Wanted to say hello and thanks to this board. I have read the entire diesel forum and like the search function here, been lurking for a couple of years, so I decided to register. Thanks for all the info I found here. Did the steering on my 300sdl and it is a bit smoother. Next to do control arm bushings and ball joints, along with most of the rubber bits, suspension and mounts. On a 22 year old car one would expect things to need to be replaced. If I did the ac car would be perfect at least for me. Running vegoil, watching fuel prices go up but haven't been to station pumps yet this year. What prompted the steering rebuild was a front end shimmy, haven't rotated and balanced tires yet, to see if that is the cause or not. Took car in to local Mercedes indie, he looked at front end, said the tie rods were excessively worn and bushings and ball joints needed to be replaced, at a price of around $1300, which seems to be in line with what I've others have paid. But I have a few tools and do most work on cars myself, never steering or suspension though, so I thought I would get an experts opinion. He said the excessive wear in tie rods made the car in his opinion unsafe to drive. I told him I made a 5500 mile trip with speeds up to 100mph in Sept and he thought I was lucky. So I took it easy no long trips or excessive speed turning, until I got the parts and just replaced them myself. May leave the bushings and ball joints to a professional though. Car may just be a keeper if I do all the work I plan on doing. Bought from original owner, with few things wrong other than things just plain wearing out over time and needing to be rplaced.

Welcome to the forum. I too looked for a while before joining, sure are a great bunch of guys and gals across the country ready to help.

It makes it special when you go to a GTG and see some of the faces and meet the people behind the online names.

The SDL is a nice auotmobile, but need TLC to stay the luxury car it is.
replace all the suspension parts, motor/trans mount, maybe center support bearing/mount, alignment, and it will seem like a different car.

trouble is first owner and maybe second owner take care of the car when new. but seem like after 10 or so yrs they get neglected and we see them in PNP. some with very low milage.

There is not much we can`t do on these vehicles as DIYers, except rebuild eng. and trans. the cost of some of the tools is pricy, but a couple jobs and you will have them paid for.

fill out your signiture, saves being asked what car, year, area of country etc...

Charlie ☺

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

welcome. the front end is not too bad of a job.you can do the balljoints your self. or pop the spindles off and have them pressed at a shop for a lot less- like $25/ea around here.

no spring compressor needed.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.