Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 280 (129.058), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 300 SL (129.060), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 300 SL-24 (129.061), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 320 (129.063), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 500 (129.067), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 500 SL (129.066), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 600 (129.076), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 60 AMG (129.067), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 280 (129.059), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 320 (129.064), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 500 (129.068), MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129) 600 SL (129.076) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle

All the parts you need to replace – Suspension Ball Joint for SL (R129) and other MERCEDES-BENZ models

Ball Joint

        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (193 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (190 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (231 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (231 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (320 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (326 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (394 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (381 hp)
      
        Ball Joint for SL Convertible (R129) Petrol (204 hp)

Replacement: ball joint – MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129). Tools you might need:

                        Wire brush
                      
                        WD-40 spray
                      
                        All-purpose cleaning spray
                      
                        Ceramic grease
                      
                        Torque wrench
                      
                        Combination spanner #13
                      
                        Combination spanner #19
                      
                        Combination spanner #22
                      
                        Drive socket # 13
                      
                        Drive socket # 19
                      
                        Drive socket # 22
                      
                        Wheel impact socket #17
                      
                        Ratchet wrench
                      
                        Tap wrench
                      
                        Hammer
                      
                        Flat chisel
                      
                        Crow bar
                      
                        Flat screwdriver
                      
                        Ball joint puller set
                      
                        Water pump pliers
                      
                        Strut spring compressor
                      
                        Hydraulic transmission jack
                      
                        Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: ball joint – MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129). Tip from AUTODOC:

The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right ball joints.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: ball joint – MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129). Use the following procedure:

Step 1

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 2

Loosen the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a tap wrench.
Step 3

Raise the car.

AUTODOC recommends:
If you are using a jack, make sure it rests on a flat surface without any unevenness.Be sure to additionally secure the car with jack stands.
Step 4

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: ball joint – MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129). Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

Support the control arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 7

Install the coil spring compressor on the coil spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Use adapters and jaws of the appropriate size.The sping coils should be securely fixed with the coil spring compressor.Use high quality coil spring compressors.
Step 8

Compress the spring.

Replacement: ball joint – MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129). AUTODOC recommends:
Be careful. The compressed spring is powerful and can cause injury if it comes loose.
Step 9

Clean the fasteners of the stabilizer bush brackets. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 10

Unscrew the fasteners of the stabilizer bush brackets. Use a combination spanner #13. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Remove the fastening bolts.

Step 12

Remove the stabilizer bush brackets.
Step 13

Detach the anti-roll bar from the suspension arms.
Step 14

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 15

Make marks on the camber bolts.
Step 16

Unscrew the front fastener of the control arm. Use a combination spanner #22. Use a drive socket #22. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

Unscrew the rear fastener of the control arm. Use a combination spanner #22. Use a drive socket #22. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Unscrew the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 19

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 20

Disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer. Use a crowbar.
Step 21

Remove the support from under the control arm.

Step 22

Remove the coil spring together with the coil spring compressor.

Replacement: ball joint – MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129). AUTODOC experts recommend:
While the spring is compressed, do not do any operations on it.
Step 23

Clean the ball joint. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 24

Remove the retaining ring from the ball joint boot. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 25

Remove the ball joint boot. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 26

Dismantle the ball joint. Use a ball joint puller set.
Step 27

Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 28

Install a new ball joint. Use a ball joint puller set.
Step 29

Install the spring together with the compressor.

AUTODOC recommends:
Make sure that the coil spring is correctly positioned in its mounting seats.
Step 30

Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle.
Step 31

Support the control arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.

Step 32

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 33

Tighten the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 75 Nm torque.
Step 34

Decompress the spring.
Step 35

Remove the coil spring compressor.
Step 36

For tightening the fasteners correctly, you have to jack up the suspension components to their working position.
Step 37

Adjust the position of the camber bolts according to the marks.

Step 38

Tighten the front fastener of the arm. Use a combination spanner #22. Use a drive socket #22. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 39

Tighten the rear fastener of the control arm. Use a combination spanner #22. Use a drive socket #22. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 40

Remove the support from under the control arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: ball joint – MERCEDES-BENZ SL (R129). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 41

Clean the mounting seats of the stabilizer bushes. Use a wire brush. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 42

Attach the anti-roll bar to the suspension arms. Use a crowbar.
Step 43

Install the stabilizer bush brackets. Use water pump pliers.
Step 44

Install the fastening bolts.

Step 45

Tighten the fasteners on the anti-roll bar bush brackets. Use a combination spanner #13. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 20 Nm torque.
Step 46

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 47

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use ceramic grease.
Step 48

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 49

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 50

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 51

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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