Oh, ball(joint)s.

[Bear]

The Avantime needs a balljoint. It looks manageable. It's waiting for garage space because there's a dead A-class in there right now.

 

30mph limiter, ABS/BAS/ARSE lights on, plugged in Star and it promptly complained about a wheel sensor and some communication errors. So took a look, and ABS sensors are a bit more than I hoped to just swap one out.

Went to have another look today and check the resistance of the sensor, and I spotted the fault - the ABS reluctor ring has snapped off the driveshaft. This means doing something Ihave never done before - removing a driveshaft

 

 

Why do I suspect removing the track rod balljoint is going to make me cry and this is going to be the first Mercedes that doesn't 'come apart like it was made yesterday' for me?

 

That £160 Volvo is looking mighty tempting (housemate can't drive manual and it's her A-class. Downside - if the Volvo goes wrong I'd have to fix that instead. More Bloody French Things).

[spike60]

If you can get into the ring, clean all the rust off the inside of it and the driveshaft with emery tape, coat in Araldite, then tighten a jubilee clip around the reluctor ring until the glue sets. Worked for me several times. Rings are not always available for all cars.

 

 

EDIT. Look like the rings are available for Merc A class, they weren't for the Cougar when needed.

[Bear]

Rings are available and cheap - however, it had jammed on the ABS sensor, so I wanted to remove the sensor, and the bolts snapped off. The ring itself had not made a clean break, but was bent and snapped in three places - presumably from being driven a distance.

Anyone got good recommendations for screw extractors?