jkowtko

I have been planning to replace all four front control arms on my 2005 c230 as the bushings are several years old now and suspension geometry is slowly changing. The ball joints look fine, however, so I am thinking I am thinking maybe just replace the bushings for now and do the control arms in another few years. The cost is much less ($120 vs 400) ... however I need that special toolkit.

I have a few questions --

1) Does the bushing toolkit handle both upper and lower control arms?

2) Does anyone know where I can get a kit for less than the $190 online price? Anyone want to sell or rent theirs? And/or buy mine after I'm done with it? (If you're in the SF Bay Area I could probably drive to you).

3) I have heard that the bushings on the factory upper control arms for this year cannot be replaced, that the control arms were changed at some point. Is there any way to verify this? EPCNet shows part #a 203 333 10 14 for my car. My VIN is F663308 if that helps ...

Thanks. John

Glyn M Ruck

Don't know what you mean by upper & lower control arms. There is a castor arm 18 in the pic & a camber arm 29 in pic.



The bush extraction tool is identical for both. You can cobble one up from a bolt & washers if need be.





Remember to mark orientation of old bushes so that new ones are pressed in with 3 position fluted bolt slot correctly aligned.

Good luck

jkowtko

I've seen different places use different terms ...

* Caster = upper = torque strut
* Camber = lower = cross strut

The parts warehouses seem to use upper/lower most frequently. I assume it refers to the fact that the caster/torque strut mounts to the steering knuckle above where the camber/cross strut mounts.

That's great if the tool can be used on both. I did drop by the dealership parts counter this morning to check out the difference between the two bushings. They look to be about the same diameter (maybe not exactly), but the upper bushing has a much wider collar and rubber section for added strength. Now I just need to find myself a press kit for under $200 ...



Thanks. John

Glyn M Ruck

Look in the Baum Tools catalogue.

phister

+1 baum has a lot if MB tools, heck they even had the sockets to remove the rivets off of my oz/amg aeros.

jkowtko

When I said "under $200", I meant more like $100 or less. The Baum kit seems to be pretty easy to find online -- it just costs close to $200. That's a lot of money to pay for a bolt and an assortment of spacers (albeit they are sized correctly)

I put a separate posting in the Classifieds forum in my search for a cheaper bushing kit. My technical questions from this post have been answered.

amanonfire

Many auto parts shop rent bushing extractor tools, often for free.

jpman

Hey Glen is this something that they have incorporated to prevent the deterioration of the bushings ?

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mercedes_B...ngs/ES1889235/

jkowtko

Fyi I could never obtain a clean answer on why these dust boots were installed on only some models. My car never had them. As far as I can tell most rubber bushings on car suspensions are left exposed to the elements and do not have covers on them.

Maybe because these bushings were located near the edge of the engine undercover and therefore more exposed to the elements?

jpman

Your guess is as good as mine. I can only imagine that the heat produced by the engine and being exposed to the elements was a catalyst towards premature failure.