1984 Mercedes 300SD W126 - Front Suspension Rebuild - Part 6

[@mr.celica2288]

Man you saved my life with this series thank you, in completely redoing one of these cars for myself and had no information to help until this, definitely subscribing

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Go here and download the factory service manuals for your car: www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12253/?requestedDocId=12253

[@cbjodd5878]

@@ImpalamansGarage 404

[@stooplimitee5596]

The Moog ball joint is much easier to install as it doesn’t need removal of the boot. Avoids some of the struggle. This video series helped a ton!

[@tomgreen4175]

man you talk about american ingenuity,this guy is the real deal.

[@Hugo_Furst]

Awesome video. Lower ball joint 126 Mercedes. I have an 85 380se in need of ball joints. You took the fear and mystery out of DIY.

[@12pagani]

Sir thank you so much for doing this and documenting the whole process. I'm doing a full front and rear suspension rebuild along with the brakes on my 560. I'm doing it mostly myself but had some parts taken apart or cleaned at a machine shop but I have to get all the bits installed. A shop quoted me 300 for the balljoints, even though the knuckle was cleaned and off the car and the old joints already beaten out!!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great video! I too, am rebuilding these old Mercedes. Thanks for putting this info out there.

[@JL-hv7ln]

Thank you master, It has been so useful for me. You have a new loyal subscriber from Spain :)

[@wernerdanler2742]

When I saw the balljoint on my 85 300D was pressed in I took the assembly out and took it to the local MB shop and let them do it. I had no place and inadequate tools to do that. I saw you pry apart that spindle nut/clamp. Mine had no give to it and was very tight on the threads.

[@AxelRodríguez-j7m]

Exelente explicación,,,estoy siguiendo de cerca todos sus videos.. tengo Mercedes Benz w126 500se y lo voy a desarmar, sus video me ha aclarado muchas dudas gracias... Lo malo es las herramientas especiales para cambiar bujes tendré inventarme

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Good luck on your project sir.

[@haideralfedhly7673]

Thanks buddy, really helped.

[@eliezerlebron5589]

Thank you so much for this video, I was able to do all this work with your help. The only thing I'm maybe missing is the information of the Torque Specifications, the manual is a little confusing for me, other than than everything went smooth, thank you...

[@sergiobravo2057]

Exelente comentery

[@royfrancois2360]

Using that screwdriver next to the dust boot is almost like flirting with disaster. A less experienced person will most likely damage the boot. Also, getting the old ball joint out is supposed to be done with a heavier/bigger hammer and a larger drift. To press the new one in there is an expensive tool (made by Mercedes) and a cheaper solution (KTC part number A1036): a "pipe style" tool which comes as kit containing the punch too. I used it on LCAs from two cars and works perfectly. A very good thread on this, with excellent info, can be found at the 126board forum, in the 'How To', section, thread called "HOW-TO: Replacing W126 & C126 Front Lower Ball Joints".

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Great info! I agree that if a person is less experienced with hand tools, then obtaining the proper installation tool would be the way to go. I've been around a while so relying on conventional hand tools is somewhat easier for me than it might be for someone with less experience. KTC tool availability is hit or miss. At the time I did this video the only thing available was the $9,000,000 Mercedes tool. 😁 Do you have a link to the KTC tool where someone has it in stock?

[@royfrancois2360]

@@ImpalamansGarage There is that tool now on EBay for $95 plus $38.24 shipping. Is listed as 'Mercedes Benz W213,W126,W220 Ball Joint Installer Kit' The seller is called 'sat-autotools'. By this I am not endorsing that seller, I am only pointing to an availability example. I agree that the Mercedes specialized tool is expensive, never been interested in buying it. I noticed from your videos what you've been around, but others may copy you and destroy the rubber boot. I used a plastic tool rounded on replacing the ball joints rubber boots (when only the boot needed replacement because of age, not mileage), is a much safer tool in this case.

[@michailbmv5994]

Great job, i can't fint such tool for the same job with ball joint replacing

[@IQ.Cars.Airplanes]

Great job.

[@marjangeh]

great job, learned a lot, tnx

[@ulmanito5237]

very well done!!! but why did you spray the screw heads from the dust cover??? That doesn't really mean anything Greetings from the beautiful Black Forest. I also have a W123, you can watch it on my channel

[@ImpalamansGarage]

The ball joint dust cover had to be removed because I was using a ball joint installation tool which was not designed for this application. If I were to do this job again I would purchase the Mercedes ball joint press tool.

[@ulmanito5237]

@@ImpalamansGarage Are you still looking at my W123, I would be very happy

[@taaiernaaier]

Nice job, need a bigger drift/mandrel then you can wack out the old ball joint with a couple of hard wacks.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

agree !

[@stooplimitee5596]

A 24mm impact socket fit perfect as a drift.

[@gbenz6494]

Did you leave the spring in place? Do you have a video on the actual removal of the control arm?

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I removed the spring for this front end rebuild. There is a play list for this front end rebuild series.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Here is the play list. kzbin.info/aero/PLtEszitkKZFeFeYvjf3llZFX0MYa6Whhg

[@123works]

Video applicable to W123, W116 too

[@cbjodd5878]

I don't think it's in all the way,man. Isn't the big "lip" on the ball joint supposed to recess into the steering knuckle. You also should "feel" the tool "bottom out". Nice channel, though.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Well, it's been on the car now for 4 years and I daily drive it so it must be good to go. 😁

[@ItsTimePictures]

Hi, I am slowly going through all the videos on this car. Do you mind my asking what state you reside in? And what will you do with this lovely 300SD when it is finished? How I love that color combo. It's fantastic. I own an 85 500 SEC but do not wrench. I wish I could! :-) It would save some a lotta cash.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Alabama. I plan to drive it like I stole it. 😁

[@ItsTimePictures]

@@ImpalamansGarage Loving every video you do on this car. Keep 'em coming.

[@livin4today132]

Hi, I want to replace the lower ball joint on my W126, but I’m wanting to ask if I can do it without removing the coil spring?, I’m a little nervous about doing that,,,thanks,,

[@ImpalamansGarage]

No. If you disconnect the lower ball joint without taking the spring out, the tension of the spring will simply press the whole spindle assembly downward and the spring will fall out anyway. However it will be MUCH MORE dramatic! LOL..... Do some research on coil spring removal before you begin or seek the assistance from someone who has done it before.

[@bikeman123]

Where is part 5? Search didn't find it. Thanks

[@ImpalamansGarage]

If you go to the main channel page and look at the playlists you will see a link to the whole series. Here is the link to part 5. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqOzlImNZbuJlZo

[@رافعليث]

🥰

[@kwittnebel]

Those snap rings go off and on easily by just grabbing one end and wrapping or unwrapping it.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Are you referring to the slinky type spring holding the boot over the ball joint ?

[@kwittnebel]

@@ImpalamansGarage yes just grab the end

[@kwittnebel]

@@ImpalamansGarage great vid BTW. I think it is possible to remove the spindle leaving the shock to hold the spring, but seems a bit sketchy.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

@@kwittnebel Possibly. I generally remove springs to do major front end work.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

@@kwittnebel Yeah I was fighting that little SOB for sure. lol

[@boloignatius3683]

I just went onto the KTC site, and practically all of their shit is out of stock.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

You need to call them on the phone. Don't trust the website. When I called they were very helpful.

[@boloignatius3683]

@@ImpalamansGarage I'll definitely do that, then. I've got an epic Benz project going on, and could use some of those specialty tools.

[@dlwst44]

Air chisel????

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I tried using a cheap one. Wouldn't budge. I suppose a more powerful one might work.

[@dlwst44]

Impalaman's Garage my buddy took em out with a Mac Tools air hammer. Cheap air hammers are basically kids toys. It takes way more bpms and force than a cheapo hammer can produce.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

@@dlwst44 No argument here. lol....

[@ropeman3916]

Not looking forward to this job. Just did a full brake job and noticed one ball joint is bad. BTW I am still trying to wrap my brain around why the engineers made it so difficult to replace a caliper, particularly the brake hose. What a moronic way to have a hose attatch.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

It can be a challenge but keep in mind that these cars a really old now so some things will be difficult. Personally I'm not a fan of the lip that forms around the exterior of the brake rotor as they wear. For the lower ball joint, you can use the rental tool from the regular parts store but it is pretty difficult. If you can find a shop that has the Mercedes tool that would be ideal.