took a break from clearing stuff to work on MY car - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vstech · #1 11-03-2011, 11:34 PM

my 87TD has a good howling from the rear right side, and I've been thinking it's a wheel bearing, but not sure now...
I spent all evening until the rain slowed me down, pulling the rear subframe out of my 95TE and noticed a few things...
first off a little backstory.

the car started having difficulty starting when parked nose up, but no fuel was leaking from the TOTALLY dry IP, or injectors, or fuel lines... miffed, I began parking the car nose down.
then the brakes failed partially... fluid went dry in the reservoir, so I topped it off, and went looking for leaks, finally found a leaking rear caliper piston... the right one...
then the SLS dumped it's fluid out the front of the car somewhere... gotta find that, likely a pressure line, or a cracked tank, not sure just yet... gotta keep the car on the road, it's my LAST running vehicle I can drive! My SD's on loan, and the pickup's starter went T.U. arrgh...
soo, I was pulling the rear caliper to swap with my other parked 87TD, and noticed, a LOT of play in the spindle when removing the caliper bolts... like 1/4" or more... I'm thinking the noise I'm hearing in the rear is from a lower ball joint or spindle bushing down there...
once I get the 95's subframe in there (with it's larger vented rear rotors!!!) I'll tear down the 87's and find out what's up.
the 95's subframe was a joy to pull, every bolt came out clean and easy, all the rubber is in perfect condition, I'm DREADING the job of pulling the older MUCH higher mileage parts from my wagon... and in the RAIN tomorrow no less.

leathermang · #2 11-04-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... miffed, I began parking the car nose down. ...

A potential insight to your personality ? Never intentionally aggravate a machine... they will bite you back every time....
As your post proves very well.... a lesson for everyone else reading this !!!!

vstech · #3 11-04-2011, 12:13 AM

sorry, I mistyped... the problem was nose up, and the workaround was nose down...
I've got no personality at the moment, I'm too tired from the months of clearing 12 years of stupidity out of my yard...

Codifex Maximus · #4 11-04-2011, 01:26 AM

Hey, instead of working in the rain, go get yourself one of those mini-garages - kind of like a reinforced tent from Northern Tool. They don't cost much and they'll keep the elements off you.

Stretch · #5 11-04-2011, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codifex Maximus

Hey, instead of working in the rain, go get yourself one of those mini-garages - kind of like a reinforced tent from Northern Tool. They don't cost much and they'll keep the elements off you.

Nice idea but he's got enough trouble with the local authorities at the moment - adding another structure would probably not work in his favour at this time even if it was really temporary like a sun shade...

...is there a local car club that has garage space for hire?

vstech · #6 11-04-2011, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codifex Maximus

Hey, instead of working in the rain, go get yourself one of those mini-garages - kind of like a reinforced tent from Northern Tool. They don't cost much and they'll keep the elements off you.

I've got one setup already, so yeah, I'll be in there. it's still miserable working in rainy conditions, and the car will still be wet from driving...
one of these days, I'll have enough space in my 1700sqft garage to actually work on a car in...

Mike D · #7 11-04-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

one of these days, I'll have enough space in my 1700sqft garage to actually work on a car in...

Hah! It'll never happen! Remember the "space-stuff" theory of relationship.

"Stuff expands to fit all available space"

I built a workshop area for the cars. Pretty soon, three work benches appeared, two tool chests, a table saw, a planer, mitre saw, router, air compressors, hand tools, power tools, paint cans, spare body parts (car bodies), a refrigerator, hydraulic jacks, etc., appeared almost overnight!

I built a tool shed for the saws, power tools, paint cans, everything not automotive related (of course the 'fridge stayed

).

Last weekend, somehow, a spare M110 engine managed to sneak itself into the corner where I now have to reach around to get to the Shop-vac which somehow mysteriously attached itself to the wall.

I sit up some nights trying to catch stuff sneaking in but it's no use.

JB3 · #8 11-04-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

Hah! It'll never happen! Remember the "space-stuff" theory of relationship.

"Stuff expands to fit all available space"

I built a workshop area for the cars. Pretty soon, three work benches appeared, two tool chests, a table saw, a planer, mitre saw, router, air compressors, hand tools, power tools, paint cans, spare body parts (car bodies), a refrigerator, hydraulic jacks, etc., appeared almost overnight!

I built a tool shed for the saws, power tools, paint cans, everything not automotive related (of course the 'fridge stayed

).

Last weekend, somehow, a spare M110 engine managed to sneak itself into the corner where I now have to reach around to get to the Shop-vac which somehow mysteriously attached itself to the wall.

I sit up some nights trying to catch stuff sneaking in but it's no use.

lol! x2

Shared 3500sf space for "work" between two of us. approx 500sf actually being used for daily business, rest full of automotive projects

piccolovic · #9 11-04-2011, 09:12 AM

Tech, how many other cars were sent to the crusher? Getting the list down? Any more dialogue with the inspector? What's your status now?

vstech · #10 11-06-2011, 07:42 PM

OK, the subframe took a bit more time to deal with than expected... the 95's parking brake cables were ripped out by the spinning fence (don't ask) wrapped around the driveshaft...
so... I took the assembly apart to see how it all attaches, (pretty simple, just REALLY close quarters in there)
I ran into difficulty swapping diffs into the SF, the axle retainer bolts were stripped, and I had to hammer a larger size XZN bit to get them out. but I got it all done today.
well, I ran out of daylight, so did not install the Parking brake, I'll tackle that another day.
I also decided to leave the aft exhaust assembly out until I get done. the car has a nice throaty note like this...
it was a DREAM driving the car without the roar of the bearing back there! the old one was definitely bad! as was EVERY bushing on that side... the other side was tight. is that normal?
I also noticed the passenger's diff mount bushing was bad too... on both cars!
tomorrow I will likely get into the 87's assembly to remove the parking brake cable, and to look over the bearing off the spindle.

or, I'll put in the alternator, and ignore the rest until I'm done with the city!

vstech · #11 11-07-2011, 10:41 AM

ok.
drove the car in to work today... GOTTA GET THAT EXHAUST HOOKED BACK UP!!! the noise is not a problem but the odor in the car sure is! arrgh!

however, WOW it's a different car!!!

along with the subframe from the 95TE, I also used the rear springs... mine were not broken, but I figured nearly 25 years had to take it's toll on them. I also put a set of 16" 210 rims on there. they were HEAVY but the car feels MUCH nimbler on the road.
I'm not sure if it's the renewed bushings from the subframe, or the lack of grinding bearing, but WOW the wagon simply flies! no issue climing a hill from a slow exit ramp, and the motor no longer struggles to the top. woooosh!
I'm sure all factors contributed...
also, the car now does 70 at 2500 rpm... wtf? less stress turning the wheel bearing, so less slippage from the Torque converter??? how'd I lower the RPM???

piccolovic · #12 11-07-2011, 02:19 PM

also, the car now does 70 at 2500 rpm... wtf? less stress turning the wheel bearing, so less slippage from the Torque converter??? how'd I lower the RPM???

Did you change the rear end or anything that would affect the rear ratios??? That would certainly have something to do with that!!! LOL. Also, I would check the speedo through one of those speed checks to make sure you're going the speed your speedo says you are!!!

MBDFahrer · #13 11-07-2011, 02:57 PM

Sounds like you are running a different ratio. Or maybe you had some drag from your parking brake?

vstech · #14 11-07-2011, 03:05 PM

no, but even if I had, if I didn't change the speedo it would have had no effect... I don't understand how the RPM would have changed...
all I did was replace the subframe and spindle assembly with one from a 95TE, kept my original diff, and installed larger rims. tire size same outside diameter...
totally weird, only thing I can come up with is TC slippage allowed the stress from the old damaged bearing to cause my engine to push harder upping the RPM... highly odd...

dude99 · #15 11-07-2011, 03:05 PM

different size tires?