SL500 R230 DIY strut removal and ball joint restoration

[Dog Star]

Hello all - I've posted a few hints and tips, along with some pictures (including Gouki's) on the mercedesclub.org.uk forum.

I'm hoping these gain some prominence on searches, and help save other R230 owners from ludicrous and unnecessary expense due to Mercedes poor design.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p...

[Gouki]

Thanks for doing this. Hopefully more DIY guides for the SL R230 will be spawned from this.

[Dog Star]

I've now got a full lock (and some bumps) clunking which on subsequent investigation appears to be the bush on the lower arm.

Edited by Dog Star on Tuesday 1st November 13:41

[Gouki]

I'll check this weekend and update.

[Dog Star]

No need, Gouki. My strange graunching noise was in fact my inner camber bush - very seized. Joint is 100% fine.

In other news - I can refit an ABC strut in about five minutes.

[Gouki]

Hi Dogstar,

I think I'm hearing another faint clonking which isn't related - probably the same thing you have just described!

Also do you think many people would be interested in a group buy for quaife differentials for the 55/500 cars? I have negotiated a potential 20% discount (supply and fitted) if I can get 5 people in including myself.

[Dog Star]

My problem was the inner bush on the arm that the strut balljoint connects to.
Very obvious when I took the strut off and started moving stuff around!

I don't even know what a Quaife differential is