Anyone know of where I could rent this proper MB tool?
My brother and I just did this job for a friend this winter. Here's
how it goes:
First and foremost, you CANNOT use a simple ball joint press for
this job. It MUST reach into the control arm to press straight down
on the new joint. We modified the Harbor Freight tool by grinding
off quite a bit of the upper end and welding some heavy plates on it
to take the pressure (it bent). You will have to rent the correct
MB tool or make/modify one to work. You cannot use a press for the
same reason.
Once you have a tool to re-install the new joints, take the spindle
off, hold it in a vice, and use large drift (1" or so) and a sledge
to drive the old ones out. Only takes a couple firm blows, and no
other method will work (see above description).
Press the new ones in and you are done. We had to remove the dust
boot to use the modified harbor freight tool, I really don't like
to. We may make a custom tool ourselves since we have access to the
shop where my brother works if we need to do another set.
If you cannot locate a tool, pay someone who does these properly to
do the job, having a ball joint stuck "most of the way in" and
cocked is asking for trouble.
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: Dieselhead <126die...@gmail.com>
Sent: Apr 12, 2010 11:07 PM
To: mercedes@okiebenz.com
Subject: [MBZ] 126 lower ball joints
Now I get to figure out what I need to change the lower ball joints
on the SDL next. I printed out the jobs from the CD.
Anyone got any pointers about the 126 Job? Do you have to take the
hub off the spindle as the cd shows?
Fortunately, this is a southern rust-free car too, so there should
not be much rust to have to break loose. I won't get to it for 2-3
weeks so there is no rush. I will have the HF ball joint tool, a
floor jack and a pair of jackstands, rattle wrench and the usual
>assortment of hand tools.
>
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