"Agrajag" (Agrajag)
04/13/2015 at 18:42 • Filed to: DIY, w123, 240d
3
9|
"Agrajag" (Agrajag)
04/13/2015 at 18:42 • Filed to: DIY, w123, 240d | 3
| 9 |
Had a persistent clunking I'd been meaning to investigate. When I had the car in for its annual inspection they let me know these were bad. Investigation closed.
Items needed: Floor jack, jack stands, lug wrench, 17mm open end wrench, 17mm socket and ratchet and new end links(I went with FEBI).
First step: Loosen the lugs then jack the car up.
Remove wheels.
Admire detail on lugs.
Get your PB Blaster ready, because there will be rust.
The top is held to the sway bar by a nut and the bottom threads directly into the hub assembly.
I started on the passenger side and the top nut didn't want to move. I was able to fit my impact in there somehow. Two seconds later that was off.
Old.
New.
This video demonstrates the differences between old and new.
I couldn't fit the impact on the other side, so I got my wrenches situated and with no room for a cheater extension, I summoned all my strength. This side was nowhere near as tight and I punched the shit out of my wheel well as the nut loosened. Ouch.
For the install I threaded the bottom portion in first.
Install top to sway bar and repeat on the other side. Job's done.
Yay! No more clunking.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Agrajag
04/13/2015 at 18:49 |
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Plastic sway bar end links? weird.
Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
> Agrajag
04/13/2015 at 18:52 |
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Top tip: When pushing on a wrench and there's a possibility of hitting something, use an open hand.
#lessonslearnedthehardway
#knuckles+concrete=pain
DasWauto
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/13/2015 at 18:53 |
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My thoughts as well. I was especially because this era of Mercedes has a reputation for bulletproof-ness. Neat though.
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Agrajag
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/13/2015 at 19:00 |
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Weirdly that was not the part that failed.
dieselectric
> Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
04/13/2015 at 19:32 |
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This is an important lesson, almost as important as : if you are under a car, never loosen bolts that are directly over your head.
Rust particles/fluids + gravity = scratchy eyes or worse
itranthelasttimeiparkedit
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/13/2015 at 22:42 |
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Yeah I thought the same thing.
I had a weird clunking noise on my e30, the stud had been stripped a tiny bit somehow and the nut backed off the sway link so it had about a 1/2" of play on the control arm. I think the PO had tried to replace it and failed...
rabidpenguin
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/14/2015 at 13:21 |
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Ford Tauruses also use plastic endlinks. The way the suspension is set up there isn't alot of side load that would cause them to snap.
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rabidpenguin
> Agrajag
04/14/2015 at 13:22 |
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Have you done the front ball joints on that car? The hub is angles so it makes it real difficult to press the new ball joint into place. Lots of fun
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Agrajag
> rabidpenguin
04/14/2015 at 15:17 |
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I didn't, no, but when I first got it I had the inspection shop replace them. I'd probably attempt it myself now though.