water pump swap on a W115 240d with AC? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

burndup · #1 09-09-2005, 03:01 PM

Anybody done it? My AC seems to be working for the moment... kind of disappointing to say that! So I want to try and leave it intact... but as I've heard it called here, I have the "Frankenstein AC bracket" from hell covering the front of my engine, making things.... interesting... if not downright hairy.

Anybody who's done this procedure have any tips for me? Manual just says of the AC:

"Remove and set aside." Great, thanks a million...

Too bad the AC still works, itd be nice to use that compressor as a new shop air compressor! I'm sure its meatier than whats in my lil craftsman POS... Yanking the entire AC system would also provide a weight reduction of probably a hundred pounds, thats the best kind of performance mod!

Lemme know whatcha think, thanks,
Jason

duxthe1 · #2 09-09-2005, 08:13 PM

As a m/b tech I can tell you that is one bit$h of a job. You're better off letting a good indie shop do it unless you have a lot of skill, patience, persistance and tools.

burndup · #3 09-09-2005, 08:55 PM

feh. I'm all good, except maybe in the patience department, and overdrawn currently in the persistance department... after having replaced all the other crap on this car last week in the heat...

Thats probably why I havent started tearing it down yet... spent a few minutes staring at it, and gunked it clean, but havent taken anything apart yet.

If it doesnt have a warranty, or I cant fix it myself, I wont own it!

notlostmaybe · #4 09-09-2005, 09:55 PM

i don't recall removing the AC and its bracket to be that difficult.

on the other hand, don't try replacing the break prone power steering
pump bracket without first taking your valium.

don

t walgamuth · #5 09-09-2005, 11:41 PM

removed the ac bracket..it is i who named it the friankenstein bracket...you can do it wo breaking the seals on the ac i believe. last time i had a 115 engine out i had parts cut off the bracket so i could change the water pump wo removing it. i had a crescent cut out wit a torch and also cut off the bottom part and left the end bolted to whatever it was bolted to. then sold the car before need ing another pump... for other reasons. oh well.

good luck... it is a ***** imho.

tom w

Lycoming-8 · #6 09-10-2005, 12:03 AM

If it is not too much different from the 220D/8 in a W115, you can do it but hang or support the compressor from something very strong. Might even try an engine lift for that part of the job. Would agree that some of that monster bracket could stand to be torched!!

psfred · #7 09-10-2005, 10:26 PM

You cannot modify the bracket to clear the water pump without causing it to hammer eventually.

The trick is to get three bolts the same as the ones holding the water pump on and cut the heads off. Cut a screwdriver slot in them with a hacksaw.

Take the WP bolts out and screw the headless bolts in far enough to clear the bracket, then remove the bracket. Leave AC compressor on it, the hoses are long enough to let you move it aside. Remove the water pump.

Going back in, use red permatex on the housing to block gasket, and install the headless bolts to hold the water pump in place while getting the bracket back on (this is a HUGE PITA). pull the headless bolts ONE AT A TIME and replace with the normal bolts. Don't take them all out at once, because the WP gasket will surely slide down and you will have to do the whole job again.... I recommend the red permatex liquid sealer because it sets quickly, helping to keep the gasket in place.

Peter

#8 09-11-2005, 02:17 AM

My advice having done it is take 2 valium drink at least 3 beers then when you get the AC off DO NOT put it back in. Sell it as a boat anchor. Then enjoy your improved MPG and performance. You can take it off with out evacuating the AC system but you really need an engine hoist and you still risk putting a heck of a dent in the fender wall with the bloody thing If you decide to leave it off you will need 3 new shorter bolts for the water pump. I guess I am lucky I live in northern California so loosing the little air condition it provided was no big deal but the garbage truck that picks up the recycle container had difficulty picking up the can with that POS in it. The front of the car sits a little higher with out it though.
Dave S

t walgamuth · #9 09-11-2005, 06:38 AM

years ago not to buy any more benzes with that ac bracket on them. i think i only bought two more after that. (you know, couldn't pass up the great deals)

tom w

kerry · #10 09-11-2005, 09:55 AM

I don't know if the bracket you refer to is the same as the bracket on the 77 300d I have, but I discovered on that that I could do a little grinding with a dremel tool (about half an hour) and get the water pump off without removing the AC bracket. I did that about 2 or 3 years ago and have had no problems with it.

t walgamuth · #11 09-11-2005, 12:04 PM

on the 77.

good for you. one has to wonder why they didnt just do it that way at the factory, don t you.

tom w

kerry · #12 09-11-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

on the 77.

good for you. one has to wonder why they didnt just do it that way at the factory, don t you.

tom w

Yes, as I was grinding, I was cursing the engineer. He was asleep on the job.
I just tried to look at what I did to describe the procedure but it is now hidden behind the pulley. I'm pretty sure I ground away a section of the bracket to access a water pump bolt that was behind it. I was able to do it with the radiator in place and I think I used small diamond grinding tips on the Dremel. It took a while because in order to exert pressure I had to pull up on the Dremel.
I wondered if I was removing an essential structural component of the bracket but I couldn't see how the section I removed affected the strength very much.

t walgamuth · #13 09-11-2005, 12:32 PM

to remove an arc to clear the water pump houseing.

i later cut off the bottom of the bracket and left that part attached to the block. none of it seemed to matter...although i didnt run a lot of miles that way, maybe 20k.

tom w

burndup · #14 09-11-2005, 05:05 PM

Yeah yeah yeah! I have a mental picture of where I need to cut. Fortuneately I have 3 1/2", 4" and 4 1/2" disc cutters/grinders... oh, yeah, and a pneumatic one too... AND a dremel...

And a torch, if need be, but thats over kill...

So yeah, surgury it gets, but is there ANYTHING behind the bracket I need to be worried about nicking?

Will I be able to get at that "bypass hose" to replace it without removing the bracket?

Part of me is thinking, "Do you really ever wanna drive this swiss-cheese diesel gas chamber with the windows up?"

Thanks,
Jason

t walgamuth · #15 09-11-2005, 09:22 PM

mine with it off the car. as a part of an engine rebuild. doing it on the car sounds tricky. yes there are things behind it that you have to be careful of.

tom w

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