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When I started tearing my '76 W200 apart I knew I would have trouble finding certain parts but I was confident the suspension would be one of the easy parts to find. I have had nothing but grief so far. After almost a year of searching for the right springs and bushings I still have two issues to resolve;
1) The frame mounted bushings for the shackles on the rear of the front spring. I pushed the old, cracked ones out and now I can't find new ones the correct size. My spring guy sent me what he believes are the correct bushings that measure 1.024" od but I measure .895" on the inside of the bushing bore. There is no way I am getting that sucker in there without boring the hole bigger. There has to be a smaller one out there but where would i find it when none of my parts sources have the slightest idea where to look. I found what is supposed to be the correct part in my parts manual (2953 700) but it doesn't say what size it is. Napa doesn't recognize the part number but i did find it on moparonlineparts.com so there is hope, providing this is the right dimension. If this avenue of investigation does not work out, i am all out of ideas on where to look. Anyone have a secret stash of these they would part with two? Please??
2) With the lift kit came a steering block and that required pulling off the steering arm. In the process I destroyed two of the three split cone retainers on the studs. I looked these up in the parts manual as well and came up with what may be the right part number but they call them "adapters", not retainers. I punch in the part number at moparonlineparts.com and they call it a "seal front axle strg". Anyone have any idea where to find these? I won't waste my time walking into Napa or even my local Dodge dealer looking for this. They have been about as helpful as pockets in your underwear.
You are my last hope of ever getting this thing past the first stage of rebuild. I am seriously considering selling the whole pile of parts and donor truck and buying one already built. Not as much fun but not as much headache either. I don't have the time to be doing this in the first place but when I do, it would be nice to have better access to the right parts. I can't believe how hard it is to find parts for this old girl up here. No wonder you don't see many of them on the road any more.....
1) The frame mounted bushings for the shackles on the rear of the front spring. I pushed the old, cracked ones out and now I can't find new ones the correct size. My spring guy sent me what he believes are the correct bushings that measure 1.024" od but I measure .895" on the inside of the bushing bore. There is no way I am getting that sucker in there without boring the hole bigger. There has to be a smaller one out there but where would i find it when none of my parts sources have the slightest idea where to look. I found what is supposed to be the correct part in my parts manual (2953 700) but it doesn't say what size it is. Napa doesn't recognize the part number but i did find it on moparonlineparts.com so there is hope, providing this is the right dimension. If this avenue of investigation does not work out, i am all out of ideas on where to look. Anyone have a secret stash of these they would part with two? Please??
2) With the lift kit came a steering block and that required pulling off the steering arm. In the process I destroyed two of the three split cone retainers on the studs. I looked these up in the parts manual as well and came up with what may be the right part number but they call them "adapters", not retainers. I punch in the part number at moparonlineparts.com and they call it a "seal front axle strg". Anyone have any idea where to find these? I won't waste my time walking into Napa or even my local Dodge dealer looking for this. They have been about as helpful as pockets in your underwear.
You are my last hope of ever getting this thing past the first stage of rebuild. I am seriously considering selling the whole pile of parts and donor truck and buying one already built. Not as much fun but not as much headache either. I don't have the time to be doing this in the first place but when I do, it would be nice to have better access to the right parts. I can't believe how hard it is to find parts for this old girl up here. No wonder you don't see many of them on the road any more.....
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