I am in the process of dropping the rear suspension on my '85 300TD to replace the subframe and trailing arm bushings and am having the hardest time removing the SLS actuator. From what I can deduce it seems like I need to remove the single bolt going from the interior of the car down into the top of the actuator first. The bolt looks like it would come out with a 5mm allen key, but I can't get it to turn for anything and I am afraid of stripping out the allen bolt head. Am I missing something? Anyone have any tips or tricks?
Thanks,

Shane

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1985 Euro 300TD Turbo

... why are you removing the actuator? if you disconnect the links from the trailing arms, you can leave the swaybar in place, and just drop everything else...

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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!

By actuator do you mean the hydraulic strut?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

ahh, good catch kerry, I think he is.

in that case, I'd just disconnect the bottom joints from the trailing arms, and leave the rams in place.

__________________
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!

I've stripped out a wagon, and IIRC, the rams are connected to the "frame" of the car, with a lock nut that you just unscrew from the top. but the rams are simply disconnected from the trailing arms, and left in place on the vehicle as you drop the subframe.

__________________
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!

I tried disconnecting the strut from the bottom first, but it seems like they go up through the trailing arm rather than down to the trailing arm. Any advice is appreciated though.
Thanks!

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1985 Euro 300TD Turbo

Hmmm.
I'll have to look at mine again, I am fairly certain the bottom of the ram is connected to a ball joint type fitting, that is bolted to the trailing arm.

__________________
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!

Well, the solution turned out to be much more simple than I expected. I just went ahead and rounded out the hexes and then drilled out the bolts from the top. The subframe is on the ground and if I can ever figure out how to get it out from under the car I can then inspect the tops of the struts to see what the problem was. That, however, will have to wait for tomorrow night...

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1985 Euro 300TD Turbo