Hi there,
I guess some of you have already done this so please help me!
My mechanic friend looked at my 240D W115 and told me that the bushings need to be replaced after finding that my bushings were literally melting. I replaced the steering arms and shock absorber last year.
I have since bought the following bushings:
1153301875 Subframe bushing kit
1153301675 Lower Inner Control Arm Bushing Kit with Eccentric Pins (x2)
1263520165 Trailer Arm bushings (x4)
as well as the following:
1144DK Engine Shock/Damper
6152230112 Engine/Motor Mount; Front Left; Small Square Version
1072410913 Engine/Motor Mount; Right; Front; Heavy Duty
1153201589 Stabilizer/Sway Bar Link; Rear Left/Right (x2)
1153200845 Sway Bar Bracket; Front Left/Right Sway Bar (x2)
1153200047 Sway Bar Bushing Kit; Front Mount Kit
I dont think I need Engine Mount/Damper but if engine needs to be lifted, I was thinking that it may be an opportunity to replace the mounts/damper. What do you think?
Now, I have the merceded W115 body shop manual which does not clearly show how to replace all these bushings. My friend does not have a press to insert these bushings. Does he need one?
My understanding is that the old bushings need to pried out with something like a flat head screw driver and the new ones are pushed in without a press? If a press is needed, can anyone recommend how to do it?
W115nut
Hi there,
I think I can get a loaner from Autozone, or even buy the clamp. I saw the picture of what looks like a C clamp in the body manual. If I wanted to get something like that, do you have any suggestions where to look for one?
W115nut
How about a C-clamp and some sockets?
Bought mine (ball joint press) from Harbor Freight, on sale for $19.99.
Hi there,
Many thanks for the information. My friend will likely not install the ball joint himself but send it to a machine shop for the lower control arm.
The rear of my car sags a little bit (lower than the front). I think there are "shims", rubber inserts which can be used for adjusting height.
I found:
L5007-72928 Coil Spring Shim Lemforder $ 5.99
19mm in the rear.
Have you installed these?
At first, I was thinking of replacing the springs and getting something stiffer like one for W107 but I would prefer to keep the car as original as possible.
W115nut
Bought mine (ball joint press) from Harbor Freight, on sale for $19.99.
Have you ever considered buying the Mercedes Service Library (repair manual) for your car?
It is available for $20 at:
Hello,
I have the original body service manual and engine service manual for my car. Is the CD any better?
W115nut
The CD for your car is nothing more than a scanned copy of the paper manuals.
The reason I ask is because some of your questions are answered in the manual and not subject to interpretation.
Section 32 (Suspension) gives the specs, heights and test procedures for springs and shims. It even gives part numbers.
Section 35 (Rear axle) provides information on replacing rear mounting bushings.
These manuals were written for factory trained Mercedes techs and do leave something to be desired by us mere mortals.
If you are seeking step by step instructions on how to perform some of these jobs, it is a hit and miss situation.
First thing to do after going through procedures in the manual would be to use the search function near the top of the page using key words selected from your parts list. W115, 123 and 126 bodies will have a lot of similarities in the tasks we are discussing here.
If after going through all this, your questions are not answered, you may want to try posting to the Technical Help Forum. There very few W115 owners left so you should try for a wider audience to your questions and issues. Technical Help would be where I would look for that audience.
I have attached a procedure for the trailing arm bushing on a W126.
Hi Robert,
Indeed, finding a factory trained mechanic is difficult.-) My friend is a mechanic, with a shop but he probably does not have the experience many of you have. His first car was a 450SE gifted by his father when he got married 30 years ago...Although, he fixed Mercedes, BMW, Audi as well as the occasional Sprinter, he is not specialized on Mercedes.
I just want to make sure that he can do the job. I have found that mechanics do not read manuals and the factory manual is a little bit on the short side with respect to these bushing replacements.
Your document proves to be a wealth of information. The parts I am planning to install in the trailing arms have 126* so I assume this will be directly applicable.
My understanding that even the mighty W126 560SEC used the same bushings for the trailing arms. (1263520165)
L2006-16072 Boge
L2006-27454 Boge
In my youth, W115 were considered to be the best Mercedes car, better than W108/109, W116, W123. Now, I think I know the answer. It has the suspension of the W107!
W115nut
I can speak to the control arm bushings - that is, use a press and grease the bushings prior to install. Or have a shop do it if you don't have a press. A c-clamp isn't going to be easy.
The sway bar bushings (front atleast) were a snap.
Have you made any progress on this project?
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How about a C-clamp and some sockets?