Author Topic: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier  (Read 8867 times)

ctaylor738

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Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« on: May 08, 2011, 01:26:29 »
Maybe someone has posted this before, but nothing came up in a search, so here goes ...

The basic trick to removing and replacing the front shocks is to compress them to remove them and again to put them back in.  Removal is hard because the easiest way to compress the shock is from the top, but then you are in a situation of pulling down and simultaneously lifting up to free the bottom mount.  So I was in this situation on a 230SL I take care of, and had an idea.

After removing the nuts at the top and bottom, grab the shock near the top and pull it down and out of the hole.  Cant it to the rear and place a piece of 2x4 between the threaded rod and the fender.  Then take a piece of wire, 30" or so, and loop it around the rod, down the shock  and inside the control arm, through the hole at the bottom, up to join the other end, and twist the ends together with a pair of pliers.  I used #14 house wire.  Pull down to compress the shock a bit and remove the 2x4.  Then with the shock held in a compressed position by the wire, tilt it more toward the rear and maneuver it down and out through the control arm.

Installation is the reverse.  Pre-thread the wire, stand the shock up on the floor, and compress it by pushing it down, and secure it with the wire.  Maneuver it into position and get the studs into the holes at the bottom.   Grab and hold the shock near the top with one hand, and undo the wire with the other and allow the shock to rise into the hole at the top.  Secure with nuts at the top and bottom and you’re done.
Chuck Taylor
1963 230SL #00133
1970 280SL #13027 (restored and sold)
1966 230SL #15274 (sold)
1970 280SL #14076 (sold)
Falls Church VA

ja17

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2011, 06:08:15 »
Hello Chuck,

I use a hose clamp around the rubber boot to keep the shock compressed until it is in place then I simply loosen the clamp !  Also pre-setting the two studs at the bottom to an angle
« Last Edit: May 08, 2011, 06:16:33 by ja17 »
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

ctaylor738

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2011, 13:44:38 »
An excellent solution.  However, a 9mm Beru flip clamp would be correct for this application. :-)
Chuck Taylor
1963 230SL #00133
1970 280SL #13027 (restored and sold)
1966 230SL #15274 (sold)
1970 280SL #14076 (sold)
Falls Church VA

ja17

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2011, 13:54:56 »
Of coarse an original clamp is most desirable. Most likely it is listed in the BBB as a specials Mercedes Shock Absorber Tool with part number and costs fifty bucks !  :o   ;D ;  :D  ???
« Last Edit: May 08, 2011, 16:19:08 by ja17 »
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Benz Dr.

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2011, 16:22:01 »
You guys are wimps.
 I use a screw driver to pry up the bottom of the shock up and pull it out of the way for removal.
Installation:
 I push it down on the floor and hold the top down by squeezing with my hand. There's a lot of rebound force so I have to do it quickly but it works every time. Just a simple matter of moving the bottom into postion to finish.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

ja17

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2011, 01:55:22 »
Hello Dan,

Yes I used to do it the hard way too !   ;D
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Benz Dr.

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2011, 00:39:37 »
Hello Dan,

Yes I used to do it the hard way too !   ;D

  Just a simple matter of old age and treachery versus youth and exuberance.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

ja17

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2011, 04:53:45 »
Hello Dan,

Notice I do use a "flip type" quick adjust clamp to save time.  One time before using my clamp method, I was using the "strong grip" method, and as I was getting the compressed shock in place it slipped from my grip and the top of the shock extended up against the underside of the fender putting a outward dent in the fender !! Something to think about as you get older and your grip gets a little lighter .  
« Last Edit: May 10, 2011, 04:55:48 by ja17 »
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

66andBlue

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2011, 05:18:42 »
...  Something to think about as you get older and your grip gets a little lighter . 
But Joe that is what the Dr. wants!   ;)
See: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=2768.msg15675#msg15675
 ;D ;D
{I could not resist providing this link to all our new members who may never have noticed that the Benz Dr. does have a funny bone}
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Benz Dr.

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2011, 01:49:27 »
Well Joe.......

 If you loose your grip on it and it puts a dent in something.........

 You're a better man than me......
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

ja17

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #10 on: May 11, 2011, 05:26:19 »
Hello Dan,

Just a stroke of bad luck as the bottom of the shock braced itself against the suspension as the rod extended. I think the car was a old W114 sedan with bad paint anyway, so no big loss. 
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Benz Dr.

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #11 on: May 11, 2011, 15:12:51 »
Uh.... I wasn't talking about shocks, you know.....
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

thelews

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #12 on: May 11, 2011, 16:25:17 »
Uh.... I wasn't talking about shocks, you know.....

I knew.  You were speaking in the Biblical sense.
Enjoy some pictures at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

John - Wisconsin
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual #1543
1961 190 SL 23K miles
1964 Porsche 356
1970 Porsche 911E
1991 BMW 318is
1966 Jaguar XKE
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

Benz Dr.

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2011, 23:28:43 »
No... mostly '' non '' sense.

  '' Damn pesky Benz Dr. Why don't he go away or sumpthin' ''
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

ja17

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #14 on: May 12, 2011, 03:56:11 »
I guess I walked into that one !

Actually Dan, we would love to have you down here in July to do a presentation !
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Benz Dr.

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Re: Front Shock Replacement Made Easier
« Reply #15 on: May 12, 2011, 18:36:52 »
Hummm.... I don't know Joe..... Do you think the group is ready for something like that?

  That's twice in one week, you know. Not getting any better either........
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC