From owner-diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Thu May 13 08:58:54 2010 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Thursday, May 13 2010 Volume 01 : Number 3281 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] AC Compressor Replacement [db] Veredict on steering Re: [db] Veredict on steering Re: [db] Veredict on steering [db] Fwd: Common rail and EUI test equipment Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request@digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 09 May 2010 22:15:36 -0400 From: Marc Z Subject: Re: [db] AC Compressor Replacement Yeh, this guy is charging $88 per hour and he quoted the job as 5 hours labor. I have ordered the parts from AutohausAZ for a decent price. It'll be my project for next weekend..... Thanks everyone for the comments. Marc Z in NC On 5/8/2010 12:00 PM, john wrote: I think you need a new mechanic. you can just replace the compressor w/o even evacuating the system! ... oh wait I thought you were on the xj list, don't think it has vaves... used compressors can be had for 50, rebuilt for $250, get a good rebuild, I tried a used one and it leaks over time. you could have a complete aftermarket kit installed for what your mechanic quoted. again, that would be for a cherokee. I'm in the middle of repairing the a/c in my vw pickup. but it only cost abou $200 to have my mechanic swap in the compressor and charge my system w/ 134 john ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Sat, 8 May 2010, Marc Z wrote: # Hello Everyone, # # My AC compressor is toast. It sounds like it's about to come apart at # any second. I got a quote from my main mechanic source and he estimated # $1025 for a compressor, dryer, and expansion valve replacement. # # It seems like it should be easy enough to do myself for half that. What # do you guys think? # # Thanks in advance, # Marc Z in NC. # ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 18:22:33 -0400 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: [db] Veredict on steering Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes wants to steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I could and found the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. Dealership reports that the lower front A arms have perished bushes - cost of parts 527, cost of labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 bucks. Not in the budget. SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and bushes in place for 130 each, free shipping. Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press new bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking off the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. Over the transom to the list for comments... Edward ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 15:40:24 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Veredict on steering most front end shops are capable of this... have watched them do it before... if the mechanic can spell mercedes and recognizes them two out of three times it's probably ok to use him for this job... ;) ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Mon, 10 May 2010, Edward Pomeroy wrote: # Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes wants to # steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I could and found # the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. Dealership reports that # the lower front A arms have perished bushes - cost of parts 527, cost of # labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 bucks. Not in the budget. # # SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? # # I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and bushes in # place for 130 each, free shipping. # # Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press new # bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. # # Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking off # the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. # # Over the transom to the list for comments... # # Edward # ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 16:13:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Eric Ditwiler Subject: Re: [db] Veredict on steering Is this a 123? If so The lower has a removable bushing--its the top that has to be replaced. You will need a spring compressor. With a proper internal spring compressor, the job is not bad. I guess I am with John--find a Mexican used tire place with a reasonably new alignment machine. Make sure they find all three adjustments though--I have had them not know how to do the camber and work around it and mess things all up. Take the manual with you and leave it on the front seat for them to "find." They will need to adjust toe, caster, and camber. There's nothing they can do in the back except replace the stock bushings with ones with slightly angled bolt holes but they are not going to do that on the first trip so don't let them talk you into a "4 wheel" alignment. The top of the line front alignment should do you. They are 60 or 70 bucks here in So Cal but its pretty competitive here with little tire and fix-it shops all over. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "john" To: "Edward Pomeroy" Cc: "db" Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 3:40:24 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [db] Veredict on steering most front end shops are capable of this... have watched them do it before... if the mechanic can spell mercedes and recognizes them two out of three times it's probably ok to use him for this job... ;) ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Mon, 10 May 2010, Edward Pomeroy wrote: # Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes wants to # steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I could and found # the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. Dealership reports that # the lower front A arms have perished bushes - cost of parts 527, cost of # labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 bucks. Not in the budget. # # SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? # # I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and bushes in # place for 130 each, free shipping. # # Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press new # bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. # # Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking off # the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. # # Over the transom to the list for comments... # # Edward # ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 08:50:53 -0700 From: Eric Ditwiler Subject: [db] Fwd: Common rail and EUI test equipment Can't build these out of a bottle-jack or grease-gun: Begin forwarded message: > From: bradg@usdiesel.com > Date: May 13, 2010 7:14:42 AM PDT > Subject: Common rail and EUI test equipment > > Hi, > > Please take a look at our Common rail and EUI test equipment. > > Thanks > Brad > USDIESEL ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #3281 **********************************