STD Exclusive: 15mm sway bar, the unauthorized biography.
STD Exclusive: 15mm sway bar, the unauthorized biography.
I am happy to announce the STOCK sway bar on the 126 is 15mm AND its the same as the 123 (just bigger). AND BETTER YET!!!! Behold the 17mm sway bar! The 17mm requires different mounting holes which requires poking some holes through the U/box channels. No easy task but wow what a bar. It also requires some type of bracket to connect to the sway bar links, honestly probably way overkill. It was found on a 500SEL with SLS and oddly enough no springs.
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bgkast Front or rear? How hard is it to pull? I am heading to the junk yard today to pull some W126 brakes, I may as well grab the sway bar too. There are 2 W126s in the yard, a 280SE and 300SEL.rear.
bgkast Front or rear? How hard is it to pull? I am heading to the junk yard today to pull some W126 brakes, I may as well grab the sway bar too. There are 2 W126s in the yard, a 280SE and 300SEL.rear.
15mm is already 70% stiffer than the 13mm bar. Going too thick reduces understeer but makes it more likely to oversteer.
So, slide face first into the tree or spin around and hit it butt first.
Wrong!
The W126 sway bar will not interchange with the W123. I pulled the rear sway bar out of 2 W126s at the yard today and compared them, they were the same between a Euro 280SE and a 300SEL. I bought one and came home and pulled the bar out of my 240D. The W123 bar is about 2 inches more narrow than the W126 bar both at the Z bends where the mounts to the body are, and at the ends. I tried stuffing it in anyway, but the bracket mounts on the W123 are indeed to narrow.
Now I have to go put my old one back on. :|
Edit: my stock bar seems to be 13.5mm because I can not get a 13mm wrench around it, but a 14mm fits with a tiny bit of slop. Also both W126 bars seem to be 14MM, not 15, as a 14mm wrench will fit around it tightly. (Notice the gap between the 15mm wrench and bar in the picture above.
Yes they are too long. I got mine mounted on and the ride is defintely stiffer. Not only are they wider but longer as well, negating the 77% increase in stiffness.The bushings are butchered all to hell and squeak real bad. I too will be mounting my old one back. When I compared the 123 vs SD it was in the lot on my back and the 123 was still mounted on the car. meh. The 15mm 123 bar can be had for $140 or so.
However the 17mm bar does not have the zbends in it, I will take pictures of stock 123 bs this behemoth. It is huge in comparison. The problem with mounting is that I will have to drill the holes, What to do about the nuts? Weld them on a small piece of stock drill a third hole in the middle and spot weld it through the hole?
bgkast Do the brackets for the 17MM bar have wider bolt spacing? Couldn't you just bore out a SD mount rubber 2 mm and use the SD bracket which has the correct bolt spacing?All of the stocks are 13.5 we just refer to them as 13 because we are lazy americans. Rusty @ buymbparts.com quoted me like $150 for the bar and the bushings, you will have to dig up the part number for him probably. The 17mm sway bar mounts are like 3x the size of the stock ones. If the stock was 2" bolt spacing this is like 4. I'll take plenty of pics tonight. I am worried it will be to much.
Is your stock bar slightly larger than 13mm too? Where can the 15mm W123 bars be found?
bgkast Do the brackets for the 17MM bar have wider bolt spacing? Couldn't you just bore out a SD mount rubber 2 mm and use the SD bracket which has the correct bolt spacing?All of the stocks are 13.5 we just refer to them as 13 because we are lazy americans. Rusty @ buymbparts.com quoted me like $150 for the bar and the bushings, you will have to dig up the part number for him probably. The 17mm sway bar mounts are like 3x the size of the stock ones. If the stock was 2" bolt spacing this is like 4. I'll take plenty of pics tonight. I am worried it will be to much.
Is your stock bar slightly larger than 13mm too? Where can the 15mm W123 bars be found?
How about we just have a custom set made? The W123 bars are very simple, it would be cake for a company to make one.
ForcedInduction How about we just have a custom set made? The W123 bars are very simple, it would be cake for a company to make one.Price it out man. I agree it's just a bar.
ForcedInduction How about we just have a custom set made? The W123 bars are very simple, it would be cake for a company to make one.Price it out man. I agree it's just a bar.
Here is the W123 13.5mm vs W126 560SE/SLS 17mm bar:[attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->04-23-08_2009.jpg<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment][attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->04-23-08_2010.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]
I agree whole heartedly that this is something anyone with access to a torch a vise, a bit of pipe and a drill press could fabricate. The 17mm mounts bushings are twice as large give or take as the stock ones and will require special drilling. I think if we can get 15mm smooth stock it should be a no brainer with even a cheap torch. I do believe that the longer the ends means for the slower travel and a smoother ride. Who can find stock? I will make a 15mm with variable length ends.
bgkast Don't they have to be made from spring steel?
bgkast Don't they have to be made from spring steel?
re-evaluatingInteresting. How much do you guys charge for custom bars?bgkast Don't they have to be made from spring steel?
Some bars go through a heat treat process to keep the proper shape, (spring steel) and I would have to believe MB would do that. Many aftermarket bars are not heat treated and deform over time. We heat treat all of our bars but they are huge chrome moly tube to begin with and under severe load. I am NOT trying to sell anything as we don't carry anything at all for MB but I maybe I can help. Iwork for HRpartsNstuff.com so Winmutt if you have an extra bushing off the stock car I can see if we can come up with a bushing and shell that will fit. We have access to all kinds of parts and shells seperately.
Dave
re-evaluatingInteresting. How much do you guys charge for custom bars?bgkast Don't they have to be made from spring steel?
Some bars go through a heat treat process to keep the proper shape, (spring steel) and I would have to believe MB would do that. Many aftermarket bars are not heat treated and deform over time. We heat treat all of our bars but they are huge chrome moly tube to begin with and under severe load. I am NOT trying to sell anything as we don't carry anything at all for MB but I maybe I can help. Iwork for HRpartsNstuff.com so Winmutt if you have an extra bushing off the stock car I can see if we can come up with a bushing and shell that will fit. We have access to all kinds of parts and shells seperately.
Dave
Unfortunately we aren't able to keep up with production so custom bars are a long way off. If we get the new bender we are looking at might be able to play a little but the way things are just not possible.
Anyone have any thoughts on chopping the SD bar, cutting 2" out of it and welding backtogether with a tube 15mm ID? Never done any welding and not sure if its doable? Getting the rebar made with spring steel is looking difficult compared to just buying the right one.
winmutt Anyone have any thoughts on chopping the SD bar, cutting 2" out of it and welding backtogether with a tube 15mm ID? Never done any welding and not sure if its doable? Getting the rebar made with spring steel is looking difficult compared to just buying the right one.The welding would likely take the temper out of the material, don't think that would be a good idea.
winmutt Anyone have any thoughts on chopping the SD bar, cutting 2" out of it and welding backtogether with a tube 15mm ID? Never done any welding and not sure if its doable? Getting the rebar made with spring steel is looking difficult compared to just buying the right one.The welding would likely take the temper out of the material, don't think that would be a good idea.
bgkast Buy a 15MM for a W123? You should just be able to use the SD mouunts and stock mounting holes.The holes on the bar is what I meant for adjustment. The 15mm may be NLA. Rusty@buymbparts had put in a call and tomorrow we find out from the Fatherland. Even if it is available shipping from there....................
bgkast Buy a 15MM for a W123? You should just be able to use the SD mouunts and stock mounting holes.The holes on the bar is what I meant for adjustment. The 15mm may be NLA. Rusty@buymbparts had put in a call and tomorrow we find out from the Fatherland. Even if it is available shipping from there....................
Any updates to your swaybar adventures??
I think an R107 bar may be close to what we need but they are very rare in the parts yards.
Mercedes or Rusty offer them new?
I am buying the 15mm W123 from rusty. I was unable to get any info on the 107 one or find an 107 at the yard to compare it with.
bgkast Buy a 15MM for a W123? You should just be able to use the SD mouunts and stock mounting holes.2" to wide. The bushing sit at and angle and make an awful racket.
bgkast Buy a 15MM for a W123? You should just be able to use the SD mouunts and stock mounting holes.2" to wide. The bushing sit at and angle and make an awful racket.
That was 185 shipped?? Will this do anything for a 300TD? Exciting news!
GREASY_BEAST That was 185 shipped?? Will this do anything for a 300TD? Exciting news!Yes. They are specifically designed for wagons.
GREASY_BEAST That was 185 shipped?? Will this do anything for a 300TD? Exciting news!Yes. They are specifically designed for wagons.
Defenitely keep us posted about the ride! I am in really desperate need of a bar for my 300TD, especially considering the amt of weight I have back there all the time. It dives and understeers like a sonofabitch, it would be really great to have the rear break free earlier than it does.
So disappointed. Wrong part came in. I got the TD bar. For future reference:
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ooof sorry to hear about that.. Is there some hope of getting the right one or are they all out?
GREASY_BEAST ooof sorry to hear about that.. Is there some hope of getting the right one or are they all out?$139 + shipping from MBUSA direct. Calling today to confirm.
GREASY_BEAST ooof sorry to hear about that.. Is there some hope of getting the right one or are they all out?$139 + shipping from MBUSA direct. Calling today to confirm.
That's for the 15mm right? My local MB dealer claims there is no such thing....do you have a part number? I would love to rub that in their face!!!
lowriderdog37 That's for the 15mm right? My local MB dealer claims there is no such thing....do you have a part number? I would love to rub that in their face!!!
lowriderdog37 That's for the 15mm right? My local MB dealer claims there is no such thing....do you have a part number? I would love to rub that in their face!!!
I will never ever order from a dealer again. Order direct from MBUSA, you get their price AND they dont mark up the Fedex and they get great rates. Plus this Tom guy that took my order out there was just about the coolest guy ever. Most MB reps are dillholes, this guy was like, so your hot roddin the W123. We spent like 20min bsing around. Restored my faith in MB. Even the operator chick that andswered the phone was nice.
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123 326 46 65 special order to Germany sug. list $ 136.00
Please contact your local Mercedes Benz authorized dealer to order, or
Mercedes Benz Classic Center, Irvine, Ca. @ (949) 598-4850. Hours 8:00am -
4:00pm pst.
Regards,
Mercedes-Benz USA
Classic Center
Classic Parts Support
Updates? Can these be fitted on the rear of a wagon? How about the front? I've got the vogtlands on the front and they are great, but for another $140 I'll take the extra handling.
MTUPower Updates? Can these be fitted on the rear of a wagon? How about the front? I've got the vogtlands on the front and they are great, but for another $140 I'll take the extra handling.I believe they can be used on the wagon as the FSM says for T-sedans. The only diff is the flat spot in the bar for the SLS valve to hook on to.
MTUPower Updates? Can these be fitted on the rear of a wagon? How about the front? I've got the vogtlands on the front and they are great, but for another $140 I'll take the extra handling.I believe they can be used on the wagon as the FSM says for T-sedans. The only diff is the flat spot in the bar for the SLS valve to hook on to.
Ding dong the fedex man arrives. It is everything I expected it to be. Tore my rotator cuff so I am trying to take it easy today. Install tomorrow or Wed. TD sway bar and new engine this weekend. Next week is going to be interesting.
WTH? They haven't even called me to charge my card yet!
I'll have to call them tomorrow morning.
I talked to Tom, he said they had 4 orders for them on the same day, they just got a big shipment from Germany today and there was a sway bar in the shipment but they haven't gone through it yet to see who's name was on it.
Hopefully I'll get a call for it later today.
Put the bar on. Ohhhhh man. the rear is so much flatter in the corners, Even my prelude a holic buddy was giving praise last night. I can get just a wee bit of drift,,,
Definitely plan on the TD bar in the front, the rear is so flat now I cant wait for the front to be as responsive.
I could definitely see where this would be really bad with stock or near stock tires.
Just look for a local spring shop, you will probably pay in $200 range, but you can get thicker ones even. The 15mm wrench just barely fits over it.
Now the geeky part, unboxing!
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I'll hog out my spare 13.5mm bushings to fit it and probably install it this weekend.