Rear Anti-roll Bar

[Boffin486]

Hi folks, I'm in the process of changing the rear subframe (very rusty & holed) on my 2005 C220 CDi coupe. I'm also fitting all new arms/bushes but when I looked at the Anti-roll bar, it is pretty rusty & horrible. I can only assume it will also be weakened due to age & I wondered about replacing it.
Is there a heavier duty/thicker one available? From a more powerful version - V6 or AMG perhaps? Are they all the same shape on the C class? Is there a difference between the saloon & the coupe?
Any thoughts gratefully received ta.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Measure the diameter and PM me , I have a brand new one 'in stock' . I needed the brackets that hold it on to the car and the seller would only sell it as a full kit so I had the lot knowing full well that it's too skinny for my C55 . It comes with 2 brand new rubber bushings as well.

Note the C55 one is MASSIVELY more stiff ,22mm and a solid bar I don't think it would be a good match . I could not find a new one for my AMG so I cleaned the old one up (not ideal) I did not want to go down the after market route as it's classed as a suspension modification.

Getting the front sway bar rubbers (again thicker than other C class 203's) was impossible as MB don't do them any more but you can buy a whole new bar with the rubber parts moulded on to them .....at great expense obviously . So on the front I reluctantly went for Powerflex bushings, I had to wait for those too as 22mm were not immediately available.

I would stick to stock if I were you.

Ugly.


Just remembered not only is the front bar thicker on the C55 the brackets that hold it to the car are different too = 'standard' rubber parts will not fit . For your car IMHO ? stock is best.

Here is my front sway bar shown during doing work on the steering rack. Note Powerflex bushings and tarted up swaybar.

PS , don't forget rear spring shims when putting it all back together.

 

[Boffin486]

Hi Pete, thank you for your reply - I will definitely take you up on the new anti-roll bar. I wasn't aware the rear springs have shims though - My C220 has rubber bushes that go into the top spring mounts to keep the upper and lower spring seats correctly aligned. The old ones were EXTREMELY difficult to get out, hopefully, the new ones will go in easier (with some silicone grease) when the reassembly happens. I'm pretty sure the old springs were the originals but they didn't have any shims on them that I could see. Perhaps only on the AMG versions? I like the pics under your car, all looks very clean & rust free.
I'll stick on some pics too :

Rear Subframe finally off. Very few parts being reused.


Subframe VERY rusty & Holed beside Front Mount (NOT visible from under car as very close to rear bulkhead)


Replacement Subframe as delivered. Very sound merely surface rust - some rubbing down & a paint will make it good as new. All new suspension Arms & Bushes will be used.

 

[BlackC55]

This is very much the norm now. We have done loads of 124, 202, 209 subframes recently.

 

[Boffin486]

Hello there BlackC55 - is there any point in approaching Mercedes to seek some remuneration for this? It is a subject well discussed before but perhaps, you can give me a direct answer as a Mercedes Workshop?
I guess, because I've already started on it that it will be a no go but worth asking the question.........

 

[Petrol Pete]

Pic 2 , the brackets holding the sway bar were apparently very difficult to get hold of , not sure of availability right now , be careful with them , cant see the condition of the rubber in your photo.



They are stainless steel , my guess is that they are sacrificial (cheap as chips) , sit between lower 'swing arm' and spring.

I am sure you are aware that the 'top rubbers' have about 5 different part numbers which equate to 5 different thicknesses for correct ride height ?

PS , I got your message , we will sort something out regarding the rear sway bar I have in stock.

 

[Petrol Pete]

You can see the new bracket here (2 different P/N for left and right . All of this had been sprayed over with a light 'anti rust' coating. Mainly because I don't know when I am going to get 'round to dropping the subframe.

 

[Petrol Pete]

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[Petrol Pete]

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While you under there and the prop shaft is dropped check the condition of these holding the handbrake cable , they crack and drop the cable on to the shaft . A right pig to get to with the prop shaft in situ.

Makes real odd noises, none of which sound like a cable rubbing on a rotating shaft !

 

[Petrol Pete]

This is very much the norm now. We have done loads of 124, 202, 209 subframes recently.

How many 203's Black ? I hear the 203's generally dodged the 'rot' bullet . The one Boffin is obviously an exception . It is a 203 ? right ? Mine is a 2006 S203 with 153K miles on it and the subframe is ugly with slight surface rust but nothing drastic ,I have done a fair bit of work in this area so I now it's not holed , I now they rot from within but I have had a bit of a poke around with the endoscope , I'm still planning to drop it though.



Time and space permitting.

 

[Boffin486]

Hi Pete, that link to the new subframe looks like pretty good value actually as it includes all the new arms too.
One factor, which probably enhanced the rust issue, is that I live near Aberdeen so pretty close to the sea.
I got the car from my uncle & he lived RIGHT by the sea (Crimond). The car was there for around 6 years before I got my hands on it. The shell of the car is actually quite sound - only the subframe seems to have been seriously affected.
The condition of the replacement I got off fleabay is Very good, just some minor surface rust so I assume it came off a car that lived its life inland, well away from the sea & particularly bad weather (salted Roads).

 

[giusepppe]

Hi Pete, that link to the new subframe looks like pretty good value actually as it includes all the new arms too.
One factor, which probably enhanced the rust issue, is that I live near Aberdeen so pretty close to the sea.
I got the car from my uncle & he lived RIGHT by the sea (Crimond). The car was there for around 6 years before I got my hands on it. The shell of the car is actually quite sound - only the subframe seems to have been seriously affected.
The condition of the replacement I got off fleabay is Very good, just some minor surface rust so I assume it came off a car that lived its life inland, well away from the sea & particularly bad weather (salted Roads).

I thought there was a free replacement and fitting from Mercedes if your subframe has rusted from the inside as it was not treated properly before it was assembled.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I thought there was a free replacement and fitting from Mercedes if your subframe has rusted from the inside as it was not treated properly before it was assembled.

Only on certain models and depending on which way the wind is blowing on the day . Very hit and miss who gets one 'Free' and others get zilch , some have to bay for hardware and links (very expensive) . It's a bit of a lottery.

C class W203 was never in the mix really , more the later W204's

 

[giusepppe]

Only on certain models and depending on which way the wind is blowing on the day . Very hit and miss who gets one 'Free' and others get zilch , some have to bay for hardware and links (very expensive) . It's a bit of a lottery.

C class W203 was never in the mix really , more the later W204's

I thought it applied to all models that had this problem, is it not a manufacturing issue.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I thought it applied to all models that had this problem, is it not a manufacturing issue.

If you search this forum you will find different accounts of how members were treated by MB.

 

[BlackC55]

Hello there BlackC55 - is there any point in approaching Mercedes to seek some remuneration for this? It is a subject well discussed before but perhaps, you can give me a direct answer as a Mercedes Workshop?
I guess, because I've already started on it that it will be a no go but worth asking the question.........

Unless they inspect it from the beginning and it has full corrosion inspection info in the service book they will not be interested.