i posted this question in another thread, but was leading the original thread astray.

i am looking at doing a Front end rebuild on my 85 300D. everything except for the tierods (already changed) needs to be replaced. i would like to do as much myself as i can, but i am still a learning mechanic. i dont have any super special tools, and no air tools either. I HAVE replaced my rear axles, motor mounts, love doing valve adjustments, and smalller jobs. so i am not a total newb.

i know that the lower control arms will need to be done at a good shop or dealer, so in what order can i replace stuff then slowly drive it to the dealer to have them do the lower arms and align the car? also what parts do i order. if you guys can help me out that would be great. i would buy as much as i can from phil.

ohh ya, will get bilstein's comforts and new springs (from the group buy via this forum)

i will let the shop do the springs. i am lacking the expensive tools, as i am a recent college grad that lived in a small apartment. in march i will rent a house, and my job will allow me the liberty to stock my garage with tools. that will probably be the timeframe that i will be doing the rebuild.

another question, are ball joints hard to replace?

is there an easier way than just browsing phil's site for bushings/parts i would need?

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Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

Is there are reason you are doing everything all at once, or are you looking for advice on what to change first?

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Many of the jobs overlap.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

might as well knock out everything when you have the spring compressor....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

ya that is the idea. i finally have a great job that will allow me to pretty much rebuild it. want to get as much done as i can in one swing. spring compressor i will leave to the shop also.

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Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

You can't do much without pulling the spring to be safe.

The tool is only about $200, cheaper than any shop bill could ever be.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I bought a front end rebuild kit off ebay for $290ish. Look around I'm sure its still there.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

You will need a ball joint press and a spring compressor. This job is fairly simple if you have these two tools and some time. Do it all in one shot. The upper control arms have balljoints and bushings already installed. Get new bushings for the swaybar, inners and outers. The lower control arms will need the bushings pressed in. I used a large C-clamp and various 1/2drive sockets to press the old bushings out and the new in. Do the lower balljoints and replace the idler arm, strut rod mount and the steering stabilizer. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

you can rent the spring compressor from autozone for $40. and getting the ball joints pressed in can be done at any machine shop for around $50.

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1983 300SD W126 w/276k miles

Don't even think about using an Autozone strut spring compressor on a Mercedes spring!!!!

Why is that?

(it worked fine for me, so i'm wondering why this would be a bad thing)

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1983 300SD W126 w/276k miles