C230 Sport Coup

I need to replace my starter. Various health issues have been slowiing my progress a bit, but
I decided to purchase a new jack, and jack points as well as locking jack stands (use a little key, extra protection)
plus adapters to fit the jack and jack stands!
I still need to do the one under the engine but today I wrestled the old ones out on both sides.
Here's a couple photos. Got the complete set for the sides from Ebay for about $30 and
the one in the front from a dealer, mail order about 10 bucks.
New jacks stands sit tall and me baby she sit low.
So, if the car was running I could drive it onto ramps, and then jack up under the engine,
and then put the jack stands on each side of the front. Since it's not I'll need to jack up each side, slide a ramp under, and then
go to the front and jack up the jak point in the center under the engine a put the jackstands in.
Then jack up the back from the diff and the ramps under the rear wheels. That should give me enough clearance.
I did buy 4 jack stands, but they say no to jack up all corners, but if I have to I'll raise it a bit but leave the ramps under the wheels.
I also picked up a few interesting socket rachets from Harbor freight.
Last time I did this I had to have 3 feet of extentions, reach one hand to the top bolt of the starter, and
the other to he back of the tranny to work the wrench. NOT EASY! Hoping I can get that top bolt this time using some new tools!
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-ei...het-96369.html
By the way those key locked jackstands were only like $27 on Amazon for 2! Any of the local auto parts stores was like
80 minimum!


Old front end pads on either side of a new one. Yikes!

New jackstands on left with lock key and jack point adapter. Old jack stand on the left. New one sit a lot taller.

slammer111

Those are some seriously squished jack pads. How did they get so bad? Mine are pretty much still in pristine condition, other than damage from local mechanics.

FYI they sell hard plastic/rubber sleeves that fit over jack stands.

The car can be raised on all 4 corners using cribbing blocks. The trick is to slowly alternate raising the front and back ends of the car upwards. This is now my go to method for getting all 4 wheels off the ground. Unless there's an earthquake, the car isn't going anywhere.

C230 Sport Coup

Cribbing blocks?
Well, I got it up in the air, put the new block on the front, and using my new
nifty jack. Got everything except that last top bolt on the starter. Arrgh.
Well some of my new rachets came in handy, as well as the set of open end E-Torx wrenches I
have as well. But none of them are of any use at getting to that top bolt, so I'm going to do it the way
I did before, running extensions all the way back. Tomorrow.

Blubbachub

dam those are seriously used jack pads lol. if you have the finances for it (and garage space). I would recommend the bend pak portable quickjack. got mine a few years ago and I love it. Saved my back from alot of stress and I use it in combination with a creeper. really makes life easier. a year or two more and I might end up doing the same thing. (just dont make the mistake I made and get the 7000 lb model, I got the 5000 lb model)

C230 Sport Coup

Regarding my jack pads, I've done many repairs over the years, just put jack stands under the
jack points, didn't have adapters or anything.
When I 1st purchased the vehicle, jack adapters and what not were not
readilly available. I remember a few folks on he forum offering jack adapters for sale
that they made themselves out of nylon plastic.
But replacing a starter is a job that requires you to be completely under the
vehicle, so I started looking at what was out there, found I could replace those things,
and get adapters for the jack and stands. I also decided to invest in a new jack
and stands that lock.
That quick jack thing looks nice. I have to say, most of the time I've put into this repair so far
just involved getting the car up in the air high enough start the work.
But then I'm finally at least on the starter and have all the bolts out except
the damn top one. Today.