Do W123 Guide Rods have a top and bottom?
 

had my car in for an alignment today at an MB shop and the staff thought my guide rod was in upside down with respect to how to adjustment bolt was facing.

is this possible, and does it matter? they were thinking it's different top and bottom. i did this a number of years ago so I dont remember.

is there any need to to take it out and flip it over?

one of my guide rod mounts needs replacing anyways.

Looks like the shop is using the SWAG method of repair.

This part turns to adjust caster. If it is installed as in bolted to the car where all 3 bolts are holding it in, it is correct.

OE PN 123-330-13-35 Buy the Lemforder. Replace both if one is bad and you don't know that it has been replaced. Why pay for multiple alignments?

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hey junkman - thank you for the reply!

i mean the actual rod that goes from the rod mount to the LCA itself, not the mount.

i put in Febi before. shame on me, i didnt know at the time (2010).

Lemfoerder or OE (GRM)? im tempted to spend the big bucks on this one.

I forgot how it connects to the LCA. I think on a 126 there is a hole in the rod and there are 2 cone shaped metal pieces that fit the LCA bolting to the rod making a solid connection.

The adjustment is in the part linked above. Why is the shop raising the issue?

Lemforder was the OE supplier. I'd buy Lemforder before spending for the factory part. Actually, for the price difference, I'd probably try anything else besides URO.

the adjustment bolt on the guide rod is facing the wrong direction from what they are used to. the service manager recalled it having a top and bottom. these two factors led them to think it may possibly be in upside down and could be putting additional pressure on the mount, causing the noise coming from it.

they admitted it was a SWAG - they just suggested to check and change it since i am probably having to replace the guide rod mount anyways.

Are you talking about the nut being on the top vs the bottom? I believe both guide rods are identical, and are symmetrical. That means it can be installed on either side, with either side up or down. The bolt can be installed either way as well, with the nut up or down. Neither part knows if it is rightside up, or upside down, nor does it care. That's just my recollection of the parts on the many front end rebuilds I have done.

me too. ill check it out under there when i am in a place to crawl under there.