300e 24 Control Arms

[mrnick969]

Hello
Last week my front right lower ball joint started creaking. I found this very useful guide to replacing it:
How-to: Replacing Ball Joints w124 300e - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum
It says that it doesn't apply to w124s after 1993 because they have the ball joint welded into the control arm. But after taking my car apart it very frustratingly seems that my 1991 car also has these welded ball joints.
Does anyone know the reason for this, are they standard on 24 valve cars?
Paperwork that I got with my car specifies that it was factory fitted with an "Enhanced Offroad Package". I am not entirely sure what this means or if it is relevant.

I am obviously now going to have to purchase a new control arm and attempt to fit it but I am unsure of what control arm to buy.
Putting my registration into GSF car parts website says that this is the correct part to buy FRONT LOWER TRACK CONTROL ARM - RH 422ME0060 but this looks like the standard part for the year with I assume the non welded ball joint.
There are various control arms on ebay but I am struggling to work out which is correct for my car.
Would a control arm with the non welded ball joint work with my car as they look exactly the same to my eyes??

If someone could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.

Thanks
Nick

 

[balge]

Hi

I believe they were changed to allow bigger brakes? Could be wrong
my '93 reg ('92 build) 300TD has the fixed balljoints...I think you need to look for post '93 type arm

I would consider oem quality parts here, replacing a good control arm just to fix a torn plastic boot is...irritating!

Never heard of an offroad kit for aW124, there were the 'sportline' performance options though
cheers

 

[mrnick969]

Thanks for the reply. I think your right about me needing a post 1993 arm.
It is exceptionally annoying that the ball joint cant be replaced. What is the point!

 

[kth286]

Thanks for the reply. I think your right about me needing a post 1993 arm.
It is exceptionally annoying that the ball joint cant be replaced. What is the point!

It is very easy to help you.

Put your full VIN on here and someone with the EPC will give you the correct part number for your car, and also tell you the cost of that part from a Mercedes dealer in UK.

It may be just the ball joint or the full arm - your VIN will determine which.

 

[mrnick969]

Sounds good,
My VIN is WDB1240312B458942
Cheers

 

[bolide]

It is very easy to help you.

Put your full VIN on here and someone with the EPC will give you the correct part number for your car, and also tell you the cost of that part from a Mercedes dealer in UK.

It may be just the ball joint or the full arm - your VIN will determine which.

^^^ Exactly

I would not recommend replacing just one. Do both sides as the other will need doing as well. If you buy aftermarket wishbones they'll come with new bushes as well and new bushes make a big difference to these cars

While the car is in the air I'd replace the front ARB Bushes and the shock absorber top mounts as well

Nick Froome

 

[kth286]

Just had a quick look on the russian parts site and tha ball joint is integrated.

genuine part is £335 from Merc with a bit of discount.

 

[mrnick969]

Thanks for your help everyone. I guess I probably should do both sides plus arb bushes etc whilst I am at it.
The next thing I need is a mercedes specific spring compressor from somewhere as my research suggests that a normal one wont be man enough for the job. This is all getting much more expensive then I originally thought!!

 

[balge]

Why replace the other side unless there's something wrong with it, it could have been done just before you bought it and have 100 000 miles left on it for all you know?If you are going to repair everything that 'might' need it, you end up replacing the everything...

ARB bushes cost next to nothing, worth doing to check the bar ends are ok, they wear and rust

You may not need a spring compressor if the arm is being replaced, seem to recall several threads about it, could be wrong. The spring compressor has to go inside the spring hence you can't use ordinary ones is all

 

[mrnick969]

I hope you are right about not needing a spring compressor but from looking at my car I cant see how I can do it without.
Anyway the six nations is about to kick off so I am going to worry about this some other time!

 

[mrnick969]

ps, if anyone in the south east area has a spring compressor they would like to lend then I would be very interested!

 

[millo777]

It's a brave man that attempts to do the job without the proper spring compressor. I've seen posts claiming it can be done with a trolley jack lowering the arm, but wouldn't dare try that method myself for fear of serious injury. Serach ebay for "mercedes spring compressor", they usually go for £100 delivered or 3 to 5 times as much for the proper KLANN branded (Gedore group) version.

 

[balge]

Yeah, I wouldn't consider dropping the arm without a spring compressor myself, forgot you still have to get the old one off ...

 

[tjamesbo]

How did you get on I am replacing my Balljoint by removing the Lower Arm Its nearly off now Just the Balljoint pin to slide out now but its sort of fouling on the brakesheild so looks like I will have to loosen that now . It has been a long job so far with lots of hard to shift bolts I had to get an electrical impact driver on the Ball Joint Clamp Nut even with the nuts off ALL the Bolts ( lower Arm as well ) were a pig to withdraw/ extract .
On a positive note when the spring was removed it was broken at the top with about 360 degrees ie 1 coil in the cup and seeing as the ball joint in the armn was renewed about 25K ago I am thinking the squeeking and creaking was probably the spring but it did sound like classic balljoint symptoms Still with the arm off I can check it . I was looking at Nick Froomes Post and am thinking about renewing the Lower arm Bushes Does this require a new Arm ? or can they be replaced on the Arm .not checked prices yet but if I do the Bushes and decide to do the Balljoint while its off it may pay just to get a new arm ? . So thats an Arm & a spring so far the costs are mounting
Boyd

 

[tjamesbo]

£78 for a new Lower Arm from GSF no balljoint removal and repressing and same for the Bushes so looks a No Brainer

 

[tjamesbo]

£69 for the new spring from Merc properly specced ie no aircon / automatic etc 2days to get Hopefully I wont need a pair

 

[mrnick969]

tjamesbo, I found I was able to get the pin out without removing the brake shield, I had to as I managed to round off one of the bolts when trying to remove the shield. I agree about the hard to shift bolts, I did have to employ the use of a lump hammer whilst taking it apart. Also how did you remove the spring. Did you use a proper Mercedes spring compressor??

I actually have not yet sorted it as I have been busy (and thankfully I have access to another car). I have yet to buy the actual part. I have been finding it quite difficult to find the correct part for my car without spending lots of money. I'm sure an oem part would be a good idea but I really can't afford it.

The gsf website suggests the same wishbone for both pre and post 93 models. I don't know if this is an error on gsf's behalf or I wonder if they sell an aftermarket one which has been made to fit all models. This does seem possible as I believe the two designs are very similar. I seem to remember reading on a forum some time somewhere that someone successfully modified an older style wishbone with an angle grinder to fit his newer car. I certainly don't fancy doing that though!

I am away this week so hopefully I will get it sorted next week and tjamesbo let me know how you get on.

 

[tjamesbo]

It came off without removing the shield although I took the Caliper and Disc off so the sheild could deflect a bit, but it was debatable if it needed it, i thought it was going to foul but didnt appear to. Like you i rounded the inside of one of the three Allen Bolts holding the sheild on but as said it did not need to come off . Re springs I did buy a proper Internal spring compressor at just under £100 or £90 expensive yes but I have 3 mercs
( the 124 a 202 C class and a 210 E-class) suspension work is required on all 3 due to age / mileage and a Desire to Retain the Mercedes Ride from what I read you dont want to be using anything else The springs because of their semi inboard mounting are therefore much stronger than normal car springs which are mounted outboard on atypical mcpherson Cortina / escort strut . As Such they can bend the jaws of non disc type compressors and if the spring jumps and launches near you or your head then Bye bye
Even the Indies that post on here treat them with respect . Cant help you with the issue over which is correct but obviously get it off then you can try the new and if you have other transport its not a big deal to change if it doesnt fit . I thought that the only difference was that the Balljoint was welded on sportlines and 300tE's ort diesels ie the heavier stuff could be a Load thingy??? .
Any other questions let me know as I am ahead of you at the moment
Boyd