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  #1  
Old 06-19-2008, 11:00 AM
tyl604's Avatar
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How to repair inside rear door strut 81 300SD

About one year ago the driver's side rear door started to protest when I would close it. There would be a pressure resist, then something would pop, and I could close the door. Took it to an indy and he fixed it; no more trouble until this week when I removed the door panel to look at the rear door lock actuator.

The indy had not fixed anything. He had removed the bolt that holds the door strap and left it free. The metal strap, in turn, hung up on the door lock rod, and the rod would not move to unlock the door - then the pressure broke the plastic shaft in the door lock actuator.

I have a new door lock actuator on order. When I rebolted the door strap (seems to extend through the door and be bolted on the post), I get the same resistance and pop in order to close the door.

Anyone have an idea how to fix the strap? Grease does not seem to be the answer. If this piece does nothing but hold the door open, maybe I could remove it entirely and prevent it from hanging up the door lock rod again? Thoughts?

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  #2  
Old 06-19-2008, 11:29 AM
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Sounds like you need a new door check strap unit.

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=2E60GA1KL2EB0OM96C&year=1981&make=MB&model=300-SD-002&category=O&part=Door+Check

I think I read that someone (maybe Kerry?) took his out of the door and was able to repair it. But they are pretty cheap for a new one.
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  #3  
Old 06-19-2008, 11:34 AM
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Hard to bring back if they are resisting.

New ones are not expensive, 3 bolts and a pin and you're done!

Jim
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  #4  
Old 06-19-2008, 11:53 AM
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It's not possible

When I replaced the rear door check straps in my '87 300D-T (W124, OM603), I looked at the old ones with a view to rebuilding. In the end, however, I decided that the metal-on-metal wear that had occurred over 20 years had made that improbable. And as has been said, they are not that expensive, $35 for both rears in my car.

Jeremy
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Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
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  #5  
Old 06-19-2008, 12:59 PM
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Thanks to all. I will take another look but guess a new part is in order. Thanks for the part number; big help.
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  #6  
Old 06-19-2008, 01:26 PM
RML RML is offline
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I tried to fix my door strap. In theory, it does not seem like it should be problem. I took it apart, cleaned and greased everything; but the problem was getting it back together. The balls that seat in the depressions in the metal channel are on opposite sides of a spring, loaded in a cylinder. The problem was getting this cylinder back in the channel while keeping the balls compressed in the cylinder. I tried a C Clamp and almost got it, but one of the balls flew out across my garage. I tried it again and this time the ball flew behind some stuff in a corner. I had put better than an hour into rebuilding this part with no success, and I began to have visions of the steel ball hitting one of my windows on the car and cracking it. For $35 or so, it was time to order a new one.

My wife found the lost ball some months later when sweeping the garage. I saved it along with the rest of the parts. If I try to rebuild it again, I will set up some sort of jig to place the cylinder into the channel.
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  #7  
Old 06-19-2008, 02:52 PM
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I sent a pm to RML but could not figure out how to send a picture. Trying on the forum.

Not sure what happened but I tried to send a message with a pic a minute ago; did not work and bombed me out of the forum.

I took your advice and removed the part from the door. When I took it apart, I found that it had only one, not two, steel balls. Not sure how this could be! Am going to order a new one.

Cannot figure out how to add a picture. When I click the insert image icon above, it asks for an url - and I am lost. Not able to drag the jpeg or paste it to the bottom of this message. Any idea how to do this?
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  #8  
Old 06-19-2008, 03:34 PM
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Click on the "Manage Attachments" button and an upload window pops up (must have popup blocker turned off for this site). In the new window, click "browse," choose the image you want to upload, then click "upload." Image must be 800x600 and about 72K or less. Click "close this window" to get rid of the upload window. Max five pictures attached to one post.

Alternatively, if you have pictures already in some other web site, you can reference them by simply inserting the url of the picture.
__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
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  #9  
Old 06-19-2008, 04:24 PM
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A new one is cheap and easy to replace yourself with a 10mm socket and a hammer to knock out the pin. In my w126 the door would grind when i opened it and pop. I took it out and put a bunch of bearing grease in it and now it works fine. Barely grinds anymore and does not pop
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  #10  
Old 06-19-2008, 09:56 PM
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Will install tomorrow

Still confused about adding a picture. I purchased a new door check today for $22 - good price. The old one had one, not two, steel ball inside. Can this be right? I have not taken apart the new one but think it should have two steel balls. Will install tomorrow.



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  #11  
Old 06-19-2008, 10:11 PM
RML RML is offline
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Perhaps someone familiar with an 81 SD can comment. From the looks of your picture, it looks like mine, and I had a ball on each side of the spring. Is there a depression for a ball on both sides of the channel? If so, then a ball belongs there.
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84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60
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  #12  
Old 06-19-2008, 11:45 PM
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Yes, I think it should have two steel balls. I did have a thread on trying to repair one but MB must have a special jig which compresses the balls and then allows the piece to be slid into place. It seemed virtually impossible to do this without such a jig.
However, in my case, I think that the grease around the ball(s) had hardened and had I simply removed the part and sprayed WD40 into the holes where the balls seat, they would have freed up and the part would have been functional again. It is very hard to get lubricant on the balls with the part in the door, but it is not impossible with an aerosol can and a plastic extender hose.
I think the popping noise is indicative of a stuck ball. Do not ignore such sounds. The check strap can freeze in the open position and it then has to be removed in order to close the door. This happened to me at the most inopportune time.

Don't take the new one apart. You won't be able to reassemble it.


Repeat the mantra: Check your balls and keep them lubricated.

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