who makes original (OE) balljoints for W126?

[deniss]

My passenger side balljoint(s) are starting to "speak up", so I am shopping for replacements.

Who makes the original-equipment balljoints for W126 ('84 300SD)? I emailed one company who I bought from before, who supplies OE parts only. They claim that Febi/Bilstein makes these (both the lower balljoints and the upper control arm/balljoint set)... I thought it was Lemfroeder...

Anyone know for sure?

[dannym]

Any one of those three will work fine.

I used Lemfoerder on the lower ball joints over a year ago and they are like new still.
http://www.diymbrepair.com/FrontSuspension/balljoint/

I just put Febi upper control arms in last month. Supposedly their OEM.

Danny

[deniss]

******** AZ sells Lemfoerder lower balljoints, and they are saying it's Mercedes OE and require the special Mercedes tool, whereas other balljoints like TRW do not... Hmmm.

Speaking of balljoint tools... I've read a few threads on that and it sounds confusing how to make a tool for this. I think I'll try to get these pressed out and then pressed in at a machine shop rather than making a special tool... Are they easier to press once the control arm is removed?

[dannym]

ALL balljoints have to be pressed in. I have never heard of anyone making a tool. that sounds kinda dangerous to me.
I used and have heard lots of other people using the AutoZone rental press.

Did you read the link I posted earlier?

danny

[deniss]

Did you read the link I posted earlier?

I read it. Nice work indeed. But I'm not really clear on how the balljoint is seated or how it's best to pop it. On the Saab, I just banged on the neck of the tapered opening where the ball was seated - it poped right out. But it's hard to tell whether the same trick will work on the Benz without damaging the knuckle... I think I'll be clearer on it once I have a good look at it and start working on it, or maybe have a look at the service manual

[deniss]

When you say 2-lb sledge, is this what you're referring to?

[R Leo]

Originally Posted by deniss

******** AZ sells Lemfoerder lower balljoints, and they are saying it's Mercedes OE and require the special Mercedes tool, whereas other balljoints like TRW do not... Hmmm.

That is total BS.

Originally Posted by deniss

Speaking of balljoint tools... I've read a few threads on that and it sounds confusing how to make a tool for this. I think I'll try to get these pressed out and then pressed in at a machine shop rather than making a special tool... Are they easier to press once the control arm is removed?

To remove the balljoint, you wail on it from the bottom with a 2# sledge and a mandrel (easier to do with the knuckle clamped in a vice on your workbench); toto install it, I used a generic (read Chinese) balljoint installation clamp/press thing from Harbor Freight. I think it cost about $30. I'm no fan of Harbor Freight but that clamp/press has been the best money I've spent on suspension tools. I think the one I have is the fundamentally the same as AutoZone's rental press.

I made an arbor-type puller out of all thread to install the LCA bushings in my 126's control arms. Worked well too. OTOH, the über special, $95 SirTools balljoint separator I bought from Samstag Sales broke the second time I used it and my SirTools spring compressor is showing disturbing amounts of wear after barely a year of intermittent use.