New Febi 124 Wishbones- bush check please

[chilsta]

Hello

I've just picked up a pair of Febi wishbones for my S124. Had a good read through a few posts here about these and decided that I'd replace them at 130k miles as a precautionary measure. Don't like the idea of an adrift front wheel!

This post from WDB124066
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/1044632-post8.html
has got me concerned:

Be careful with non MB original wishbones as they will almost certainly have the bushes installed incorrectly, in the incorrect location and orientation. Make sure your mechanic knows how and where each of the different hardness bushes are supposed to be. OEM manufacturers get this wrong!!!

Following multiple issues with my local indie MB specialist I go to a less MB specialist, more of a reliable and trustworthy mechanic who I need to give some help with ageing MB idiosyncrasies such as this.

I've read that the 'bumps' around the rubber denote the hardness and orientation, but not which should be where. The MB 33-0526.pdf talks about the orientation by using the flats, but you can't see these once it's assembled. Am hoping some of you great people will be able to help with this. Here's some photos:

I found this photo on Peachparts- this seems to show the bushes in the opposite location and orientation. Is this how they should be?

 

[WDB124066]

On the front control arms the front bush has one tab pointing to the ground the rear bush has three tabs pointing to the ground on both halves of the bushes. This is for a 1996 Sportline Cabriolet.

It is difficult to photograph until I return home but the Peachparts one seems to be correctish except for the one tab that is fitted horizontally on the rear of the front bush.

Just buy Genuine, don't mess with the aftermarket, it is very seldom correct in my experience.

 

[rorf]

Febi are rubbish - mainly the ball joint which is a poor wear point. Affordability then stick with Lemforder, and if funds not a problem then stick with Mercedes parts which are expensive.

 

[Codger49]

^^^ +1 I have been very disappointed with Febi in the past and I have always thought Lemforder is Mercedes OEM.

 

[chilsta]

That's gutting- I need to trust them and for them to last. Think I'll pass these on and do it right. Lemforders I've found doing a quick search are around the £200 mark each. Does anyone know of a place where I'd get a better deal, or is that about right?

Another option would be to just replace the balljoints with genuine or Lemdorfer at this point. Unless I'm likely to notice the difference by doing the bushes on a 130k mile car? I guess they're going to be expensive to replace as they sound a fair bit more complex to do and get right. Maybe I'll leave the bushes for next year...

Thanks all

 

[chilsta]

Found a pair of Lemforders in stock for £242.24 inc VAT & next day delivery. I'm guessing that's about as good as it gets.

 

[chilsta]

Thanks to the advice here I got a pair of Lemforders- cheapest I could find was for the price above direct from the UK distributor with next day delivery- 10973 02|Lemforder|Steering and Suspension|UK|1097302 (well it shipped directly from this lot anyway).

From what WDB124066 said, I think the bushes are right:

They came with nuts and a bolt- do I need to get/replace anything additional when doing these, or will this lot cover it?

I think the bits are:
2 x nuts for ARB bush clamp
2 x nuts for mountings to chassis
1 x nut & bolt for securing balljoint


Disappointed they're not made in Germany (Italian), but am keeping faith that the production process will be the same. Got to be a fair bit better and safer than the originals that have done 130k+ miles.

 

[chilsta]

BTW- Mercedes want £256 each, which was just too steep for me at the moment. I've read that the bushes aren't included with them, but the counter guy thought they probably were.

 

[Codger49]

Thanks for posting up your solution - looks a good result.