Restoration Difficulty Level

[andyburns]

Hans,  the bands that came off the car were in beautiful condition once I had blasted them.  Will put some photos up when they get back from the platers.

In general I have found probably 95% of the old clips to be in really good condition and after blasting and plating you would struggle to pick them as being 'second hand'.  I have seen them advertised on ebay for quite a lot of money.  I think a complete set for the engine runs at around 150USD which makes blasting and plating quite cost effective.  And again the satisfaction of putting original 50 year old parts back into the car really is the cherry on the cake.

[andyburns]

Spent the morning at Rodgers.  I was there yesterday pushing my bearings on the wheel shafts but made a bit of a blunder.  Put one of the washers on the wrong way around and had to go back this morning and pull the nuts off again.  Took the opportunity to mark the washers and cut the lock tabs.  Almost impossible to get a punch in without screwing the bearing.

Rodgers new tools made quick work of it and within 20 minutes we had sorted all the issues.

Set about cleaning up the shafts and prepping for the install.  I commandeered the wifes kitchen scales to measure out the required 35g of grease to pack the bearings with.  Conveniently she wasn't home to give her approval so I made an executive decision to go ahead with the plan.

 On way back from Rodgers I also picked up some lock tight bearing lock paste.  Happy I got this as the one bearing I recycled was not as tight as I would have liked.

[andyburns]

Used the backing plate to pull the bearings back in.  Had to find a couple of longer bolts and grind the sides of them to fit and lock up the back of the lock plate.  Worked out really well and easily pulled the bearings back in.   Much better that smacking the shaft which would load up the bearings outer race and potentially do some nasty damage.

I also decided to deviate from the BBB install schedule and not put the paper gasket over the end of the shaft during the install.  There was too much grease floating around to contaminate the seal so I decided to cut the gasket which let me install it at the last minute.  Worked out well I think.  Used the Wirth sealant on both sides of the gasket.  Probably overkill but I had already paid for it so may as well make use of it.  Almost guarantee it would be seeping any grease!

Ended up spending 3 hours installing both shafts.  Probably could do it in less than an hour now given my new found knowledge. 

After going through this process I still feel that Mercedes got it wrong.  After working for years on my BMW 2002's I can honestly say the rear end on the 113 is ridiculously complicated for what it offers.  Weak spot of the car?? Interested in everyone's thoughts.

[andyburns]

Is this a vastly superior setup?

[GGR]

Is this a vastly superior setup?

It is. The swing axle was seen by Mercedes as a sophisticated improvement over the live axle. But when the BMW Neue Klass came out with that rear axle arrangement, Mercedes copied it on the W114/115 chassis. BMW saw that as a confirmation that their rear axle set-up was a great one. I don't remember where I read all that.

I drove a 2002 for many years and I still drive occasionally an E9 3.0 CSI. Their handling feels much more modern compared to any W108/111/113 chassis.

[andyburns]

GGR, cant aruge with that.  Also from a maintenance perspective this diff overhaul just seem massively complicated in comparison to a complete overhaul off the 2002 rear end for no advantage.  I love the car but to date think that without a doubt the rear end is the weak point.

[andyburns]

Slow day today after one too many cheeky glasses of Merlot with some good friends last night.  I worked on the brakes mainly but also fitted up the horizontal diff stabilizing rod.

I tried to refit the beru clamps around the diff boot as well.  Ran into problems probably due to my self inflicted diminished mental capacity.  Just cant see how these little suckers are suppose to clamp up.  There seems to be an arm which is used like a lever to initially tighten up the clamp.   Just found the answer to how the clamps work on this link http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=13458.0  thanks Chuck

[66andBlue]

Hmm ... , do you think it is a good idea working on the brakes with a hangover?   

[andyburns]

Dont be so cheeky Alfred!  Hangover was more of a slight fog, just enough to put me off my game.... slightly.  Have redeemed myself this morning and got both Beru clips firmly nipped up.  Will post some more pics tonight.   Am getting quite excited as the diff fit out is nearing completion and looking really good.   Can start to smell the end now.  Gearbox here I come.

[66andBlue]

Dont be so cheeky Alfred! 

Slow day today after one too many cheeky glasses of Merlot ...

Thanks Andy, that was nice of you putting me at the same level as a Merlot. 
"Cheeky", that must have been an Australian plunk and not a Pomerol. 

[andyburns]

Alfred, Merlot is my absolute favorite so comparing anything to it is a huge compliment in my eyes.  Strangely enough it was an Australian merlot I was drinking.  How did you know.  Normally I would not admit to this given out friendly trans Tasman rivalry, but seems you have caught me out!

As promised some more pictures to prove that the very temporary effect have long since worn off.  I would like to dedicate these pictures to my Australian friends who I begrudgingly admit make a jolly fine red.

[Garry]

Andy,

Such an admission from a Kiwi.  Not one to miss an opportunity but I must admit I am a Merlot drinker and as there are wineries all around our house and it is hard job ensuring they are keeping up to scratch.

That axle is looking really sweet.

Garry

[andyburns]

Also picked up the rear soft top hatch from the upholsterers on Friday.  I had taken it to them over a month ago after they offered to do it for 120 dollars.  I thought the low price was a good insurance policy to get it just perfect by a professional and also they had the correct 3mm sealed cell foam which I could only get in massive sheets.   It took them about three goes at it and they cranked the price up to 300 which I was a bit pissed at.  But the result is good.  Can now get on with all the chrome on this.  Debating if I should re chrome.

P.S It been a good weekend.. the only thing that would really cap it off would be a frank admission from an Australian that New Zealand makes better white wine!

[jameshoward]

Are there really people who think Aussies make better white than Kiwis? Who are these folk???

The axle looks amazing. But I have to wish you the very best of luck getting the compensating spring in with the axle mounted. I'd have tackled that **** of a job with the axle on the floor! (It is my nemesis, however, and we have a long, adversarial relationship... )

I would recommend a good Margaret River red before you tackle it. You can't beat raw alcohol content to bring out the unbridled aggression needed to tame the springed beast!!

[66andBlue]

Jaime, if you consider only Sauvignon Blanc as a white wine then you have a point.
But if Riesling is the best white wine in the world - as my palate happens to believe - then the Clare Valley Aussies (the Barrys, especially Brian Barry with his Jud's Hill Riesling, and Jeff Grosset) are tops down under.
Perhaps in another 5 years the Greenhoughs in Nelson, NZ will challenge them successfully.

Now back to the axle. Andy, if in the future you want everything else to look as good you might want to keep a 'cheeky" Merlot handy - that thing looks like a piece of jewelry!

[andyburns]

Alfred, you sound like a bit of a connoisseur.  After guzzling the first two glasses I couldn't tell the difference in any event.  To be honest I don't like white so wouldn't actually have a clue if NZ is better than Aussie more just wanting some sort of admission from one of our long time established friendly foes.  Guess this lack of sophistication doesn't lend itself to me owning a beautiful and elegant classic car but I try and make it up by eating lots of blue cheese and supping the occasional glass of port.

Not too worried about the spring.  It came out easily with the correct level of compression.  Think the trick will be to compress it back to the same point in my vice which shouldn't be too hard.  Will keep you posted.

[Garry]

I will admit that there are some very nice white wines coming out from NZ.  Did  just say that, what was I thinking......

I have difficulty just getting past the local wineries but as Alfred said, Clare Valley for white and for a really good red, Hunter Valley in NSW.

But like you Andy, I just like them all, any one of the ten wineries with in 2 miles will do.

[66andBlue]

Not really a connoisseur Andy, I am just trying to help breathing when necessary. 

[andyburns]

I like it Alfred!  That's my sort of placard!

Garry, sound like you could have an awesome winery tour.   Wouldn't it be amazing doing it in a convoy of 113's driven by trusted sober drivers!

Have been hammering away at the springs all day.  Everything is back in now with no real dramas outside a few chips in the powder coating.  The central spring is definitely the most challenging but with the right amount of patience and a long bar is sailed right back into place.

Will pick up the kids from school and have a crack at the brakes.  That will be fun no doubt.

One thing you guys can assist me with is a bit of reassurance about the swing arm bearing.  After I got all the springs back into place decided to rotate each one of the wheel hubs to ensure everything was turning smoothly still.  The fixed side spun beautifully but when I went around to the swing arm there was a noticeable 'drag' through about 15 degree's of the rotation.   I almost had kittens thinking I would have to pull the shaft again.  Cowered in the far corner of my garage on the floor and gently rocked backward and forward for ten minutes while tightly grasping whats left of my already thin crop of hair.

But then after thinking about it I concluded that as the axle was in an extreme extended position that the axle angle would be trying to load up the double race bearing.  I jacked up the car until car rose off the jacks simulating how it would normally sit and then tried the rotation exercise again.   This time it rotated perfectly with no perceivable drag.  

Still a tad concerned but will stop thinking about it if someone can tell me this phenomenon is 'normal behavior'.

[jameshoward]

Andy,

If you spin the wheels without any weight on the suspension you do get odd behaviours. I know that from experience. In my case, the odd noises and grumbles also went away when I had the car with weight on the suspension. I think your fine in that respect.

Glad you got the rear spring in ok.

JH

[andyburns]

Cheers James,  really happy to have it all back together.   A bit of tidy up with some damage to both the paint and the powder coating.  I had to use a fair bit of leverage to get it all back together which 'bruised' quite a few bits and pieces.  Nothing that a bit of 2k brushed on paint wont hide up.

If I had the perfect tool set you could probably minimize it and also reduce the time by half.  I used exactly the same bits and pieces to put all the springs back on as I did to take them off.   Was a bit nervous using only a 10mm high tensile thread rod to compress the center compensating spring.  But doing up the nut to compress the spring I didn't feel once that the nut was going to slip or give way.  If it did I might have been in considerable trouble!

[andyburns]

The spring install took all of 3-4 hours.  I moved on to the brake shoe refit.  Started off thinking it would be an absolute nightmare but was pleasantly surprised to knock the first one off in about and hour and then the second in about 20 minutes.  Still need to adjust the handbrake but need to wait till its all connected through to the handle.  Perhaps tomorrow.

I did take dozens of photos during the assembly of the second hub with the intention of putting together a blow by blow install procedure.  The BBB has a terrible section and used some elaborate factory tool that just wasn't replicable.  Dont know about you guys but half the time I turn to the BBB I end up just walking away and doing a DIY improv.

Need to fill the diff and do the final adjustment of the lateral support arm.  I think I am going to use plumb bobs as I cant be bothered making up a tool.  I stole the plumb bob idea from someone on this site.  Thanks to whoever that was.  Will let you know how I get on with that tomorrow.

[GGR]

It all looks very nice!

To adjust the center strut another method is to put the rear wheels back on and measure the clearance between the inner flank of the tire and the inner wheel well in front of the axle (3 o'clock or 9 o'clock, depending on the side). The distance should be the same with the car on the floor.

[andyburns]

Fitted up the fuel tank today.  Satisfying to put in parts I restored almost 18 months ago.  Moved onto the fuel lines and the brake line refit.  

Tried to wire up the handbrake but have discovered that I have misplaced the special nut that winds onto the end of the cable in the handbrake mechanism.  I dont know exactly what it looks like.  Anyone got a photo of it.  Would be good to know exactly what I am looking for.

[Dave H]

Hope this works