Lemforder Suspension Arms

[Amo]

Does anyone have any experience of these? (sold at Euro, half price from MB replacement part)

I need to change front bushes, should I just go for MB bushes (£28+VAT each) but as they need to be pressed in/out, it would be more on labor hence thinking to just change the whole arm instead.

Any views appreciated.

Car is W211 320cdi sport

 

[noogieman]

it's easier to buy complete arms and replace

don't fogget to rust protect the new Lemmies, they rust like poop!
i bought mine new from ECP, within 2 months they were like crap with massive rust and i don't even drive my car in winter.
even if it's a quality brand and price was cheap for LCA they had crap quality steel!

OEM parts are Lemförder however the coating is baked into the steel for added rust protection, Lemförder LCA sold by ECP don't have the same quality rust protection.
my 1999 OEM LCA have much less rust than my new LCA bought from ECP.

i complained to ECP but they didn't care much about my issues!
i now drive with rusty LCA on my car

live and learn, stick with OEM parts for best quality but it's pricy!

see my pics, rust after 2 months, what do you think my LCA looks like now after 3 years of use from low quality steel?

 

[Amo]

Thank you. Very informative. So performance of the part is ok, just quality of steel is an issue.

How much easier are these to swap than the bushes? What kind of labour time am i looking at?

 

[noogieman]

you need to press out each bushing or cut them out with a blade saw if there is enuff room to put the blade inside?

no prob with performance, rubber is the same, it's the steel quality with poor rust protection which is junk!

it goes way faster to replace the complete arm, everything needs to be unbolted to swap the arm, if you replace bushings it's the same procedure to remove complete arm and pull out the bushings. it takes some time, take it as a weekend project

 

[p3tchy]

Still the same 12 month warranty on the ECP stuff as MB so I would go for the whole arm. Just paint it with Hammerite before fitting.

 

[Amo]

Thanks guys, I will look into doing the whole arm in that case as its only 78 each side compared to Merc ones for £180 a piece

Is it easy enough to do with a few axle stands? or do i need a ramp?

 

[Alps]

is this the lower front arm?

lemforder ones are good.

I ended up ordering an oem mb one arm and bush come separate. the arm is aluminium so should not corrode.

 

[Amo]

yea lower front I beleive. its the bush right at the front which has gone.

you saying OEM bushes are separate from Arm, I thought they were pre-assembled? In this case I may as well get the bush alone..

 

[Alps]

I`ll tell you tomorrow when I pick it up I ordered the arm, the bush the bolts etc.

 

[Amo]

What did you pay for it please if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Alps]

What did you pay for it please if you dont mind me asking?

I normally get a good discount , honestly didn't ask

 

[noogieman]

if they are aluminium on w211, that's great, it can't rust only get stained by alu rot!
on w202 lca is solid steel which will rust if not properly coated

 

[jaymanek]

Lemforder is OEM and the best aftermarket brand for suspension stuff... Cant go wrong.

 

[V12]

If it's the front lower arms (thrust arms) I don't believe bushes come separately.
The main lower control arm does have bushes which can be ordered separately.
Bizarrely we couldn't order the bushes from my W220 VIN but using a W211 VIN the bushes could be ordered. Funny epc system!

 

[Alps]

Just to confirm OEM mb the arm does not come with bushes

 

[V12]

Does not come with separate bushes you mean? As in, they are already fitted in the arms...

 

[Dieselman]

it's easier to buy complete arms and replace

don't fogget to rust protect the new Lemmies, they rust like poop!
i bought mine new from ECP, within 2 months they were like crap with massive rust and i don't even drive my car in winter.
even if it's a quality brand and price was cheap for LCA they had crap quality steel!

OEM parts are Lemförder however the coating is baked into the steel for added rust protection, Lemförder LCA sold by ECP don't have the same quality rust protection.
my 1999 OEM LCA have much less rust than my new LCA bought from ECP.

i complained to ECP but they didn't care much about my issues!
i now drive with rusty LCA on my car

live and learn, stick with OEM parts for best quality but it's pricy!

see my pics, rust after 2 months, what do you think my LCA looks like now after 3 years of use from low quality steel?

What a load of rubbish. The paint coat and steel is exactly the same as the Original item.

The paint has been damaged on the flange, hence the surface, not massive, rust.

 

[Alps]

Does not come with separate bushes you mean? As in, they are already fitted in the arms...

No I mean the mb oem arms and bushes have to be purchased separately the lemforder arms come with bushes already fitted

 

[V12]

Thanks for clarification for stupid people like me.

 

[noogieman]

What a load of rubbish. The paint coat and steel is exactly the same as the Original item.

The paint has been damaged on the flange, hence the surface, not massive, rust.

maybe i didn't explain good?
pictures were taken after 2 months of use during summer, today after 3 years fitted to my car these LCA are in even worse condition!

my factory LCA arms which are 85000km old doesn't have the same rust damage as the new ones!
rust on my factory LCA was only seen were the spring was attached.
spring was grinding the paint on LCA
factory w202 LCA has better rust protection than aftermarket LCA