upper control arms 86 560SEL
 

Wow, just finished replacing right side upper control arm.. what PITA!! and it's supposed to be a super easy job...

had to drive the bolt that goes through the body in with my impact wrench. used a tall jack to lift up the sway bar so i could bet the ball joint off because the LCA/steering knuckle assembly wouldn't go low enough to come off all the way.

now i'm looking at the left side and wondering if i can even do it? if the bolt is as hard to remove and replace on this side as it was on the right side i'll never get it done because there's no room to get my impact wrench in their with the engine stuff so close. the power steering hose and a/c hose are right there.

any one have experience on a 560SEL?

Read these
 

How To: Upper Ball Joint Replacement, step by step with pictures. W123
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=2507705

w123 Upper Control Arm R&R- guide joint puller??
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=146580





Have a great day.

already read all that. thanks anyway. i have a 300SD so i know how much more room there is in the engine compartment.

but seriously, how in the world do you get any significant wrench on the upper control arm bolts on the left side of a 560SEL?

I did the driver's side no problem. The only issue I had was getting the nut back on the bolt. Eventually I gave up on getting it just like factory and flipped it around so the nut was on the other side, not under the brake booster.

Its the other side that looks like a pain with what I think may require battery removal.

no don't have to take the battery out. move the washer tank out of the way. then it's easy to get a box wrench on the nut. i used my impact wrench to back the bolt out and needed it to put the bolt back through. it would hardly go through the bushing sleeve.

what did you use to get the bolt out on the driver's side? i'm afraid if i need my impact wrench there is no room to get in there.

Don't preload
 

One point I feel is important and correct me if I am wrong.

Assemble the front end parts and the parts such as the control arms and sway bars should be tightened after you lower the vehicle and it has weight on it.

This way the rubber is not so "pre-loaded" so as to speak in these areas.

Pls comment.

God Bless
John

yes, that's what i read on the CD. so i've just tightened everything but not to torgue specs yet.

I really had no issue using a long length ratchet arm.