My air cleaner bracket broke one too many times. I decided this time to make a modification to the design. The weakness is the small spot welds holding the two pieces of the bracket together. I drilled two holes and bolted it together. Check out the photos for my results. I'm quite happy with the mod and I am confident the THIS bracket will not break!

Now if only someone could figure out a way to make indestructible rubber mounts!

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

Never say never!!

__________________

Haha! Right you are! All good things come to an end ...I'm hoping this ones end just takes longer to get there

__________________
Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

Did you use Nyloc nuts, or peen those bolt ends so they don't back out? ... just saying.

__________________
Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Loctite. But the good thing is, if they do back off, just put them back on. I hate spending time and money looking for a new bracket.

__________________
Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

Unfortunately, that is only one of the weak spots. The "T" tends to crack on the ends near the mounting bolts.

The rubber bumpers are pretty easy. Remove the metal studs from each end and drill a hole all the way through. Reinstall with a bolt. I have done all three of mine and have not replaced one in years.

Nicely done Tyl604! I'll def do that. And along with my bracket mod I shouldn't worry about that prob again for a long time!

__________________
Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

I haven't had that happen yet. Only had the two parts come apart. Crossing fingers that does not happen in my case.

__________________
Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

Years ago I bought the bracket from Adsit (think they are in Nashville). It was used but worked fine. It was about $25.

Ill call Nasa on the rubber bushings ,theyll come with a higher price soon after the redesign and packaging. Im at the yard maybe once a week ,those bushing I find on MB gassers at the yard ,they have the same sort of pieces holding the aircleaner in place .Since their not covered in oil their like brand new.Its the oily conditions why these bushings dont last more than a year ,Im sure if you painted the pieces in a rather thick coat of oil resistant paint youll get a longer life out of the mounts.

There's probably a fair chance your fix will work.. My old one fatigued and cracked near the mounting bolts, just like tangofox007 said. New replacement from Fastlane was thicker sheet metal (twice as thick). Maybe you have one of the thicker ones and they fail by popping the welds?

__________________
'83 300DTurbo http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/318559.png

Broadband: more lies faster.

I seem to recall the very first bracket I replaced was thinner metal. Not by much but a little. Good thought!

__________________
Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

Its not the welds that break, its the arms.

Putting a radiator hose between the filter body and valvecover will prevent it from shaking loose.

For me it was the welds. In fact, the bracket in the pictures you see is the one that broke. I'm sure doing the bolt mod before the welds break would be even better ...and a lot easier!

Do you mean to "squeeze fit" the hose between the two? Explain a little bit please.

__________________
Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!