W126, BENZ AID - COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

I bought a 1978 300CD with 250K miles about two months ago. So many problems and I've never worked on a diesel but my income is too modest to afford a mechanic. I'm just a humble computer guy. Okay, enough blathering. Recently, the power assist on the brakes gave out and, simultaneously, the car wouldn't shut off when I removed the ignition key. I have been told that I need to rebuild the vacuum pump. After a week of manual braking (that thing's a beast to stop) and manually choking the engine when I get to my destination it's developed a new problem that is far more devious.

I have a newly purchased 300cd non turbo that has a significant exhaust leak from the top of the manifold. Do these run gaskets on the exhaust side? I could not find them listed online. Are these prone to cracking and warping, or should a gasket do the job? Should I bother trying to retorque everything on my badly leaking gasket?

Hi I ordered and received new nozzles today and it was a easy pleasant job replacing them. The old nozzles were in bad shape and very clogged up with black soot/mess. I thoroughly cleaned the injectors with break cleaner and installed the new Nozzles.

Hi there. I have a 300DT Euro with a 4 speed manual. I bought all the clutch related parts to do the job and then decided to have my mechanic do the job.
So we after the installation, all was fine for about 1 week, then the shifting became hard. I took it back and he figured their was some air in the lines still. So he bled the system again, getting a little bit of air out. Then another 2 weeks later, the same thing happened and i took it back again. And now the same thing is happening again.
I don't want to take it back to him again. I trust him and his work, but i would feel wrong in asking him to 'fix it again'. Also, Mercedes are not his specialty, so i am asking for advice from Kent or anyone who has any help to offer.