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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Stripped Sway bar mount front axle.
Some time back after removing an installing the bars to do various maint projects
like alternators etc. I apparently stripped one of them. It's loose, you can't tighten or remove it.
I can't see where it screws into, under the engine perhaps? Not easily accessible.
Is there a way to fix this? Replacing sway links and bushings as well as steering rack bushings starting tomorrow
and I need to fix this. Any suggestions?
Back in the day I wasn't using a torque wrench. Well I guess I should have but way back this info wasn't available
when the AMG bars went in.
Yeah mine were already stripped when I got mine. the bolt holes are accessible from the engine bay and from what I recall I just got 4 new bolts and nuts and did the best I can.
I have the W204 and I know the 4matic front sway bar is bolted into the front subframe and the RWD uses nuts and bolts.
Im not sure about the W203 so looked it up in the manual. I came across a bulletin that may be useful. Heres the online manual i looked thru, under Steering and Suspension > Suspension > Stabilizer bar. https://charm.li/Mercedes%20Benz/200...d%20Diagnosis/
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Wow, thaanks so much for looking that up, and also for turning me me on to such an amazing rescource!
I'd never heard of this before! Where and how did you ever find it?
Anyway, that was the one missing piece I needed to at least replace the swaay bushnigs and sway end links.
We'll see how it is after that in combiination with new steering rack bushings.
Thanks again!
Any idea what torque should be with the helicoiol in place?
Originally Posted by TimC300
I have the W204 and I know the 4matic front sway bar is bolted into the front subframe and the RWD uses nuts and bolts.
Im not sure about the W203 so looked it up in the manual. I came across a bulletin that may be useful. Heres the online manual i looked thru, under Steering and Suspension > Suspension > Stabilizer bar. https://charm.li/Mercedes%20Benz/200...d%20Diagnosis/
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 10, 2025 at 03:32 AM.
I just stumbled upon that website while searching around online looking for repair procedures for my W204. That site has the repair manuals for 1982-2013. the later years 2012-2013 do not seem complete but for my 2010 W204 it has pretty much everything to take the car apart.
I cannot seem to find the torque specs for the sway bar bolts for W203. I looked for similar years and models to get an idea what it may be. Can always roughly follow other specs, im guessing 20-40nm to be safe.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
If I'm reading this correctly
the end link to torsion bar on AMG end link with M12 mm nut is
100 nm vs only 55 on the standard M10 version? That's quite bit more!
They were certainly on tight on the
way out (10mm) I had to use a pipe
on a rachet, wasn't room for
a breaker bar.
Upgrading to AMG end links.
Also replacing lower control arms.
Had to quit, need a 21 mm
open end wrench, hit up Napa in the AM.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 31, 2025 at 07:39 AM.
The sway bar link nuts are 98nm on my W204. Such a pain to do with having to counter hold the ball joint from spinning. Its much easier with a torque adapter if you only have a regular socket type torque wrench.
If you cant find the specific torque listed you can always use the typical spec.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Torque adapter?
It's funny I've been buying a lot of tools lately, and I it is amazing I got by with the limited selection
of tools I owned for most of my adult life, Now that I'm OLD and don't even want to work on cars,
I have a lot of nice stuff. Just no lift So up and down and up and down. I"m sore as F.
I did a head gasket on a Toyota PU when I was only 19. I think I owned a socket set and a few screwdrivers at the time.
I actually rented a torque wrench LOL.
No internet etc. Was actually shocked when it ran and continued to do so for another 100K miles until...
another story.
The tool you mwntion I'd not heard of previously. 100 nm is just plain nuts. Thats 72 ft lbs.
The lug nuts are 80 ft lbs as are the brake calipers. I didn't used to even own a torque wrench in the day.. It was
an interesting experience when my calipers got a little loose. I pulled over jacked the car up and tightened them.
I hadn't heard of locktite LOL..
BTW I did what that service bulletin said and installed a helicoil. Seems to be working good.
Some mechanic put a 10mm nut up on top of one of the bolts. I sure as heck didn't do it.
It was cross threaded intentionally. No wonder I couldn't get it off. I don't think I'll be foilowing torque specs just rigthy tighty.
Even 40 nm in aluminum seems hight I'm going to drvie it for a while till the new bar bushings settle.And then I'll retighten.
I did a bunch of work today, but my experiment with the free Chinese suspension parts is a a no go.
See other thread on Chinese front suspension parts.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Apr 1, 2025 at 02:18 AM.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Those torque extenders aren't so easy to find locally.
I'm putting together a chart for all the torque values in the front suspension.
Lower control arm to chassis needs 150nm = 110 ft lbs. Dang!
Upper is 120nm+90 degree.
I doubt I was able to get to those levels with my open end wrench.
And I also kind of doubt that these chinese 12 point extenders can handle either
This is an interesting tool but only goes to 90 ft lbs.
when I did my suspension recently I ended up making some of those extenders and doing a ton of math to calculate the torque values with the wrench at an angle (i cut up some normal wrenches and added some length so I could get the torque wrench positioned coming out of the wheel well) and I was surprised with how well the 12 points held up. I did use some pretty nice wrenches so that probably helped, also used my big boy torque wrench that goes up to like 350 foot pounds and is three feet long. All in all, a massive pain would not recommend. As most jobs seem to be with mercedes, i wish i still had my 2003 corolla it was so simple.
Mercedes tools are expensive but they are typically high quality. I guess over in Germany they use interchangeable head type torque wrenches as spec'd in there repair manuals. When I look up the specific part #'s im coming up with Hazet brand which are expensive. Snap-on has these types of torque wrenches also.
Ive seen Gear Wrench brand interchangeable torque wrenches for $45, not sure how accurate they are. I've been using regular torque wrenches I got at harbor freight on sale for $12/each. But I also havent had any high torque nuts I couldnt reach with regular impact grade sockets.
I did come across an adapter to use on a regular fixed head torque wrench to accept the interchangeable heads but its $150.
I want to replace the two bushings in the rear wheel carriers. The bushings cost $20/each but I had to buy two different bushing pullers for around $200/each to do the work. Its still much cheaper than bringing it to Mercedes to have the work done and im thinking I can always resell the bushing tools at least.
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