300 TDT Rear Strut Removal

[libbybapa]

I was looking in the manual and it seems to say that ti remove the rear strut, you loosen the top bolt, loosen the two bottom bolts and drop it down through the trailing arm. Is it really that easy?

Andrew

[mbshop]

yea, with some oily mess.

george

[groovinola]

Originally Posted by libbybapa

I was looking in the manual and it seems to say that ti remove the rear strut, you loosen the top bolt, loosen the two bottom bolts and drop it down through the trailing arm. Is it really that easy?Andrew

Not quite that easy. Two things about removing the strut you might want to know.

1st you need to disconnect the pressure line (hose from the accumulator) from the screw connection on the strut prior to loosening the top bolt . Don't loosen the screw connection from the strut as the strut will come out with the screw attached to it and apparently they have a nasty tendency of breaking and are difficult finding replacements for. Getting wrenches in there isn't the easiest process but far from the most difficult.

2nd the tires or the trailing arm need to be fully supported when you loosen the top bolt as the strut is what serves as the attachment for the trailing arm to the frame. Also the rear end needs to be off the ground in order to give the strut enough clearance to come out.

Now for the fun part. I'm assuming if you are taking one (or both) out you are going to be putting one (or two) back in. Seeing that your wagon is an '82 if that is the one you are removing the strut from you may potentially run into the same situation i now face. Check out these two threads 123 Wagon Spring Struts-2 Versions-Interchangeable? and Strut Installation on '82 TD Wagon: Help and let me know if you have any insight or if you get some. I'm still in the process of figuring it out while I wait for a part (Ball Joint assembly for the base of the strut which only comes from Germany). Good Luck.

woody