Roadtoad
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2013
- Messages
- 130
- Reaction score
- 4
- Your Mercedes
- 2000 W215 CL500, W168 CDI170
Having found myself between jobs as it were I thought I would make best use of my time and the last days of the summer and renovate the rear section of the car. I spent a long time gathering parts like a squirrel on steroids buying parts from all over the world. My favourite source is California where old parts still look like new due them not throwing any of that nasty, wicked, evil road salt down on the roads. My biggest concern was the subframe, tales of seized subframe bolts and having to drill them out made me break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. I really, really, really didn't fancy laying on my back upside down trying to drill out sheared high tensile bolts. I dont have a ramp or a trolley jack either nor do I have any mates that could give a helping hand so I approached the task with great trepidation.
I realised that even if I managed to get the bolts out my next hurdle would be the shear weight and size of the complete rear axle and moving it around on my gravel drive. I went to bed one night and had a eureka moment and came up with a cunning plan, I wouldn't drop the subframe down but I would raise the car up off of it. To this end I invented a rear axle jig, which I made from a plank of wood and some old caster wheels I had kept for ages thinking they might be of use one day. Some hardboard laid on top of the gravel created a smooth surface for the wheels to roll on and then all I had to do was pull it to one side. I will make more progress reports but here is a picture of the jig in situ....
I realised that even if I managed to get the bolts out my next hurdle would be the shear weight and size of the complete rear axle and moving it around on my gravel drive. I went to bed one night and had a eureka moment and came up with a cunning plan, I wouldn't drop the subframe down but I would raise the car up off of it. To this end I invented a rear axle jig, which I made from a plank of wood and some old caster wheels I had kept for ages thinking they might be of use one day. Some hardboard laid on top of the gravel created a smooth surface for the wheels to roll on and then all I had to do was pull it to one side. I will make more progress reports but here is a picture of the jig in situ....
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