xijonix

Hey Guys,

I have a slight issue, so both my front sway bar bushings are gone. I have a 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 4Matic and the front sway bar size is 21mm which is an odd size compare to the rest of the w203 line up. Usually with the W203 regular models have the 20mm sway bar and the sport goes for a 22mm sway bar. Looking for a sway bar bushing for my car has been proven to be a nightmare. The dealer stated that they no longer provide just the sway bar bushing due to high failure rates, that I would have to purchase the whole assembly which is the sway bar with the bushings moulded onto it. I rather not do that even though it's only $197, the thing is that when I search around the web and eBay for genuine mercedes bushings they have the ones that are available for the regular 20mm bushing and the 22mm bushing. The only aftermarket bushing available is from Febi and it's rare to get, out of stock everywhere. If i was to purchase one of the bushings that are readily available which do you think would be the right choice?

All sites I use the Application Check they state that the 22mm bushing works for vehicles with the 21mm sway bar, and some state the 20mm. I'm wondering if I go 22mm would there be too much play, and I'm wondering if I go 20mm would it be too tight that it'll fail earlier?

Paying $197 for a MB sway bar w/ bushing is not something I want to do I rather pay the extra to get a quality H&R part which is a 26mm ($300). I was considering universal bushings but I do not know what type bracket is needed and if it'll even work well.

Any suggestions?

phister

i just went and bought a universal polyurethane bushing and it works great and dont have to worry about it wearing out so fast.

phister

you'd want to get a 13/16 which is closests to 21mm.. all you have to do is put the bushing on the sway and then using a rubber mallet hammer the OEM bracket onto the bushing and it'll fit nice and snug.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pt...6-bl/overview/

xijonix

That is amazing your so much help! Thanks a lot! So I'll order these then one thing is that they are not a split bushing so install may be a little harder. Would I be able to safely split the bushing at one end to fit it easily over the sway bar? Or do you think it'd be better to just to attempt to get it on the bar through the end?

phister

its actually a split bushing so all you have to do is slip it over the bar.

phister

heres all your options for 21mm sway bushings... pick your poision lol

http://www.summitracing.com/search?k...0bushing&dds=1

phister

you can go for the energy suspension for a bit more but more readily know maker of bushings

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ens-9-5125r/overview/

VVF

Do you think that with stiffer bushings, the end links will wear out faster?

phister

no if that was the case a lot of racers and tuners wouldnt use polyurethane mounts and bushings. it reduces vibration causing less wear on the parts.