Is this subframe bush knackered? (W204)

[Blue30]

Yo.. I've been chasing a thump from the rear end that sounds a bit like a top mount but isn't. Tonight I took the plate off the bottom of the forward most bush on the rear subframe and found witness marks that the subframe has been resting or rubbing on it, is that right? Or is the bush gone?

Second question... driveway or specialist?

Cheers!

 

[whitenemesis]

Specialist job, needs a press..

 

[Jobsworth]

It's not the worst I've seen, but try to get a picture of the top side. Usually you can see if the rubber has separated from the aluminium centre from the top

 

[Stratman]

Specialist job, needs a press..

Is it too much for Edd China's threaded rod method?

 

[whitenemesis]

Is it too much for Edd China's threaded rod method?

nothing's too good for Ed!!

 

[Wolfie1]

Pic 3 looks like the rubber bush is split around the middle metal bush

 

[Blue30]

Yeah I was thinking it might have separated from the middle bit and slipped down. It would explain why the subframe seems to be resting on the bottom plate judging by the marks on it.

Back in the day when I had endless weekends to mess with cars I’d get my threaded rod out but I don’t feel in the mood for this one this time!

 

[jasonh]

Having recently replaced a couple of bushes like that on a BMW I'd say you'll need exactly the right tool to get the old bush out. It will need a huge amount of force, alternatively you'll need to drill out the rubber, very carefully cut the outer with a hacksaw and peen the edges of the bush in. Messy and fiddly.

Pulling a new bush in, with a clean hole and some lubricant might be possible without the correct tool.

It's odd because I'd say the original bush doesn't actually look that bad unless the middle has become separated but that's not obvious in the pictures. However the witness marks seem to condemn the bush. What does the other side look like?

 

[BlackC55]

It's not completely knackered but its very tired. We do them all the time. No need for a press to get them out as the press method on worn bushes is almost impossible. You need brute force, a big hammer and a decent drift or two. I use a hi tensile threaded bar and a plate to put them in with special rubber mounting paste thats genuine merc.

 

[Blue30]

I took it to a garage a few weeks back to diagnose the thumping from the rear. They could hear it but he wasn't sure what it was. He agreed they looked soft but said they don't usually make that noise, he thought it sounded like a shock, but I've changed the rear shocks & top mount already and it made no difference.

I made a vid of the bush moving around when I put it in D with bricks in front of the wheels to stop it moving forwards, the subframe does sit on that bottom plate then move up off it just putting in D, never mind on the road with some throttle on, going over potholes etc. Its not easy to see on a small screen but check out :40s where I knock it back to N and it drops again. I think I'm going to get the garage to just change the bushes regardless.

Vid -

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[amazighman]

Diy. Sub frame bush replacement WD204

I came on to the forum to see if I could find anything about rear sub frame bushes IE fitting a new one. What I was looking for was there, DIY - W210 Rear Subframe bush replacement an excellent and very informative method of doing the job. I was concerned about doing such a job because of the...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

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