W108-Removing right front spindle

[68_Mercedes]

Just talked to our mechanic and he said he is having problems getting the bolt off to remove the right front spindle so that he can replace the front spring. He said the left side (driver's side) spun off without a problem, but the nut on the passenger side is stuck. He said he even used a cheater bar on it and it wouldn't budge. Any suggestions as to keep from breaking anything? Need advice ASAP...they are working on it first thing in the morning.

Thanks!

[psfred]

Lots of PB Blaster and make sure the cotter pin is out!

These do get stuck once in a while, they are sorta exposed!

A heavy hammer on one side, held up firmly, and a good solid whack with a lighter hammer on the other can start them loose, too, but its' pretty tight in there.

The very last thing I would try is heat, as you can do all sorts of expensive damage there, what with all the grease in there.

Peter

[Tomguy]

Heh, heat was the first thing I tried and it worked like a charm!

Odds are the cotter pin is indeed still in there, probably broken off inside the bolt where it's just enough to cause problems, and it can't be easily seen or removed. I got mine out with the help of a torch, but the pin was already rusted and brittle so it just helped it snap right off.

FYI: The cotter pin goes thru the bolt and slots on the nut, if the ends snap off the nut can still be held in by it.

[300SDog]

Who is this guy workin on the car?? Not the fellow who 'rebuilt' the engine 3 times, I hope.

There's also a specialized tool called a nutcracker.... it looks like a heavy c-clamp that fits over the 17mm(?) nut with the cranking end of the c-clamp being a forged and sharpened bit/blade that chomps through the nut.

[68_Mercedes]

Naw, this isn't the same guy.... this guy built his shop just down the road from me about 5 years ago. Since then he has done all the work on all of my vehicles. He does excellent work. I have never had ANY problems out of anything he's done. Granted, he's not a Mercedes mechanic, but anything he needs such as torque specs and what not I provide him and so far it's been smooth sailing. No problems at all. And too, he stands behind his work, so I'm not too worried about it. Nice other thing is, I've developed a good reputation with him, and if I need something fixed right away and don't have the money for it, he goes ahead and fixes it and just tells me to pay him when I can. I only did that once tho, in an emergency situation.....

Anyway, they got the new springs and front subframe bushings installed. Woohoo! Now I have them working on some other odds and ends (tweaking the carburator and motor, checking the brakes to see how good of condition they are in, routine maintenance stuff, etc., etc). Hopefully she'll be ready to rock and roll by this weekend! I'm ready! WOOHOO!

[68_Mercedes]

Oh, and by the way, I ended up having to buy a kit for the passenger side front spindle. Whomever owned it last had rounded off all the adjustment bolts, etc etc. They actually had to cut the bolts off to get them off! If only people would use the proper tools for doing their repairs.....