w203 rear suspension arms

[bellie]

has anybody ever replaced all 4 of the rear suspension arms on the w203 as im going to be doing this tomorrow ive had a look but i cant see how the front top one will come off (as the bolt must have been fitted before the subframe was bolted in place ) their isnt enough room for the bolt to come out as it will hit the body ......ive changed the springs , shocks an now the link arms as i have got a lot of floating, swaying , snaking while im driving....it all started after i had a blow out on drivers side which i had to drive on for about 4 miles to a safe place to stop
many thanks guys

 

[Ricks Cafe]

By coincidence this was a job I tackled just a couple of weeks ago. I was able to replace all arms except the ones you mention. Yes, I too believe the bolt musts have been fitted before the subframe was bolted in place.

Have you checked the rear arm outer bushes for play? They were very worn on my car and were causing a lot of rear end float.

 

[bellie]

the rear arm outer arm bushes ????? sorry im not clued up with mercs is that one of the arms that im about to change ......i was thinking be a long slow process but i might hacksaw that bolt an fit new one in the opposite way (with the nut to the inside ...might be possible

 

[Ricks Cafe]

The trailing arm that the suspension spring sits in connects to the hub via a bush.

I thought of cutting the bolt as well but the steel its connected to is flanged which makes it difficult to get a spanner or socket in there. I gave up and did not bother fitting the new arms.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Hope this helps. Haynes Manual 4780 - W203 (2000 - 2007)

The 'Note' mentioned under the header 13 Rear suspension... refers to using new nyloc nuts when refitting.

As you say that you've replaced the rear springs already, I'll assume you know how to remove and refit them and won't include instructions for that part.

 

[bellie]

thanks but that doesnt say anything about how to get the bolt out of the front upper .....but one thing i didnt know was about the rear wheel alignment where would i get that done

 

[bellie]

i wonder then if its not possible to cut the bolt what would it entail to drop the subframe

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Not having done the job you're undertaking I can't be much help, but find it unusual to say the least, that the bolt you refer to can't be removed without a lot of hassle. Is it definitely the subframe that's fouling its removal and not a protective cover?

Is the bolt you're referring to shown in any of the above drawings or this one?



Rear wheel alignment entails fitting different bolts and needs to be done by a specialist in order for them to calculate which bolts to fit. AFAIK

 

[bellie]

it looks like the upper torque control arm (which doesnt show the bolt ) the bolt has been fitted from the right with the nut on the left can get the nut off but there isnt enough clearance to remove the bolt as it will hit the under body.

 

[Ricks Cafe]

The bolt is too close to the body to withdraw it. As the bushes in the other 6 arms I replaced seemed to be in ok condition I did not look further into how much work would be involved in lowering the subframe. Maybe a special spanner is available?

I had the rear wheels aligned as part of a 4 wheel alignment. Look on google for recommended alignment shops near where you live.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

it looks like the upper torque control arm (which doesnt show the bolt ) the bolt has been fitted from the right with the nut on the left can get the nut off but there isnt enough clearance to remove the bolt as it will hit the under body.

If you were to cut the head of the bolt off along with as much of the shank of it as possible, would you be able to remove the remainder of it and then insert a new bolt from the opposite side? Reverse of how it's fitted now.

Maybe a techy will be along and advise the correct way to remove the arm. Do you have a local MB Indie you could pop into or ring for advice?

 

[bellie]

i was going to cut the bolt out but trying to get a spanner in to hold the nut seems darn impossible .........ive changed the other 3 arms and its stopped the floating motion but now i have a lot of spring creaking so next on the list new subframe bushes (when i find out whats involved in doing this ) and change the arms at same time new anti roll bar and bushes hub bushes and lower arm bushes set of lowering springs then move onto the front