Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-07-2009, 08:58 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Madison Heights, MI
Posts: 11
Upper Control arm nightmare

Decided to replace my upper control arms due to worn bushing and a worn ball joint. Passenger side blot was seized to the sleeve - would not budge! So after reading other threads on this problem - I decided I would try to cut the bolt / sleeve with the sawszall. Sawzall cut through the metal great, but it was kind of hard to get the blade in there with the stabilizer bar in the way. At first attempt, I was cutting against the stabilizer without really realizing it!!. So how bad did I screw this up?? I hate saying this, but would this be an OK situation to fill in with JB weld?



Attached Thumbnails
Upper Control arm nightmare-img1746q.jpg  

Last edited by whunter; 08-01-2010 at 01:48 PM. Reason: attached picture
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-07-2009, 09:41 PM
mobetta's Avatar
(Oo{-I-}oO)
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: minnesota,hey.
Posts: 1,841
weld it- not the jb kind.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-07-2009, 10:29 PM
whunter's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 17,416
The sway bar tip is rusted too far and needs repair = combine the weld with the repair.


QP1000 Torsion Bar Saver W123, W126 S-Class
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=178104
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-07-2009, 10:37 PM
Inna-propriate-da-vida
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,969
I'd take whunters opinion.
Next time, maybe use a die grinder.
__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-08-2009, 08:09 AM
toomany MBZ's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: central Va
Posts: 7,820
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmbdiesel View Post
I'd take whunters opinion.
Agreed.
__________________
83 SD

84 CD
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-08-2009, 08:33 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 5,480
Unfortunately, You're best bet now is replacement. With a cut like that to the spring-steel that these torsion-bars are made of, I wouldn't trust any type of repair.

Happy Motoring, Mark
__________________
DrDKW
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-08-2009, 09:49 AM
winmutt's Avatar
85 300D 4spd+tow+h4
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Atl Gawga
Posts: 9,346
There is none with heat treated.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-08-2009, 01:11 PM
Diesel911's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Long Beach,CA
Posts: 51,038
Is there anyone who thinks that if the Sway Bar was going to break it would break at the tips that are at least 1/2 the diameter of the Sway Bar instead of at the scary cut (which I think is more of a Psychological issue)?
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-08-2009, 01:18 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: beautiful Bucks Co, PA
Posts: 961
I agree with Diesel911. That cut is not significant, and the bar is not heat treated nor is it spring steel-if it were the weld on repair piece would not work. If the end of the bar is usable, I'd put it back together the way it is.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-08-2009, 01:27 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,971
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
Is there anyone who thinks that if the Sway Bar was going to break it would break at the tips that are at least 1/2 the diameter of the Sway Bar instead of at the scary cut (which I think is more of a Psychological issue)?
Over the short term. I would agree. The problem over the longer term is that the cut could cause a concentration of stress which could lead to a crack which could eventually cause a failure of the bar.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-08-2009, 02:49 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 5,480
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chas H View Post
I agree with Diesel911. That cut is not significant, and the bar is not heat treated nor is it spring steel-if it were the weld on repair piece would not work. If the end of the bar is usable, I'd put it back together the way it is.
I believe it is some grade of spring-steel.
I've seen torsion bars snap from rust craters much shallower that that cut. They didn't break immediately, but they did break.
Maybe this stabiliser bar isn't made of such fragile steel, but I'm not the one that will be taking the chance.

Happy Motoring, Mark
__________________
DrDKW
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-08-2009, 04:53 PM
Diesel911's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Long Beach,CA
Posts: 51,038
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post
I believe it is some grade of spring-steel.
I've seen torsion bars snap from rust craters much shallower that that cut. They didn't break immediately, but they did break.
Maybe this stabiliser bar isn't made of such fragile steel, but I'm not the one that will be taking the chance.

Happy Motoring, Mark
My thought was that the tip being thinner would break off first; even with the cut there is still more metal on that section of the bar than at the tip and because it is close to the tip would be subjected to a similar stress.

If that same cut was down there next to the the 90 degree bend I would be worried.
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-08-2009, 05:02 PM
Diesel911's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Long Beach,CA
Posts: 51,038
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chas H View Post
I agree with Diesel911. That cut is not significant, and the bar is not heat treated nor is it spring steel-if it were the weld on repair piece would not work. If the end of the bar is usable, I'd put it back together the way it is.
You would think that the welding heat itself and the stress of the metal solidifying after the weld would do something undesirable to the metal; harden or soften it. Niether of which is good for Spring Steel.

Yet the repair seems to work.
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-08-2009, 05:20 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: beautiful Bucks Co, PA
Posts: 961
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
You would think that the welding heat itself and the stress of the metal solidifying after the weld would do something undesirable to the metal; harden or soften it. Niether of which is good for Spring Steel.

Yet the repair seems to work.
I mig welded a bolt to the rusted/broken off end of one of these bars. The car was then driven the 500 miles or so back home and sold a few years later. If the bar were made of a spring steel it likely would have cracked at the weld. On the other hand it's really not a heavily stressed part.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-08-2009, 08:04 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Madison Heights, MI
Posts: 11
Thanks for all the replies guys. I was actually wanting to sell this car soon (83 240D). And was really bummed out when I did this! I really don't have the time right now to replace the whole thing like probably should be done (I would probably break other stuff yanking it out), and I have no welding experience or anything. I was just wanting to get a feel for how bad of a situation this was so I know how to communicate that to any potential buyers.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page