If your joint is making noise, the boot probably failed long ago. Visual inspection of the boots is easy. Take a look at the steering joint boots and guide (brake) rod mount while you are underneath. The job requires considerable disassembly so it may be worth replacing other failing rubber at the same time.
The actual ball joints are cheap, good ones are only like $30 ea. The required labor is not cheap. I think my last ones (for W126) were TRW and they are fine. Replacing them requires removing all the brake stuff and then removing the steering knuckle, which requires a couple cheap presses. Most folks beat out the old knuckle with a big hammer (4 lb min). Pressing in the new one requires a special press tool (like $300+) although there is a cheaper and effectie "pipe-like" tool (available on ebay) that you use with a 12-20 ton press. A few folks have reported success using a standard C-clamp ball-joint kit but I'm skeptical that this would damage the new joint. I did the job without using spring compressor (although I have one); the shock and wood block (under the LCA) held the lower control arm while the knuckle was removed. But replacing most of the other rubber (except upper control arm) will require a good spring compressor. Scott > -----Original Message----- > From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of > Mike Esh via Mercedes > Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 9:28 AM > To: Mitch Haley <mi...@mitchellhaley.com>; Mercedes Discussion List > <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Cc: Mike Esh <michael...@mac.com> > Subject: Re: [MBZ] Ball joint(s) 1985 300D > > Thanks fellas, > I'll take it in have it checked. Then the appropriate parts from NorthLake. > Mike > > Michael E. Esh > m...@barr.com > michael...@mac.com > (C) 231.894.5505 > > On May 24, 2016, at 11:31 AM, Mitch Haley via Mercedes > <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > Rusty used to sell a front suspension kit, do it all at once for several > hundred > bucks and then you're done with it for another 20 years. > I'd think the handling would get very scary before it wore enough to come > apart catastrophically. > If you plan to keep it for the rest of your life, starmarked is probably the > best, > unless you can buy the OEM part made to the same specs as the ones they > ship to MBZ. > Northlake has two very different front suspension drawings on their web site, > is this the right one? (1163330927) > > http://mbnorthlakeparts.com/parts/1985/Mercedes- > Benz/300D/index.cfm?action=partDetail§ion=FRONT%20SUSPENSION&g > roup=WHEELS%20%26%20FRONT%20SUSPENSION&subgroup=FRONT%20SU > SPENSION&component=Lower%20ball%20joint&partnumber=1163330927&v > ehicleid=90672&siteid=217496 > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
