Ok, yeah, I'm pretty sure it's mostly crap and likely not last nearly as long as OEM.
I've already puchased Lemforder AMG strut end links, and genuine MB bushings as well as new URO steering rack bushings.
I'm pretty sure the lower control arms are shot but, the simple fact is I'm dealing with a car with 260K miles
and the elephant in the room is the leaking head gasket. Runs great except for the steam coming out of the side of the head LOL.
Runs fine. Just keep topping it up. But some day soon it's likely to give out.
I've already done a bunch of work, brakes, alternator, starter, shift module, tires and more I'm sure.
So I was hoping to get by without doing the control arms at $100 each.
BUT today Amazon invited myself and wife (we share an account) to join Amazon "Vines" and
we can get our choice of up to 3 items a day of various selected items up 100 bucks for FREE. All we have to do is write a review.
After we write 80 reviews we can get up to 8 items a day of unlimited value! No kidding!
One of the items available is this suspension kit
I figured WTF and ordered it. FREE. So I think I'll use the lower control arms.
I'll use the parts I already purchased. My control arms are shot but so are so many others things.
There's just no end to the money I cans spend on all new suspension and STILL need an engine or major repairs
And in the end wind up with a car with 260K miles which is almost worthless.
So go ahead call me crazy. But I'm going to use the cheap likely Chinese lower control arms. See how they work.
I"m just waiting on some new ramps I've purchased. You drive up and then jack up the car on
the ramps. Gives me lots of room to get under the car and replace the steering rack bushings.
In blue of course to match my car and toolbox.
Yeah, I'll use jackstands to the do control arms and strut ends.

 

Worst case scenario they could break and cause a lot of damage, but most likely they'll only last 40-50k miles instead of 100k plus. Worth a try I guess. The reviews aren't too bad. If they're really chintzy, send them back within the 30 day window...

I was considering these myself just to get by as mine are creaking and driving me crazy. The wrecking yard near me charges about $20 each (x4) for used, so nearly a wash.

 

If they last 40K that Means I'll have over 300K miles.
Unless I do a major rebuild, the car is not likely to last that long or longer.
Well see!

 

Well the jury in in. I installed the right lower control arm torday It looked a
little different but seems to fit ok
Uh... no. See photo. After installing my new AMG end links
uh...hmmm... seems awfully cliose the control arm.


Is that normal? Compare to other side....NO.Sitting right on the control arm.

There's about 1.75" inches on the other sde. Doesn't seem like a lot.But that one hasn;t been changed yet
So now I have to take out the Chinese part.. I'm on day 3 with this sheet.
I would have gladly paid $300-$400 to have a mechanic do it.
Can I re-use the old control arm? It didn't look that bad Upper ones look worse.
But I don't want to keep spending money on this car at 260K miles. S
So sady, no the cheap chinese crap doesn't work.
Even if I'd used the eend links included (10MM) still wouldn't have had
any more cleanace.

 

Go over some bumps and see if there's any clanging or grinding.

Easiest way to check would be to do some old school measurements.

Always wondered how (cheap) aftermarket parts can be designed so poorly. You'd think they'd at least do a test fit before production.

 

I would not trust that weld...it as if the robot was blind, detoxing from a hard weekend and did not care about quality....

 

Weld? What weld? You mean the one on the end link?
Thats not a Chinese part, it's a Lemforder AMG end link which is supposed to be the OEM for Mercedes and
hence of the highest quality. I better check the packaging and see where it was made,

 

I dunno man. I have had more than one AMG car. I did have a C32 back in the day (same era as your car in the Sig). Cant recall anything that looks like your silver arm with a soddy weld. Maybe I missed it....

 

Dammit! Why did Mbworld take away the edit feature? Is it a day? Or less than that?
Well sadly I am unhappy to report than I am an idiot. A drooling happy idiot.
A complete moron. My complete lack of a function brain and mechanical skill has caused me to
make a major F up.

Get this...It's hard to admit...
I did it. Me.
I installed an upper control arm instead in place of a lower control arm.
DURP DURP DURP! Gee, maybe THAT WHY they looked so different! LOL!
Yup. Thats what I did.
I didn't take all a look at all 4 arms before beginning.
The one I installed didn't have a part number anywhere.
Amazingly it fit. Until I went to install the sway end link.

Today I was cleaning up from yesterday...I was so tired I just left everything and called it a day.
I neglected to take note of how the swaybar was installed and spent a lot of time wresting with it with no one to hold it for me, and installing helicoils on
stripped bolt holes. Not to mention just getting the new AMG bushings onto my AMG fromt bar. They are tight! It's hard to get the brackets on with them
on the bar. I ended up using a little silicon grease on the outside.
I better check the part numbers one last time.
Had to drill the holes in struts a couple millimeters as well for the AMG end links.

I was looking through the box of parts and there was one WITH a part number
2033303411. I practically have the part numbers memorized after ordering replacements today from Rock Auto
making a cross reference chart and pricing. I had an instant oh sheet. Pulled it out of the bubble wrap..yup...a match.
Too late to return.
I got a URO lower left control arm on closeout from rockauto for just $5 (no kidding!), $90 at Oriely and
a Moog right one for about $40 also on clearance. $90 bucks at Summit racing.
Theres one left if you want to grab it. Or I can sell them to you for a good price.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...pt=10401&jsn=2
Lemforder would have been nice but another $200 on a car that may not make it another 10K miles?
Well I won't need them now.
I'll be returning this stuff. Unless somebody wants them for what I paid for it plus shipping.
Well at least I won't have to wait a week for the Rock Auto parts to show up.
I had to delete my review on Amazon. DOH!!!! And dammit I can't find my 21mm socket. Hopefully it shows up.
Excuse me while I go wipe off the drool. :confuse d:

 

ya know i was going to say that "lower control arm" looked suspiciously similar to the upper control arms I put on recently. At least you noticed, although i can personally attest to how much of a pain in the *** the front end is on this car (I did all control arms and struts last week)

 

I think we've all had a "doh!" moment a time or two... On jobs like this I take a lot of pics before taking things apart just in case it doesn't go back together as anticipated. Glad to know the cheap parts at least fit. Hopefully RockAuto will take the extras back.

 

Yeah, I removed the lower arm and put in the correct one, and then took put the upper one in it's correct place.
The lower one actually didn't look that bad while the upper one, the bushing is obviously hosed.

When I'm working on cars, time does a strange thing, It passes at a faster rate than normal
and hours go by in an instant. I've been working on just the passenger side now as time allows, a few hours here and there, for
how many total hours I don't know? I got hung up trying to get the bolt to go through on the upper one on reinstall,
I ended up putting it in backwards, figured 'whats the diofference?' untill I went to reattach the sway bar LOL.
Funny how it would go in backwards with ease but not forward?
But by then with the strut reattached to the hub I was able to slide it out, and turn it around with ease.
So for the passenger side I now need to reinstall the brake rotor and caliper (so much easier to work without it in the way especially with AMG brakes) bolt in the new AMG strut end link and torque everything to spec that can be. I need to find all the torque specs.
I'm concerned I may have messed up the camber turning those eccentric bolts.
And then repeat the process on the other side and THEN do the end link and sway bushing on the rear.
Easy peasy, Should only take me a month or so with the time warp factor.

 

suspension geometry changes are the hidden demon of suspension work, its all fine and good and everything looks fine then you get the car back on the ground and its all types of messed up. I always just take the car to a place that does alignments for not too expensive any time I do suspension work because I always end up messing the alignment up and they also usually will correct the camber and the rest of the geometry if its not right

 

I wasn't even able to find anyone who would do a proper alignment and mess with the eccentric bolts or anything.
And that was in a big city. I even went way out of my to a guy who could supposedly do it and again all he did was
'set the toe and let it go'. I finished the right side, now to the left side. Upper control arm has enough play to actuallty clunk
just moving it with my hands. So now repeat the whole process. Thank fully I docunented what I did on right so I won't need to be jumping up and down so much on the left,

 

oh wow, thats a bit surprising. I havent ever had issues with getting allignments and I live in a town of like 30,000. I suppose my school does have a good automotive program which probably feeds into the local shops so maybe theres a higher quality of work here but I didnt even know it was a system that normal independents couldnt work with.

 

ALIGNMENT (all W203 models including AMG) - THERE IS NO FRONT OR REAR ALIGNMENT FACILITY - other than basic “Toe “directional” adjustment. New car industry’s best kept secret.

You can fit OEM offset bolts (Front only) - but only one position offering a miniscule 3mm (1/8") which equates to .3 of one degree !

We saw the need therefore to provide serious adjustment up to 2 extra degrees of Positive or Negative Camber and also “precise” adjustment. To fix it right the first time (and provide front and rear ongoing adjustment).

Unique K-MAC design allows single wrench easily accessible. Ultimate - direct on alignment rack UNDER LOAD.

Front Camber and Caster kit at same time also replaces the 4 highest wearing bushings and instead of OEM soft rubber air voided bushes K-MAC are Mono ball / Self aligning still allowing arms to travel through their required suspension arcs but also significantly improving Brake and Steering response.

Both Front and Rear kits designed so no special tools or time consuming need to remove control arms to install.

SEE SPOILER





AUDI to VOLVO - K-MAC Experience Of Resolving OEM Suspension Shortcomings (and Costs) Since 1964 !

 

Meh no big deal for swap’g UCA vs LCA because you caught it. My moment of shame came from deciding to install a rear drum to disc kit on an 01 Chevy S10 flex fuel xtra cab my grandfather gave me before he passed. 37k Orig miles.

It would accomplish the rear axle service, leaky seals and oil covered pads along with no longer requiring feet out the door to stop it. After hours of research I ordered the wrong (non refundable) $500 kit!

Apparently 91 is a split year for two different style axle flanges. The correct kit was another $500, Ouch. Anyone need a pre 1991 rear drum to disc kit for a 2WD 4cyl S10 pick up?

 

i think thats a sign to buy another truck that fits the part

 

I agree. Sentimentally was the big factor. It hits all the marks for a second vehicle being a pick up, e85 $40 fill up, a/c, practically new and low insurance cost. In SoCal veh reg, bi ann smog check, fuel and Ins costs are brutal.

LOL, it had 4 wheel ABS on the prev rear drums.

 

BTW- The Chinese parts are fine...so far.

 

Test

 

theyll be fine until they arent lol, maybe theyre gonna be fine for the rest of the cars life. I think so, chinese parts have always been ok for me, usually theyre just less refined

 

The biggest problem was the rack bushings and sway bar bushings.
But all in all no more clunking! And steering is much tighter.
Upper control arm on left side needs to be replaced but won't be doing it until I
get a new 2nd vehicle, though now that i've done it once I can probably do it much easier.
Documented all toool etc. So not so much up and down to the toolkit.

 

yep its way easier to do jobs the second time around, Id bet I could take the supercharger out of my car with my eyes closed at this point. its been out so many times just so i can get to other stuff. I need to get a second vehicle so I can undertake longer projects...... motorcycles are enticing for how little space they take up, I could work on it in my apartment no problem. But im not sure Id love riding one with the drivers around here