Just changed the upper control arms and bushings on the 1984 300DT. Everything went well except now I'm trying to lower the car onto the steering knuckle so that I can attach the last and final nut and call it a night.

I've attached photos so that you can see where the jack stand is. I've dropped the hydraulic jack and the car STILL won't go ahead and drop down onto the steering knuckle. Any ideas?

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i followed this when I did mine, Mercedes Upper Control Arm Repla

but it should be at the stage where you can get the bolt on a little and then the rest will be pulled down as you tighten it.

Do you have both tires off the ground?

It looks like the torsion bar, isn't allowing the UCA to lower down...If your not able to pry it down, it may very well be do to the other tire still being on the ground...

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The other tire is on a ramp about 10" off the ground. Do I need to drop the other tire onto the ground?

Probably....Unless you can get in there with either a pry bar and try to bend the UCA down or put a jack under the LCA and jack it up......When I did mine, I did both side plus all 6 torsion bar bushings...I had jacked both sides of the car up, and put the front end on jack stands. I had no issues...

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You need to be really careful at this point....and I suggest you have someone there with you whatever you do.....

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

What needs to happen is the two wheels need to be suspended off the ground, with the frame supported by stands, then lift the LCA up to get the ball joint into the knuckle

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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!

Compress the spring and two shall become one...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Have you tried pulling down on the upper control arm to see if it will come down enough to allow you to start the nut?

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Jim

Or careful use of a ratchet strap?

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Bingo, I used some strong nylon rope with a half hitch on one end. I then wrapped it around the steering knuckle and around the UCA and pulled. The steering knuckle slid right on up and I was able to place the nut on it and tighten it down. I'll post some photos later, worked like a charm.

I'm using the following methodology:

PeachPartsWiki: Upper Ball Joint Replacement

I have the "cool tool" from Harbor Freight. Question: when I go to pop the steering knuckle loose, is there any danger the suspension spring could turn into a missile? On the passenger side it appeared the strut/shock kept everything in place when I popped the steering knuckle loose using the "cool tool"....

the shock should hold everything together but you ---> really <--- want to be using the safety method, which means you keep a jackstand under the LCA before you pop the joint.

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

as far as the upper control arm issue you were having, you didn't tighten the control arm to body bolt yet did you? that bolt is to be tightened while the car is resting on its wheels.

Just finished up. Yes, I tightened the upper bolt/nut after the car's wheels landed on the ground. BTW, thank you Vtech for the advice about getting BOTH wheels off the ground. I did that the second go around and everything went much easier. Even got to try out some new Sears jack stands - wow!

When I was under the car I looked around carefully. the LCA bushings look worn out, I'm not sure I am confident in my mechanical skills to tackle those what with the spring compressor involved and all. Any other front end suspension components I need to check out?