I've found a procedure that helps the installation of a new guide joint bushing into the aluminum "L" housing. I've used it with good success with the first of the two new guide joint bushings for my '82 W126 300SD.

The procedure uses several stainless steel hose clamps, one of which presses several sections cut from additional hose clamps against the bushing sleeve halves. The clamps used are those with many slots along a portion of the length, and are sometimes referred to as "worm-drive" hose clamps. These are tightened with either a screwdriver or a socket.

With the bushing housing clean and the bore cleaned of corrosion and greased lightly, the new joint bushing is placed on the workbench with the threaded rod end up. Notice that the new joint bushing's steel sleeve surrounding the internal rubber of the joint has two gaps located 180 degrees apart.

The procedure uses a hose clamp placed around the sleeve, with enough space between it and the sleeve halves to allow insertion of shims made from cut sections from several other hose clamps. Position the shims midway between the slots in the sleeve. The clamp is then tightened and it compresses the shims against the sleeve halves, closing the slots enough to effectively reduce the overall diameter of the joint.

If a suitable number of shims is used, the tightened clamp will allow the bushing to much more easily start to enter the housing bore. Once started then remove the clamp and the shims and press in the bushing the remaining distance until the shoulder bottoms against the housing.

I used a hydraulic press with the above work. I'm not sure how well the procedure would work if a press is not available.

Sorry, no camera, so no digital pix.

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Respect, protect, and maintain complex systems - whether natural or of German design, to benefit from their full potential.

1982 300SD W126.120 with an OM617.950 from a W116.120
1984 300SD W126.120 with an OM617.951

on my SD, I just threaded the rod into the bushing, and coated the rubber parts with dish soap, then used the bolts to pull the bushing into place on the car...
pretty easy actually...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
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