88 300E rear suspension- R&R of lower pivot bushing
 

Hi,

The lower pivot bushing on the right rear suspension of my 1988 300E is shot & needs replacement. That bushing is pressed into the lower wheel hub assembly. The outer part of the lower control arm (the big dude that's loaded by the coil spring) bolts into that bushing with a 21 or 22mm bolt & nut.

The dealer's part # for that tool is 202 589 00 43 00. The dealer wants 228 bucks for that single purpose tool. Does anyone know of any other tool out there that can be used to R&R that bushing? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

-Dave M.-

88 MBZ 300E
63 Chrysler Imperial Crown 4 door
94 Toyota 4x4 pickup
97 Chevy Silverado 6.5L turbodiesel pickup (hauls wife's horses)

Check this thread. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=143256
I just did that job.

I bought the Sir Tool which worked great. I had thought about putting it in the rental program under the DIY forum but I didn't because the difficulty factor and danger factor will vary greatly depending upon ones experience and shop tools and the like.

I did the job with the vehicle on a lift and used an AC Hydraulic floor jack which is easy to lower in very small increments, i.e., most helpful when unloading the suspension and then loaded it and attaching the bolt that goes thru the support joint also called ball joints in the wheel carrier.

There are two other special tools that make the job much easier. They are Hazet 4964-1 which is used to pull the parking brake return spring in position and Hazet 2703 which is used to remove and install the centering spring that holds the parking brake shoes.

Baum tools have one too for about 110$ that I used successfully for this job, tool number is 201-0543. You may check this thread as well:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/printthread.php?t=56360
Good luck, Bruno

The model# for the Sir Tools is M 0085, I forget if I got it from Baum Tools, Samstag or Assenmacher.

I purchased the sir tool....

It's price is easy to stomach after you've used it once! Very easy to replace the bushings- maybe 10 minutes a side after you take the LC loose - I just compressed the spring with my spring compressor, then it's pretty easy.


Michael

What brand and type of spring compressor did you use to compress the rear springs?

hey ron, i have both the w124 and w126 cars and am planning on purchasing the el-paso klann clone for $200 new. it looks identical and from what i have read works good on all but the w123s where you have to modify the hole even with a klann.

I had thought about that too but I thought I read somewhere probably on this webforum that the clone did not work for compressing the rear coil springs. Do you know anything about that?

I own a Klann.

While I've never done it- I'm not sure a compressor is required for the rear springs. Comments??


MIchael

You are correct. It is not required. I replaced the rear support joints also called ball joints without a spring compressor. That said I think it would have been safer, faster and easier it I had compressed the rear coils with an appropriate coil spring compressor.

Wow, the people in this forum give you much more meaty advice than the MBCA tech forum. (Most of their participants only seem to know about wheels, tires, stereos and alarms.) Thanks for your suggestions.

I just ordered a clone of MBZ tool #202 589 00 43 00 from a supplier on eBay for around 90 bucks. Hopefully that will do the job.

I was able to remove the spring without a compressor by supporting the outside of the lower control arm with a hyd. jack, unbolting the lower pivot (21 or 22 mm bolt/nut), then very carefully lowering the control arm. Just for kicks, I tried re-installing the spring by reversing that method. But that didn't work for me. The spring pressure tended to push the lower control arm out of line (in the fore & aft axis) with the lower pivot bushing, & I was unable to get the pivot bolt reinstalled. So, I decided to rent a proper spring compressor from www.performanceproducts4benz.com. They charge $85.50 for 3 weeks of rental.

dmarote, which brand did you get off ebay for $90? was it the el-paso or the kinetic tool brand or other?

compression range;

klann; 110-317mm, working travel of 207mm, overall 263mm
el-paso; 120-325mm, ? , ?

James L,

It was El Paso.

how did you get it for that low, was it used? new ones are $190-200, does it have the plastic case with 4 disc, and the one rod?

if so, good job, if you want to sell it after you are done, i'll pay you what you have in it since i was planning on buying one.

James,

It's supposedly new. Feel free to check back with me in a few weeks, & we can discuss your purchasing it.