Sway Bar Bushings...
#51
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Location: Finland, Europe
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W203 C200CDI
Had the yearly inspection today and was told theres play in the link rods and torsion bar area...(dont know the exact english words) "play in sway bar attachement, left inner side"
MB's suspension/axle products seem complete crap. I fixed the same problems exactly 1 year ago and done ~7000 miles since, now they are shot again.
It's good that there are these threads, time for DIY and save about $600 instead of dealer fixing it again
MB's suspension/axle products seem complete crap. I fixed the same problems exactly 1 year ago and done ~7000 miles since, now they are shot again.
It's good that there are these threads, time for DIY and save about $600 instead of dealer fixing it again
Last edited by cvx; 09-30-2014 at 01:40 PM.
#53
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Mercedes Benz C-180 Kompressor - Sport Edition (2006)
C 180 sport edition
so I have a c 180 kompressor (sport edition) and the front sway bar part number is 323 44 65. I'm wondering what would be the part number for the rear bar that fits into this model.
#54
Junior Member
Hate to revive an old thread, probably just as bad as not searching.
I have a 2006 C230 Sport
Torpedo Garage (Mercedes) in Kaiserslautern of course wants to sell me the entire sway bar. The only individual part they will sell me are the smaller brackets.
All I want are these damn larger brackets because every parts store I've gone to around here have the bushings that only fit in the larger brackets but NO BRACKETS. And I'm not having any luck online.
HELP.
I have a 2006 C230 Sport
Torpedo Garage (Mercedes) in Kaiserslautern of course wants to sell me the entire sway bar. The only individual part they will sell me are the smaller brackets.
All I want are these damn larger brackets because every parts store I've gone to around here have the bushings that only fit in the larger brackets but NO BRACKETS. And I'm not having any luck online.
HELP.
#55
Super Member
Not sure if your front suspension is the same as 2005 C230 ... but on the 2005 C230 the front sway bar bushings now come molded to the sway bar, so you have to purchase a replacement sway bar. They must have had too many issues with noise to resort to a move like that.
I replaced my sway bar a couple of years ago and the price at my local dealership was only $80 for the sway bar, so I got it there. No more squeaks.
I replaced my sway bar a couple of years ago and the price at my local dealership was only $80 for the sway bar, so I got it there. No more squeaks.
#57
Super Member
If you're handy with a moto-tool you can always find 22mm bushings for another vehicle that are a larger size, and shave them down to fit
Seriously, I don't see why what shouldn't work. It will just take time and patience (and maybe purchase a couple of spares just in case ...)
Seriously, I don't see why what shouldn't work. It will just take time and patience (and maybe purchase a couple of spares just in case ...)
#58
Junior Member
Sounds tempting, but i'd rather just spend the 20 odd euro for the large brackets and bushings. But these large brackets are apparently the Great White Buffalo around here.
#60
Junior Member
I've gone to the dealership in Germany and asked various parts stores for these larger brackets also. Dealership has only the small brackets and sells only the sway bar with molded bushings, various parts stores just have the larger bushings.
I folded and spent the 75 euro for the sway bar with molded bushings.
I folded and spent the 75 euro for the sway bar with molded bushings.
#61
BUMP
** UPDATE on the historical progression and fitment options **
Using EPC-net, and looking up the VIN #s from at least on car in each model year, I was able to determine --
Front:
------
C32 was offered 2002-2004 with a 22mm bar with separate bushings, which for replacement purposes is superceded by the 23mm with molded in bushings. The C55 was offered in 2005-2006 and has only the 23mm bar with molded in bushings.
The 23mm bar with molded bushings is part #209-323-01-65. If you already have a bar with molded bushings and M12 sport end links this should be a direct replacement. If not, then you will need the newer brackets #203-323-27-40.
NOTE: The molded on bushings have a "innie" bump on the rubber. The separate bushings for the older bars have an "outie" bump on the rubber. This is how you can tell them apart.
NOTE: If you have a non-sport model with the M10 end links (#203-320-28-89) and a non-lowered suspension, I wouldn't chance this until you've figured out how to attach the sway bar with M12 holes to your M10 end links. The M12 end links (#203-320-29-89) are a different length (shorter?) than the M10 due to the lowered suspension, so putting M12 end links on a non-lowered suspension may not be the best idea ...
Using EPC-net, and looking up the VIN #s from at least on car in each model year, I was able to determine --
Front:
------
C32 was offered 2002-2004 with a 22mm bar with separate bushings, which for replacement purposes is superceded by the 23mm with molded in bushings. The C55 was offered in 2005-2006 and has only the 23mm bar with molded in bushings.
The 23mm bar with molded bushings is part #209-323-01-65. If you already have a bar with molded bushings and M12 sport end links this should be a direct replacement. If not, then you will need the newer brackets #203-323-27-40.
NOTE: The molded on bushings have a "innie" bump on the rubber. The separate bushings for the older bars have an "outie" bump on the rubber. This is how you can tell them apart.
NOTE: If you have a non-sport model with the M10 end links (#203-320-28-89) and a non-lowered suspension, I wouldn't chance this until you've figured out how to attach the sway bar with M12 holes to your M10 end links. The M12 end links (#203-320-29-89) are a different length (shorter?) than the M10 due to the lowered suspension, so putting M12 end links on a non-lowered suspension may not be the best idea ...
Rear sway bar is 15mm. No plans there for now.
#62
Super Member
I'm bringing this thread back from the dead because there's a lot of good info here and I have a related question. My 02 C320 wagon with totally standard, non sport suspension (front end has fender gap like an SUV) has a 22mm front sway bar and with M10 endlinks which I guess is weird. I'm looking to swap in shorter Sachs sport suspension struts and c230 front springs. I guess I'm going to have to also get m12 endlinks and drill out the holes in the sway bar?
Looking back on this, I am now wondering about the comparative length of the end links between sport and non-sport suspensions. Where the end link connects to the mounting bracket on the strut from what I can tell looking at the pics the mounting bracket appears to be at the same height from the bottom strut mounting holes on either sport or non-sport, and it is only the strut shaft which is shorter ... which means if you lower the suspension with a sport strut the front of the sway bar will be 3/4" lower on the sport suspension ... which would lead me to think that if there is a different length in end links it is the sport suspension that should have the longer link to keep the sway bar at the same horizontal pitch. I don't know if I explained this clearly enough ... or if my logic makes sense.
-- John
#63
I'll take some pics of the endlinks when I do the swap. Is it safe to drill the sway bar from M10 to M12 size hole?
The spec sheet I saw said the c320 wagon is about 250lbs heavier than the c230k sedan. Hopefully most of that weight difference is in the back.
Front ride height on the wagon is silly.
The spec sheet I saw said the c320 wagon is about 250lbs heavier than the c230k sedan. Hopefully most of that weight difference is in the back.
Front ride height on the wagon is silly.
Last edited by tjts1; 10-27-2017 at 12:35 PM.
#64
Super Member
Here are pics of 21mm vs 22mm sway bar ends ... it looks like the 22mm has a slightly larger hole for the tab size. My concern would be the amount of material left around the hole. So I blew up both photos really large on my monitor and measured the hole diameter vs the overall tab width:
* 21mm -- hole is 43% of the width of the tab
* 22mm -- hole is 53% of the width of the tab
So if you can drill out your 10mm hole to 12mm and still be around 53% of the width of the tab, then theoretically you should be good.
Fyi, sanity check by doing the math backwards ... the width of the tab on a 21mm bar should be roughly; 10mm / 43% = 23mm, and for a 22mm bar: 12mm / 53% = 23mm ... my guess is the tabs are slightly wider than that, but the numbers seem to match up, which implies that the tab on your 21mm bar should be able to handle a 12mm hole size. Happy drilling!
* 21mm -- hole is 43% of the width of the tab
* 22mm -- hole is 53% of the width of the tab
So if you can drill out your 10mm hole to 12mm and still be around 53% of the width of the tab, then theoretically you should be good.
Fyi, sanity check by doing the math backwards ... the width of the tab on a 21mm bar should be roughly; 10mm / 43% = 23mm, and for a 22mm bar: 12mm / 53% = 23mm ... my guess is the tabs are slightly wider than that, but the numbers seem to match up, which implies that the tab on your 21mm bar should be able to handle a 12mm hole size. Happy drilling!
#65
Member
I went on EPC and checked my VIN i have 2004 c230 Sport Suspension but it showed that i have 21mm bar with m10 links so it is possible to have sport suspension and have 21mm bar and m10 links just fyi
#66
USE FOLLOWING PARTS FOR S203 C200K(203245)
209-320-04-10 FRONT TORSION BAR(24MM)
203-320-29-89 ROD(M12)x2
913023-012002 NUT(M12)x2
209-326-01-65 REAR TORSION BAR(18MM)
203-326-12-81 REAR BAR BUSHING(18MM)
203-323-27-40 FRONT BRACKET(2003MY)x2
910105-008037 FRONT BRACKET BOLT(2003MY)x4
209-320-04-10 FRONT TORSION BAR(24MM)
203-320-29-89 ROD(M12)x2
913023-012002 NUT(M12)x2
209-326-01-65 REAR TORSION BAR(18MM)
203-326-12-81 REAR BAR BUSHING(18MM)
203-323-27-40 FRONT BRACKET(2003MY)x2
910105-008037 FRONT BRACKET BOLT(2003MY)x4
#67
Rear sway bar info
Since I found a lot of useful info in this thread I'll add add some info here so it might help somebody else in the future. I ended up with 3 rear sway bars of 3 different diameters which I measured with a caliper gauge.
2033261465 15.1mm from an 02 C320 wagon
2033261565 16.1mm from an 05 C230 sedan
2033262065 17.4mm from an 05 C55 AMG
I swapped out the 15mm bar for the 17mm bar which noticibly reduced body roll in my wagon. Next step will be a 23mm AMG front bar and sport struts and springs.
Last edited by tjts1; 01-12-2018 at 02:59 AM.
#68
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2005 C230K
Any reason why I can't replace just the bushings and re-use the old brackets? Why do I need to replace the metal brackets? I have an '05 C230K sport sedan.
#69
#70
Super Member
-- John