W124 Front Wishbone Bushes???

[Morecambenz]

Has anyone done the replacement of the fore mentioned? I was given an 'advisory' on the MOT that they had started to deteriorate - though no play. I was just wondering if it is the little bitch of a job that it looks??? I was going to replace them all as they will all be the same age. Is there a knack/secret I should know before I start buying parts or is it a specialist job?

 

[Ian B Walker]

It would probably take you longer to replace the bushes than actually fitting a new arm. New arms cost in the region of £110 each. To replace the bushes is not a job I personally like. Having to line them up correctly and then press them in, oh the pain

 

[WDB124066]

If you end up buying a non genuine MB arm make sure they have the bushes assembled in the correct orientation, they are often wrongly assembled!!!!

 

[kth286]

which engine do you have - it matters.

 

[Olivier]

It would probably take you longer to replace the bushes than actually fitting a new arm. New arms cost in the region of £110 each. To replace the bushes is not a job I personally like. Having to line them up correctly and then press them in, oh the pain

I was thinking of doing this on the E300TD, hoping a hammer will help, perhaps I should bring it to you Ian
Fancy a try , C'mon

 

[Morecambenz]

Its an E200 -2 litre, I know I'm going to regret this but.... this would suggest that they were different for different sized engines: the difference between a 2l. and a 3.2l. can't be that huge can it??

 

[Ian B Walker]

I was thinking of doing this on the E300TD, hoping a hammer will help, perhaps I should bring it to you Ian
Fancy a try , C'mon

As long as you are prepared to pay the hours spent

 

[Olivier]

As long as you are prepared to pay the hours spent

I could swap with some oil Deal?
How many litres

 

[kth286]

Its an E200 -2 litre, I know I'm going to regret this but.... this would suggest that they were different for different sized engines: the difference between a 2l. and a 3.2l. can't be that huge can it??

Yes the bigger engined version had the ball joint welded into that lower arm, and therefore it is not worth just changing the two sets of bushes, because the ball joint will likely need doing too (safety), so just as well replace whole arm.

But, you have more choices.

 

[balge]

Its an E200 -2 litre, I know I'm going to regret this but.... this would suggest that they were different for different sized engines: the difference between a 2l. and a 3.2l. can't be that huge can it??

Hi
I know for the estates the weight varies from 200T @1400kg kerb weight up to 1680kg 4Matic 300TD, so there's quite a variation across the range!

Was the advisory issued because they look rough rather than because they are affecting the road-worthiness of the car?


Can I butt in and ask if any one knows if the arms with separate ball-joints are only for early cars or is it down to the model, and if separate ball-joint arms are still available?
cheers!

 

[Morecambenz]

Hi
I know for the estates the weight varies from 200T @1400kg kerb weight up to 1680kg 4Matic 300TD, so there's quite a variation across the range!

Was the advisory issued because they look rough rather than because they are affecting the road-worthiness of the car?


Can I butt in and ask if any one knows if the arms with separate ball-joints are only for early cars or is it down to the model, and if separate ball-joint arms are still available?
cheers!

The tester, who I know reasonably well, said they were starting to look rough rather than affecting any performance/safety aspect. I just thought they will need doing eventually so I thought sooner rather than later - how many times have you done all the jobs on your car when you're selling it, when you should have done them for yourself? As an aside he also said the doughnut on the drive shaft was looking the same - big problem or little problem?

 

[Olivier]

Hi MCB,
I was in the same situation, this is where I am now, after all I decided to just change the whole arms, a lot less bugger...
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/whee...hanging-lower-arm-wishbone-bushes-e300td.html

 

[balge]

Do the doughnut straight away! I left mine for a few months when I noticed it knocking...then the next day read on another MB forum someone had had one disintegrate with virtually no warning signs at all! Made a right mess....

It's a really easy job, and genuine parts are not too dear!

cheers!

 

[Olivier]

If you fell like doing the lower arm I got 2 new bolts and screws .
They were over 18 pounds at MB, I could do them for 13 shipping included.

 

[Indyz12]

you need the concentric ones, the ones with the big washers on either end to adjust the camber. The above are wrong. They're about £12 each from the dealer.

 

[Olivier]

wrong! why do you need to do the camber? He's looking at the replacement, there is no camber to do there.
Indyz12 why or how did you come out with such wrong info?

 

[WDB124066]

^^ There is still time to edit your post.

 

[bolide]

As fars as I can tell all W124 E320 models have fixed wishbones

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

 

[Buddster]

Hi,
Not an answer to the original post I'm afraid, but as it's about wishbones, it seemed a good opportunity to make my first post.

Had this happen to me a few months back on my W124. Luckily I wasn't going too fast at the time. Still quite a shock at the time though. There was more damage to the road than the car!! Caused by a seizing ball joint. Obviously never showed up on the MOT's.

On the plus side, it solved my inconsistent steering!

New wishbones would at least prevent this I guess.

 

[WDB124066]

As fars as I can tell all W124 E320 models have fixed wishbones

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

Both of mine have cams on the bolts & under the nuts to adjust both camber and castor, I'd have thought all 124's had these from factory.......??