on my car turning wheel to right evokes a groaning creakysound,was told its a dry bushing in idler arm,if so whats involved in r+r.

Sounds like an upper ball joint. I tried to lubricate it, but it only lasted for a short while. Unless you have the proper tools, I would not advise trying to replace it yourself. bill.

It was the idler arm causing this exact noise on my 1978 300SD.....

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

In theory idler arm replacement is a fairly simple process. In practice it can be a bear especially if that is your original idler arm.

Replaced the original on my 80 300SD a while back and it was a several hour task breaking the old one loose from the almost 30 years and 440k miles worth of dirt and rust in there.

The kit is fairly inexpensive. Good luck!

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Joe

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1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
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Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
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87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

when my car was making noises on turning it turned out to be a bent steering stabilizer. Apparrently the PO decided it would be a great tow point.

Got the same groaning too, still.
I did check my upper ball joint by separating it from the steering knuckle and it still groaned when I turned the steering wheel.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

well ive ordered rebuild kit -ill let you know what happened.

DIY page, Introduction to Idler Arm Rebuild
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=86872

Unfortunately links are dead. I will look in stickies.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

On a W123 the upper ball joint is part of the upper control arm. It does not require compressing the spring or anything like that. I did both upper arms on my fathers 300D a few days ago and other than a joint separator tool, it rquired nothing more than some sockets.

Here is an alternative to the dead link.

PeachPartsWiki: Steering Rebuild

.

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