I'm going to be removing my cruise actuator today (91 300D). As I understand, I can simply pop off the socket from the ball on each end of the linkage. But IIRC, these plastic parts can become brittle with age. I'm afraid I'm going to break them. Can anyone advise me how to remove the ball from socket so that danger of breaking something is minimized?

Thanks!

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

No biggy- you can buy replacements cheap if it breaks.

They just tilt to one side and pop off easily. I think all the replacements are metal.


M

Spray the connector with some light lube, WD40 or something similar then move it around, then with some carb cleaner while moving it around, then with lube again. This will help clean up any old lube and the grit which accumulates to it, the second lube will do just that lubricate it. The socket has a circular spring that fits into a groove in the socket, over time road grime can accumulate in there and impede the spring from flexing through its full range of motion making the joint harder to seperate. Giving it this spray treatment hopefully allows the spring to move easier and the joint to be seperated with less force and potential for damage of the plastic part.

I have found that using a wide-blade flat screwdriver works well...all mine are metal, though

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

Replace them with the steel rods from a W123 or W126.

Where can I find replacements for tthese? Not for the cruise control actuator, bur just in general.

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1995 E420 152k
1991 300D 2.5 348116 daily driver
1992 300E 2.6 196k-work in progress(head gasket)
2002 BMW 745Li 93k

yeah... this is easier said than done.

I did this (at your suggestion, THANKS!) to a customer's 91, and it's a really long bar, I had to cut a 126 rod and weld in a splice chunk of steel to make it reach! none of the arms in a 123 or a 126 are long enough!
the cruise actuator rod is like 11" long! I've got a few welded up, if anybody wants a set PM me!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!