Guide rod bushings and ball joints are in order for you car at this age.
These are not too difficult repairs that do not require a spring compressor.
Lower ball joint can be pressed in using the Autozone tool.

I have a spring compressor I'll be placing the tool rental program soon. Where are you located?

I'll be replacing the guide rod mounts & ball joints. Possibly lower & upper control arm bushings as well. I need to go through the previous owners tech notes to see what's been done.

I already have a set of spring squashers, thanks though!

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

Here is a quick shopping list that I have used to buy parts for a front end rebuild that I will be doing next Monday. Bet it looks a lot like the list your shop gave to you. I have purchased parts at my leisure over the past couple of months so that the bill doesn't seem to be so bad like it would have if I had purchased everything at once.

A friend passed this list on to me after he rebuilt his front end. I have already changed out my springs, shocks, and front wheel bearings this year. Should feel like new when I am done.

126 460 08 05 x 1 drag link
126 330 05 03 x 1 tie rod
126 330 06 03 x 1 tie rod
116 333 09 27 x 2 ball joint
126 330 06 07 x 1 control arm
126 330 07 07 x 1 control arm
000 463 51 32 x 1 steering shock
116 330 40 14 x 4 control arm bushing
126 330 00 75 x 2 control arm bushing kit
123 330 14 75 x 2 control arm bushing kit
126 330 13 35 x 2 guide rod mount
126 333 54 14 x 2 bearing bracket bushing
126 333 33 14 x 2 bearing bracket bushing

If I can be so bold to say that I think you will get very nervous using the claw type of spring compressor. I bought a Klann knock off spring compressor last year when swapped out my springs. Best $170.00 I ever invested in this car.

Good luck on your front end job and enjoy the nice new feeling that you will get from the front end.

Greg

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Greg
1984 500 SEC

Greg: do you have a link for the spring compressor source? That's what I need to buy.
Thanks.

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Simon Shearer

1986 420SEL

2000 Porsche 911 Millenium Edition Carrera 4
2010 Lexus RX 350
2002 Kia Rio
2002 Hyundai Accent

Yep. Here is one listed on ebay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Strut-Coil-Spring-Compressor-For-Mercedes-Benz-1801_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a557282ebQQitemZ250541671147QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

I contacted this company (then know as Konic Tools, I believe) and asked them if I could get the ebay price at their retail store. They agreed, I paid them cash, and 1 hour later I had pulled my front springs. Very simple to use and stores away nicely in the plastic case.

Here's a pic of the type I bought. It is a JTC 1801 model.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Greg
1984 500 SEC