Did the front end today - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kevin Johnson · #1 11-24-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phinsup

Well it was the lower balljoint making the noise, however those balljoints are the freakin devil!

Anyhow all is well it a couple small exceptions, i had just had it aligned before i did all this, which was dumb, but now that i replaced all the tie rods, matched them up as best I could seems to be pretty close, but my steering wheel is offcenter, not gonna mess with it just gonna take it and get i aligned again since I have brand new tires on it, they should center the steering wheel for me.

I am going to be doing this job shortly as well. Do you know good sources for the tools to break apart the various joints in the front end? I have a couple different pickle forks but they tend to destroy seals.

My plan is buy used spindles/uprights and install the new balljoints on those so as to have them ready and minimize downtime. I did buy the tool to install the joints on my press so I am set there.

SD Blue · #2 11-24-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Johnson

I am going to be doing this job shortly as well. Do you know good sources for the tools to break apart the various joints in the front end? I have a couple different pickle forks but they tend to destroy seals.

My plan is buy used spindles/uprights and install the new balljoints on those so as to have them ready and minimize downtime. I did buy the tool to install the joints on my press so I am set there.

Here is the ball joint separator that I used:http://www.toolsource.com/ball-joint-separator-p-94185.html

A word of caution when using this type of separator.........loosen the nut for the top ball joint but do not remove it completely. Leave the nut on the end threads for protection from buggering up the threads. Please don't ask me how I know this!............The shaft for the upper ball joint is hollow and the pressure required to separate is sufficient to damage those threads. The caveat: those are M10x1.0 threads and literally nobody has a die that size in any standard/professional tap-n-die sets. Also, outside of the dealer, that self locking nut is virtually unavailable! Believe me it will turn into a can-o'-worms.