Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
Are you talking about the link between the stabilizer bar and the suspension? That's one of the easiest repairs - one bolt on each end of the link, and they are not expensive. On 12/7/05, Bob Rentfro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What about the rear stabilizer bar...how much of a PITA is that to repair? > The passengers side end is shot from having PO let a dribbly filler neck > dribble on it for years. > I replaced the filler neck and I have the parts to fix the end of the > stabilizer. > Easy? Hard? Tips? > > Donkey Shirts > > Bob Rentfro > '77 300D 144K > Litchfield Park, AZ -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK '90 300D, '87 300SDL, '81 240D, '78 450SLC The FSM created the Diesel Benz http://www.venganza.org/
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
Thank YOU for the referral. Drove for Lotus, huh? Does that (racing accident?) explain the limp? Anyway, I liked him immensely. "Sadie" is getting her work done there from now on. I'll probably end up taking my TD westfalia there, too. Dan Dan, Thanks for letting us know! Jim, Howe, the machinist who made the repair part is one of the best in the business. Of course our buddy Gabriel would have to be better, but in reality, Jim is as good as they get. Doug is the only guy alive I would trust a my cars to. The predecessor, Phil Mangan, was a legend. Doug was a driver for lotus. Loren At 02:06 PM 12/5/2005, you wrote: Ya'll may remember some months ago the end rusted off my front stabilizer. Thanks to many of you, I learned this was not an easy fix, and was one that has reduced many otherwise good drivers to parts cars. Thanks to Loren Faeth, of this list, I was able to get mine repaired by Doug at Import Auto Limited in Ames, Iowa (515 296 2723) for $466. He cut off the end of the bar where it is thick, then machined a new end which slides over the bar. He ground flats in the bar first, and secured the new tip with six set screws and JB Weld (inside the collar), then replaced with new Mercedes bushings, bushing washers, and nut. Handles as new. Since the break was at the relatively small diameter tip and the repair is on the thick part of the stabilizer with a good thick machined collar, I think it should hold up fine. Doug, the shop owner, engineered the fix for his daily driver 126, and says it's held fine for 7 months and counting. Time will tell, but I'm very pleased. If you have a car in a similar condition, I'm guessing Doug would sell you the machined rod end, if you wanted to attempt cutting the stabilizer yourself, but he says be aware the stabilizer is harder than anything he's ever cut before, and is quite a challenge. Thanks, Loren, for the referral! -- Dan Weeks 82 VW Westfalia 1.6 TD conversion 186k 82 Mercedes 300SD, 275k ___ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- Dan Weeks Freelance Writing and Photography 515/279-4825 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
Dan, Thanks for letting us know! Jim, Howe, the machinist who made the repair part is one of the best in the business. Of course our buddy Gabriel would have to be better, but in reality, Jim is as good as they get. Doug is the only guy alive I would trust a my cars to. The predecessor, Phil Mangan, was a legend. Doug was a driver for lotus. Loren At 02:06 PM 12/5/2005, you wrote: Ya'll may remember some months ago the end rusted off my front stabilizer. Thanks to many of you, I learned this was not an easy fix, and was one that has reduced many otherwise good drivers to parts cars. Thanks to Loren Faeth, of this list, I was able to get mine repaired by Doug at Import Auto Limited in Ames, Iowa (515 296 2723) for $466. He cut off the end of the bar where it is thick, then machined a new end which slides over the bar. He ground flats in the bar first, and secured the new tip with six set screws and JB Weld (inside the collar), then replaced with new Mercedes bushings, bushing washers, and nut. Handles as new. Since the break was at the relatively small diameter tip and the repair is on the thick part of the stabilizer with a good thick machined collar, I think it should hold up fine. Doug, the shop owner, engineered the fix for his daily driver 126, and says it's held fine for 7 months and counting. Time will tell, but I'm very pleased. If you have a car in a similar condition, I'm guessing Doug would sell you the machined rod end, if you wanted to attempt cutting the stabilizer yourself, but he says be aware the stabilizer is harder than anything he's ever cut before, and is quite a challenge. Thanks, Loren, for the referral! -- Dan Weeks 82 VW Westfalia 1.6 TD conversion 186k 82 Mercedes 300SD, 275k ___ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
What about the rear stabilizer bar...how much of a PITA is that to repair? The passengers side end is shot from having PO let a dribbly filler neck dribble on it for years. I replaced the filler neck and I have the parts to fix the end of the stabilizer. Easy? Hard? Tips? Donkey Shirts Bob Rentfro '77 300D 144K Litchfield Park, AZ l > http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
Yeah, Peter. Big difference. I did my 300D (W123) in about 3 hours from start to last beer, but I tried to help a friend remove a W126 sway bar from a car at the pick and pull that ALREADY had the engine removed. Was still a major PITA. No idea if he ever got the thing out of the p-n-p car, let alone back into his car... Gary Thompson 1995 E320 On 12/6/05, Fmiser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > So I was reporting on my experiences with a W123. > >
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
rumor has it that Jim wrote: > > If so, then it's not a _hard_ fix - if you can find a good used one. > > > > It took me about 2.5 hours to pull the "good" one out of a parts car, > > and about 5-6 hours to do the full swap (old out, new in) > > A 126? On a 107 the bar is up front, but on 126 it sure looks like > the engine has to come out. Maybe it doesn't, but I bet everything > else under the hood does. > > -- Jim Bother. I'm guess I'm reading the posts too quickly *sigh* I (correctly) "heard" that the mechanic made this for his 126 - but in Dan's sig I missed the "S" in "300SD". So I was reporting on my experiences with a W123. It's not the same as a W126 - just in case someone was wondering! *grin* Philip, tripped 'cause I'm reading fast - trying to keep up!!
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
If so, then it's not a _hard_ fix - if you can find a good used one. It took me about 2.5 hours to pull the "good" one out of a parts car, and about 5-6 hours to do the full swap (old out, new in) A 126? On a 107 the bar is up front, but on 126 it sure looks like the engine has to come out. Maybe it doesn't, but I bet everything else under the hood does. -- Jim
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
My hat's off to you, Phillip! Yep, that's the swaybar I'm talking about, and I'm not nearly as gutsy, clever, or talented as you and Jim--I was just glad to find someone who'd fix it for me without charging me two grand! Especially as it's currently about 2 degrees here--not pleasant wrenching weather, especially without a heated garage with lift! Plus, around here, I was concerned that any used ones I'd find wouldn't be in much better shape than mine. I have no body rust, yet the tip of the swaybar rusted out. Dan Iowa rumor has it that Dan wrote: Ya'll may remember some months ago the end rusted off my front stabilizer. Thanks to many of you, I learned this was not an easy fix, and was one that has reduced many otherwise good drivers to parts cars. Are you talking about the anti-sway bar that is also provides fore-aft positioning for the front suspension upper control arm? If so, then it's not a _hard_ fix - if you can find a good used one. It took me about 2.5 hours to pull the "good" one out of a parts car, and about 5-6 hours to do the full swap (old out, new in) on the daily driver. But then, like the ever clever Jim Cathey, I seem to usually have more time than money... (Not that I'm as clever as Jim, mind you. *smile*) > Handles as new. Good deal!! _That's_ what really matters! Philip, cheapskate -- Dan Weeks 82 VW Westfalia 1.6 TD conversion 186k 82 Mercedes 300SD, 275k
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
rumor has it that Dan wrote: > Ya'll may remember some months ago the end rusted off my front > stabilizer. Thanks to many of you, I learned this was not an easy > fix, and was one that has reduced many otherwise good drivers to > parts cars. Are you talking about the anti-sway bar that is also provides fore-aft positioning for the front suspension upper control arm? If so, then it's not a _hard_ fix - if you can find a good used one. It took me about 2.5 hours to pull the "good" one out of a parts car, and about 5-6 hours to do the full swap (old out, new in) on the daily driver. But then, like the ever clever Jim Cathey, I seem to usually have more time than money... (Not that I'm as clever as Jim, mind you. *smile*) > Handles as new. Good deal!! _That's_ what really matters! Philip, cheapskate
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
Yeah, but it messes up the temper of the stabilizer, making it brittle and prone to breakage, which is why he didn't do it that way--or weld a repair. Shouldnt take too long to cut off the ends with a cutting torch. Thats what I would have used. Dan Weeks wrote: Ya'll may remember some months ago the end rusted off my front stabilizer. Thanks to many of you, I learned this was not an easy fix, and was one that has reduced many otherwise good drivers to parts cars. Thanks to Loren Faeth, of this list, I was able to get mine repaired by Doug at Import Auto Limited in Ames, Iowa (515 296 2723) for $466. He cut off the end of the bar where it is thick, then machined a new end which slides over the bar. He ground flats in the bar first, and secured the new tip with six set screws and JB Weld (inside the collar), then replaced with new Mercedes bushings, bushing washers, and nut. Handles as new. Since the break was at the relatively small diameter tip and the repair is on the thick part of the stabilizer with a good thick machined collar, I think it should hold up fine. Doug, the shop owner, engineered the fix for his daily driver 126, and says it's held fine for 7 months and counting. Time will tell, but I'm very pleased. If you have a car in a similar condition, I'm guessing Doug would sell you the machined rod end, if you wanted to attempt cutting the stabilizer yourself, but he says be aware the stabilizer is harder than anything he's ever cut before, and is quite a challenge. Thanks, Loren, for the referral! -- Dan Weeks 82 VW Westfalia 1.6 TD conversion 186k 82 Mercedes 300SD, 275k
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
I imagine you'd want a pretty clean cut. The bar is going to flex constantly, so if you create a stress riser it's going to break again. You also don't want to ruin the temper of this rather large spring, so I'd also vote against the torch in this case. Abrasives are the way to go. Harbor Freight's cheapie grinder is $15 on sale. I have one, and while nothing to write home about it hasn't broken its bearing mounts like my Makita has. -- Jim
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
OK Don wrote: I would just keep burning up Dremel tool disks till I got through it -- -- Or rent an angle grinder, if there's enough room. I cut some hardened bolts with one, once, and it went through like a knife through butter. (I was sawing the heads off VW cylinder head bolts to make a set of locator pins.) A drill with a cutoff wheel might work, too, but most drills don't really spin fast enough to make a good job of it. I imagine you'd want a pretty clean cut. The bar is going to flex constantly, so if you create a stress riser it's going to break again.
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
I would just keep burning up Dremel tool disks till I got through it -- -- On 12/5/05, Kaleb C. Striplin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Shouldnt take too long to cut off the ends with a cutting torch. Thats > what I would have used. > -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK '90 300D, '87 300SDL, '81 240D, '78 450SLC The FSM created the Diesel Benz http://www.venganza.org/
Re: [MBZ] '82 300SD STABILIZER FIXED!!
Shouldnt take too long to cut off the ends with a cutting torch. Thats what I would have used. Dan Weeks wrote: Ya'll may remember some months ago the end rusted off my front stabilizer. Thanks to many of you, I learned this was not an easy fix, and was one that has reduced many otherwise good drivers to parts cars. Thanks to Loren Faeth, of this list, I was able to get mine repaired by Doug at Import Auto Limited in Ames, Iowa (515 296 2723) for $466. He cut off the end of the bar where it is thick, then machined a new end which slides over the bar. He ground flats in the bar first, and secured the new tip with six set screws and JB Weld (inside the collar), then replaced with new Mercedes bushings, bushing washers, and nut. Handles as new. Since the break was at the relatively small diameter tip and the repair is on the thick part of the stabilizer with a good thick machined collar, I think it should hold up fine. Doug, the shop owner, engineered the fix for his daily driver 126, and says it's held fine for 7 months and counting. Time will tell, but I'm very pleased. If you have a car in a similar condition, I'm guessing Doug would sell you the machined rod end, if you wanted to attempt cutting the stabilizer yourself, but he says be aware the stabilizer is harder than anything he's ever cut before, and is quite a challenge. Thanks, Loren, for the referral! -- Kaleb C. Striplin/Claremore, OK 89 560SEL, 87 300SDL, 85 380SE, 85 300D, 84 250 LWB, 83 300TD, 81 300TD, 81 240D, 81 240D, 76 450SEL, 76 240D, 76 300D, 74 240D, 69 250 Okie Benz Auto parts-email for used parts