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You can't find that part on-line. Please someone prove me wrong. I spoke to another MB owner locally, (Massachusetts), and was told that they did sell that ball joint to him even though they did not want to. It was around $90 ea. He told me his mechanic had no problem replacing it with the proper puller. I have yet to check this out.
You can buy the lower control arm main bushings and the ball joints separately if you choose. Your mechanic should have a press to get the old/new bushings in/out. Else, less labor but higher parts costs if you just replace the whole assembly.
Jnash, this control arm is exclusive to the 4Matic. Rather than having a thread on the ball end there is a groove cut into the end. I have been searching on and off for it for a year now with no luck. You can buy a control arm complete for over $600 each or a discounted MB part from other places. I have never seen it for under $500 each. So far as I know there are no aftermarket versions out there.
I have been thinking of buying a RWD version with the same ball joint and having it pulled and installed into my control arm. Its still cheaper than the $600 per side. I am going to try and convince the dealer one more time to sell me one.
If anyone has more information please let us know.
Jnash, this control arm is exclusive to the 4Matic. Rather than having a thread on the ball end there is a groove cut into the end. I have been searching on and off for it for a year now with no luck. You can buy a control arm complete for over $600 each or a discounted MB part from other places. I have never seen it for under $500 each. So far as I know there are no aftermarket versions out there.
I have been thinking of buying a RWD version with the same ball joint and having it pulled and installed into my control arm. Its still cheaper than the $600 per side. I am going to try and convince the dealer one more time to sell me one.
If anyone has more information please let us know.
From what I can see, the center strut ball joint is not replaceable. It is installed into a blind bore with not means of extraction, not even a knockout hole from the rear. I suppose that you could drill one though.
The trunnion bushings as well as the end ball joint are replaceable. As you pointed out, this is a very expensive control arm assembly to buy. I hope that you do try to replace that strut ball joint and lead the way with a procedure. It would be worth destroying a RWD replacement control arm to access a replacement ball joint.
Jnash, this control arm is exclusive to the 4Matic. Rather than having a thread on the ball end there is a groove cut into the end. I have been searching on and off for it for a year now with no luck. You can buy a control arm complete for over $600 each or a discounted MB part from other places. I have never seen it for under $500 each. So far as I know there are no aftermarket versions out there.
I have been thinking of buying a RWD version with the same ball joint and having it pulled and installed into my control arm. Its still cheaper than the $600 per side. I am going to try and convince the dealer one more time to sell me one.
If anyone has more information please let us know.
Is it possible to replace the ball joint considering it is pressed in and the other end is closed
Will it be safe to have the old pulled out and new inserted, is this even possible. If we solve this we could all (4matic) people save some real money , Any help / guidance appreciated
04-26-2015, 05:27 PM
