Just ordered some front shocks for my 1984 300TD and I saw in the DIY forum that another user took their front wheels off to do the job. When looking at my shock, I have clear access to it without removing the wheel. Was just wondering, is there a reason why I need to remove the wheel or is this just to give more room to work?

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1984 300TD Wagon

Removing the wheel makes it a lot easier to work on the car! There just simply isn't enough room to remove and replace a shock with the wheel on safely.

Removing a wheel takes what, 2 minutes at the most? How much more time do you think it would take you to do shocks if you had the stupid tire in the way. A lot more than 2 minutes per side.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

It's not as much a matter of time as it is convenient place to do the work (ie, it would be much easier for me to do this with the tires on than removing them and putting the car up on jack stands).

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1984 300TD Wagon

Jack up one wheel, remove it, and change the shock. No need to put the entire car on stands.

I don't see how or why it would be easier to do what you're trying to do with the wheels installed.

Maybe the one you read was for a newer model chassis, if so then probably yes you don't have to remove the wheel. The newer cars that still have separate springs and shocks have upper shock mounts that go into the engine bay and are removed that way. I read something similar before, I think it was also here that I read something like that.

However, on a W123 it's different. The upper shock mounts do not allow the shock to be removed via the hole in the engine bay, but rather out through the wheel well.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Having just changed the shocks on my 124, I can tell you that it is imperative to first remove the wheel as it is attached to the shock.

So does the shock spin around while the wheels are turning on a W124?




Just Kidding

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I s'pose it could if the job were botched.

I'll bet that came as a shock!!! Would have shocked me, anyway.

You need to unload the shock to get it out.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks Hatterasguy, that's basically what I was wondering. Will do!

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1984 300TD Wagon

The front shock absorbers also serve as a deflection stop for the front wheels. For this reason, only detach the shock absorber when the vehicle is resting on its wheels or the lower control arm is supported.

Otherwise you could be in for a 'shock' when the spring launches out at you

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Neil.


1991 190E 2.6 170k
1995 E320CA 57k
1999 Chevy Tahoe 98k
2000 R1150GS 45k
1983 300CD 178k - sold, but not forgotten

That's not going to happen on a W123. The top control arm bottoms out and the spring is way too long to come out in that manner.

Won't happen on a W126. I used a jack to lower the control arm so I could get the shock out.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200