Just got finished with installing new tie rods, drag link, and steering damper on the 300D. What a difference!

The car has been out of alignment since I bought it, but not enough to get excited about until recently. It always tended to run off to the rigth a bit, but otherwise was fine until last month when I noticed that the belt was showing on the outside edge of the right front tire (Michelin MVX-4 plus tires, about 40,000 miles). I know what that means!!!!

Jacked it up, and sure enough there was some play in the steering, mostly on the right side, so pulled the splash pans this week and checked. One tie rod was definitly sloppy, and so was the drag link, so bought it all, plus a damper since my parts supplier thought it was probably bad due to age alone if not replaced recently.

Started about 8:30 this evening, and with a parts run, was done with the front end stuff around 10:30, but I wanted to replace the missing shifter bushings as well, since I had the car up in the air and the splash pans off.

Ha, that was a bust! Got the one on the tranny lever in, but not the one on the shifter. Is there a trick to this I don't know? Never even managed to get it really started, so quit, and buttoned everything back up.

Even with a "measure the old tie rod and match the new one for length) and seat of the pants alignment, the difference is astonishing! Steering wheel is crooked (to the left), but there is almost no drag to the right now, it tracks nicely, and it's MUCH quieter! No tire scrubbing noises anymore.

Will get it in for an alignment (and new tires!) as soon as I can manage, hopefully Sat. morning (or tomorrow afternoon). I'm looking forward to this, it's already almost like driving a different car!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!