking a little, but also told me that I should leave the diff alone unless I am going to do a complete rebuild, and that changing the seals is a *****. I did not get any feedback on changing diff seals to the contrary, and can find no posts of anyone DIYing it. He said the leak looks minor and slow, and to just check the fluid every couple of months and refill it. If I do win the lottery and decide to rebuild the diff after all, I will remove it and take it to him to do a complete rebuild for me on a proper bench with dial indicators, micrometers, etc, as called for in the Mercedes shop manual. I have none of those. I don't think it would cost more than 3-4 hours of labor to do it, which would be under $500.

So I am going to try and locate the proper Mercedes tool for pressing out/in the bushings if I cannot do it with the all-thread rod or a more generic press. That means leaving the axles in the hubs, just disconnecting it from the subframe, lowering it, and pressing in/out new ones.

At least that is the plan unless I get some more/better feedback from those who have gone before...

__________________
Theo

1985 300D turbo 235K miles, Delvac 1, mostly B20 BioDiesel

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