I knew my car needed brake and bearing work, and have had a wheel, or two off for the last few weeks. Not too many miles on it since buying it in November.

Yesterday I finished up the front brakes, tie rods, wheel bearing repack, and ball joint and went for a ride.
Needs alignment next week, no surprise, but handling and tracking felt very good. Maybe a new steering damper...

Brakes are great, straight and sure. No squealing, yet. Quite rewarding for my first brake job.

After repeated stops to set brake pads, I got on the highway and did about 15 miles cruising.
Most pleasant! Car wanted to do 200 miles, but first we'll do alignment. Then we'll roll. Italian tuneup time.
For what I know about a diesel, it runs smooth, with ample acceleration. Smoked a white Caddy after doing a U-turn and flooring it.
Punching it took me from 60 to 75 in a blink. Very smooth, and it was ME that let up. Car was ready for more.

Work so far:
Brake pads all around.
Rotors in front.
both tie rod assemblies.
Right ball joint. Paid $65 to have an indy press it in.
Repack front bearings
fuel filters
Air filter
seat frame and pad
monovalve kit---I have heat!
Taiwan-Euro headlights
bosch wipers with cages
Hood pad
front crank seal and Oil and filter--$264 at indy shop
rubber muffler hangers
CD player

Sitting on transmission filter kit and MB coolant. To do soon.
Also need to:
Replace under hood fuel lines
Shifter bushings
Look at flex discs

Putting it into full-time service this week.
Paid $6100, received a CitiBank Driver's Edge $1500 cash rebate, and added about $1700 parts and labor to date.
(Coulda had a Chrysler Grand Voyager with 110,000 miles for the same money...)
So far, so good.

__________________
Mike J
Cary, NC

1987 300SDL
203,400 miles
How NOT to buy a MB Diesel:
Know little or nothing about diesels or Mercedes Benz.
Get the WVO fever.
Drive 70 miles to a used car lot in the country.
Buy the car without having it inspected, because it seems like a good idea at the time....
I'll be back. I'm gonna need help.
I love this car already!


1998 F-150 154,000 miles

1994 Geo Tracker 75,000 Miles