Anti Roll Bar Bushes

[richh]

Hi,

It appears I have worn anti roll bar bushes on the front of my C Class 2001 as they are creaking badly, I have tried spraying them with silcone spray and grease but no luck, how easy is it to change them myself and if so how do I go about it.

Do I have to take the roll bar off ? etc.

are the bushes in two halfs? ie to avoid taking the roll bar drop links off

any help would be a appreciated.

Many Thanks

 

[nickmann]

Replacing them is easy, provided you have axle stands.

The bar need not come off as you can do one side at a time, but do not cut any bushes. You just slide them on from the end of the bar, lubricated by some soap.

When you undo the bar it will not spring up and hit you, or twang out and not go back. BUT you mau need to jack the suspension up or down a bit to locate the bar in the bottom arm.

Replacing all 4 bushes takes about an hour doing one side at time.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Make sure both front wheels are off the floor before undoing any bolts.

 

[nickmann]

Make sure both front wheels are off the floor before undoing any bolts.

I did mine one side at a time with no apparent problems. Is there a particular reason you suggest getting both wheels up?

 

[richh]

Thanks for advice, I can't seem to find a Haynes manual for a W203 model on the Haynes website.

Do I have to take drop links off?

Any suggestions?

 

[nickmann]

Yes. it is not possible to slide the bushes into place otherwise.

 

[richh]

Just been to dealer to get new bushes, apparently they don't stock them any more they only now sell the whole bar with the bushes moulded on.

How easy is it to change the front anti roll bar

 

[Robbo]

That sounds like the dealer is talking rubbish to me, I had the bushes replaced on my W203 this week by the main dealer and they certainly didnt change the anti roll bar. The parts used were :-

MA203 323 30 85 (x2)
MA203 323 11 40
MA203 323 12 40
MA203 327 00 90 (x4)

Parts cost a grand total of £18.24. Dont ask about the labour.

HTH, Robbo

 

[Ian B Walker]

I did mine one side at a time with no apparent problems. Is there a particular reason you suggest getting both wheels up?

Yes mate there is a reason. If you jack up one side then the weight of the car is transfered to the other side. When you undo the bolts the roll bar will spring downwards and if you have some delicate parts of your anatomy close by it tends to bring copious amount of tears to the eyes. ( fingers, knees etc). By lifting the wheels off the ground the only weight the roll bar is taking is that of itself.

 

[Will]

As Ian says, If you jack the car up on one side, the weight on the other side is causing the anti roll bar to do what it would normally do when you are cornering; transfer the force to the other side. Think of it a bit like a loaded spring under tension!

Good Luck,

Will

 

[nickmann]

Hi Will and Ian, I see what you are saying.

All I can say is I have done 4 road cars (Capri, Herald, Rover, and MB), plus some single-seaters, I've done all of them one side at a time and I've not experienced what you are predicting. In the case of the single-seaters they have been done both one at a time, and also both sides simultaneously, and there was no difference.

There is no coiled up tension in the bar - it's just a lever with a slight twist. I had a narrow escape once when removing the spring from a MacPherson strut but that's another tale...