W126 Guide Rod Mounts SHOT! Will I die?
 

Okay, so that was a bit of a title.

After putting new brake rotors and pads (ATE Premium One Rotors, OE Pads) on my front, What little hold my worn out guide rod mounts had is gone. Just now, Filling up for gas, I decided to poke my head under the passenger side wheel since I had it turned all the way out. I was able to grab the guide rod with my bare hand and move it in and out of the joint at least 1/2 an inch!! With the car on the ground!! I ain't that strong, either!!

Anyway, I am ordering new ones now but I have two very important questions for the pros:

1) Can these things pop out completely? Is it possible?
2) Will I die? (from this, not just eventually)

Yes there is a little humor in my question, but I am deadly serious.


I just want to know if I can "safely" drive this for the next week, or if I had better rent a car!


Thanks!

Mine have been that shot forever, eventually the noises went away, and now I don't worry about it. :D No current plans to fix it either....car drives straight and nice....

Really? Because now mine clunks loudly whenever I stab the brakes, and wanders like mad on the road!!

But, hey, as long as they don't pop out, I'm good to go for another week I guess......

Hey tinypanzer,

Those are exactly the same symptoms that I have! I also just found out that one of my front tires has separated, which is adding to the wobbling...

Hey guys, the bushings are an important piece of the Steering assembly, you drive a MB due to it's handling abilities. That's what there known for so why would you let it wander down the road like a lost dog? The one time you really need it to handle well it's gonna have a mind of it's own.
Bill

My car wanders a little if its really windy out....otherwise not at all.

Not sure why my noises went away, it used to clunk over bumps. :eek: Someday I will look into replacing them, but other repairs are more pressing at the moment.

They set caster so they're important!!

This isn't hard:
Support the lower control arm and remove the shock, then lower the arm the other couple of inches now possible.
Take off the nut and lower FAT washer on the guide rod mount in the lower control arm.
Measure the distance between the guide rod end and the dogbone bushings so you can approximate it upon reassembly
take off the two bolts that hold the dogbone to the chassis.
rotate the dogbone off the guide rod.
Put in the new bushing.
reverse order for reassembly then off to a front end alignment.

I'm in the middle of doing mine right now. What a PITA. I have a 420SEL and had to pull the coil springs. That just added $200 for the cost of the proper compressor. The old mount was rusted in so it was hard to remove from the dogbone. I'll get through it but everytime I take a second look, I find other bushings that COULD be replaced while I still have it torn down. Guess I will replace them now.

Thanks for the input.... I know that they are important, and what their function is. I also want to replace them ASAP, I just wanted to make sure that I can go another few days while I wait for the parts to arrive.......


Thanks.